I'm helping a local military museum restore to running condition a World War I U.S. Army tank, a M1917. There are only four other examples of this kind of vehicle in existence, so I'm excited that I am part of this project.The tank is relatively complete--except that it is missing the top half of its original Buda HU gasoline engine! I'm looking for someone who either has a old tractor that is only good for parts that has this Buda engine, or--if luck would have it--a complete engine that they would be willing to sell to us. According to the vehicle's original specifications, the engine is a 4-cylinder, modified verticle-band Buda HU developing around 42hp at 1460rpm. When I looked into the engine bay of the tank, there were three pistons sticking up out of the lower engine block. I imagine that I will need the carburetor and all the ancillary pieces as well, since they were located in the same mid-region of the engine. When they manufactured this tank between 1917-1919, they used common components found in other vehicles of the period, so we are hoping that the historic farm vehicle community can help us bring this little beast back to life. The Patton Armor Museum at Ft. Knox, KY is helping us with a copy of an original manual for the M1917, but they don't have this kind of part available via surplus anymore, so they told us. ;^) If you can help us locate a replacement engine, we'd be grateful. Please contact me via e-mail at robert -at- krbaylor.com. Many thanks for your kind help--
Robert Baylor
Washington, DC
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