[kevin]

Keven,

I had the same choice to make two years ago, and I decided to get factory remans for the following reasons:

1.) Better resale value.
2.) Better warranty.
3.) Less down time. (Place order to delivered engines: two weeks. Engines arrive BEFORE you remove the old ones, so your only down time is actual installation period, 1 week for me for two engines.)
4.) Known cost, no chargebacks for crank, other stuff if engine has not catastrophically failed before you take it off. (A reason, BTW, to overhaul a little sooner rather than a little later. I overhauled my front engine at 1600 hours, but was planning to take it to 1800, then remove it even if it was still fine. But rear failed due to catastrophic turbocharger failure, so I decided to do both at the same time. Only had to cry all night once, rather than twice.)

My experience was good, with an exception.

I got two remans, both ran great in winter. In early summer, it became clear that when the rear got hot on the ground, the oil pressure dropped out of the green, to below 20 lbs. I had difficulty getting Continental's Northwest tech rep (who is in Alaska) to pay attention to my problem, and eventually had to write a registered letter to the Continental division manager asking for assistance. I copied the tech rep, and once I did that, I got good warranty support. They replaced the engine (found that nothing was really wrong with it except that many parts were at the wrong end of tolorances, and together, when warm, then engine opened up too much to keep the pressure up). They paid for freight both ways and all the labor from my not inexpensive shop for the replacement. I was, and continue to be, satisfied. New (2nd) rear engine runs just great, has slightly higher oil pressure than front.

I believe many overhaul shops do a good job, but for the reasons listed above, Continental remans were my choice, and I would do it the same way again.

Oh, and I used Airpower, and their service, ESPECIALLY the warranty support, was truly excellent, no complaints at all. It has been rumored that Airpower does not do a good job with warranty claims, I found the exact opposite to be true.

Kevin