GMA *McGAS*

Talking with George, he told me of what he did in his *rework* of the McCoy Red Heads turning them into George Aldrige Specials. I always wondered just how much difference (and the purpose of) making the heads black powder coated (??) makes. Seems we want to retain a certain amount of heat in the heads to help with the 4-2 break. (hot plugs).
Anyone have experience with one of the McGAS 35 or 40's?
He had already run out of parts for making the 40s when I inquired.
TIA
Bill

I've never seen a "McGas".(Not true I have a viedo of some of George's engines.) There are some people that might know something about them, Charlie Bruce and Tom Lay come to mind. KIWI Might know.

Scott (would like to know also)Riese

In full size airplanes the accesories(mags, starter, etc) are black to dissapate heat better. GMA might have done it for the same reason.
Andrew Raney

Heat dissapation was the only reason I could think of, but it seems that a 4-2 engine needs to retain some heat in the head/plug to "keep the fire from going out". (??)
I know Bob H. shaved all the fins off a Webra 28 to retain heat and try to cure a "burp". It did help a little.
I know George knew his stuff, just don't fully understand his technique here.
Thanks!
Bill

I don't know anything on them but I have a stock 40RH and it is difficult to see how the running could be improved. I wonder if he mainly improved the engineering issues or mostly hand fit the motors? I think he once posted the 40RH wrist pin wore fast or needed changes to keep from scoring the liner. Did the McGas have a McCoy NVA?

Bill, I remember he chromed the sleeve/piston, put in a new crankshaft bushing, and *blueprinted* them. As for the NVA, I don't really remember. Made for a longer lasting, *best* running McCoy 40.
Or any other Red Head McCoy IIRC.
Bill

I checked my notes on the ones that I have, He chromed the crankshaft and crank pin, and the sleeve, also made wrist pin pads,
plus oil holes in the connecting rod. Then hand fit, blue printed magic .... He told me that he misjudged the cost of doing this, didn't make a lot of money w/this venture.

George once told me he made about $25 an hour out of his engine work. Not a way to get rich! He also said one of the main things he did was to fit the engine properly, and the first thing many people would do was take one of his engines apart to see what he had done, thus destroying his efforts.

That's interesting info. I'll bet Frank Bowman knows exactly what was done too and would do the same if somebody sent one to him. Will the guts of a Series 21 fit a 40RH?

Hi Bill,
I have used the Series 21 *29* guts in a RH 29, and it works just great.
However, the *21* 40 sleeve will not fit in my shiney case RH 40.
It is just a hair bigger.
Bill

Quick, my lathe, my hones. "We'll make it fit." Quote from one of my old bosses. He could make an International part fit a Freightliner. Drove me almost insane. Hey, parts is parts.

>Hi Bill,
>I have used the Series 21 *29* guts in a RH 29, and it works
>just great.
>However, the *21* 40 sleeve will not fit in my shiney case
>RH 40.
>It is just a hair bigger.
>Bill
>
>
>Dont worry about the mule going blind 'til you get the cart
>loaded!

It's been done. Works. I think there is about (.011)that have to be removed on the case to make it work.

Scott(have to ask the guy who did it)Riese

Hi Scott,
I am sure that it would work if the case opening is enlarged that *little* bit (pun??).
My hybrid 29 is a sweet runner.
I just haven't taken the time to sit down and figure out how to remove the amount from the case to make it fit using only hand tools.
Bill