wrote:

One idea we were throwing around is getting an old certified engine
and
overhauling it ourselves. We're both mechanically inclined, and he's
done
quite a bit of work on engines, and I'm sure there are others we
could
recruit on campus. It would be a great learning experience. Since
neither of
us is an A&P, we couldn't sign off on it, but it should still be a
good
engine. What does the FAA think about this kind of thing? Seems that
by now
someone must have tried it.


That's pretty common. That's exactly what we did for the RV-10
project. A runout O-540 was purchased and overhauled (and upgraded
from 235 to 250 hp) right there in the garage. As far as the FAA is
concerned it won't be a certified engine and will require the 40 hr.
flyoff.

Another option that worked for an old Cessna restoration is to find
an A&P that will inspect and sign off your work on the engine overhaul.
If you can swing that, you'll have a certified engine, assuming you
made no "expermental" modifications.

Either way is an excellent way to learn a lot about the powerplant
that you'll be maintaining once the plane is flying.
John Galban=====N4BQ (PA28-180)