Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Bob Pustell on December 10, 2013 at 11:06pm

I have a Franklin (165 HP six cylinder variant) in my 1947 Stinson. Great engine. I have looked at the four cylinder version you refer to at both OSH and Sun N Fun. Looks like a nice engine. It has the added advantage of bolting right up to any engine mount intended for a four cylinder Continental engine (the C series fours, the O-200, whatever). You could do worse. Zenith sells mounts and cowlings for the Continentals so you would be in business, the Frank would fit right there.

I am putting a "build it myself" Corvair conversion into my 601XL. However, if I was going to bolt on an "engine that came in a box" I would give a lot of thought to having it be a Franklin 125. It might be a little heavy for a 701 but it should do very nicely in a 750 or a 650/601XL.

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Permalink Reply by Bob Pustell on December 12, 2013 at 9:38pm

That is not "the" Franklin website. That outfit is indeed no longer operating. There are several Franklin sources in the USA. The one you provided the link for is not part of the current situation. The factory went away in the 70's but the parts and the expertise live on.

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Permalink Reply by Mark Maltais on December 11, 2013 at 7:34pm

My buddy dumped the Franklin out of his Stinson 108 for a O-470.  Parts for the Franklin were getting impossible to find!!!

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Permalink Reply by Bob Pustell on December 12, 2013 at 9:45pm

I agree parts are getting harder to find for the old 150's and 165's. My engine is in for overhaul right now and it has taken a while because of parts chasing, but we got everything we needed. Knock on wood, I should have the Stinson airborne within a month with her fresh engine.

The four cylinder in this discussion is an interesting exception. They developed the engine but never certified it before Preston Tucker took over Franklin to make engines for his car. There are enough New Old Stock cases, cylinders, etc out there to build a lot of four cylinder engines. Bruce Kown (a Frankln guru in Georgia) builds non certified four cylinder Franklins with almost all new parts, and replacement parts should stay available for quite some time. He even makes variants with electronic ignition, fuel injection, etc. Not needing to go to the Feds for approval of everything lets modern equipment and creative construction happen.

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Permalink Reply by Robert Simon Fraser on December 13, 2013 at 3:09am

Hi Bob,

    Thanks for the great info.I'm viewing the engine today. It has 120 hrs since new & it's in a Rebel now.

He states it's very smooth and runs well. Franklin certainly have a colorful past! Talked to Robert Still who's

an engine mechanic for Franklin Aerospace in SC and he's rebuilding 10 engines as we speak and stated

he has new parts for 50 engines in stock. He recommended installing a electronic ignition on one side (approx

$1500.00) as it provides an additional 5 hp and much better fuel burn. He also stated that the motors were

enternally balanced to within 1 gram,ie, rods & pistons thus providing a smooth motor.I'll keep you posted. RF

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Permalink Reply by Bob Pustell on December 13, 2013 at 7:38pm

My Franklin 165 six cylinder is one of those engines in Robert Still's shop. Small world. He seems like a very knowledgeable young man. I can't wait to get my Stinson airborne again with the fresh engine!

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Permalink Reply by James W. Fisher on December 21, 2020 at 5:44pm

I have a 4A-235 125 hp just recently acquired

and thinking about a Cruzer install.  Sometimes called a Franklin Sport 4, they were sold as a kit and owner assembled.

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Permalink Reply by joseph aloof on December 28, 2020 at 7:49pm

hi james give me a call i got about 125 hrs on the franklin so far   joe

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