The engine shown below spent its working life driving a water
pump in one of the Lower Neches Valley Authority (LNVA) pumping
stations in east Texas. These pumping stations feed water into a
canal system to provide irrigation for farms and to provide
salinity control in recreational lakes.
This engine is being retired, and the LNVA is willing to donate
it to an interested engine organization rather than scrapping it.
The PLVG is a power engine version of the model LVG integral
engine-compressor. This unit, serial number 8AZ100, was the first
of only six 8PLVG engines manufactured. It was shipped from Painted
Post, N.Y., on April 20, 1939. The LVG/P was the first vertical
cylinder, overhead valve model engine built by Ingersoll-Rand. It
has a 14-1/2-inch bore by 18-inch stroke and is rated 650 HP at 300
rpm. The LVG went into production sometime after the 1932
introduction of the smaller model XVG (an L-head engine) integral
engine-compressor, and is the model from which the larger
Ingersoll-Rand engines evolved. The model letters stand for Large
Vee Gas.
My contact at the LNVA says some parts will be robbed from the
engine for spares for the other PKVG engines in the plant. The
missing items are:
Starting air check valves (for the air to head starting).
Heat exchangers for the oil and water.
Governor (The governor driven gear will go with the engine)
Carburetor
Oil filter
Welded-pipe exhaust manifold (this is a ‘four-legged’
assembly that combines the four outlets from the bank manifolds
into one pipe)
I am attempting to obtain an estimate of the cost of replacement
air starting check-valve components. I doubt the engine would need
multi-pass oil or water heat exchangers just to run at idle speed –
homemade coolers would probably suffice for display operation. The
other items should not be difficult to obtain.
We have been trying to get Dresser-Rand Co. (successor to
Ingersoll-Rand) sponsorship to help relocate the engine to an
interested club or organization, but at this time we do not have a
final answer.
Time is running out, because the LNVA plans to remove the engine
from the pump house very soon. If we can secure a new home for the
engine, LNVA personnel will perform preservation procedures before
the engine is removed from the pump house. The LNVA will cover the
crane cost if a transport truck is on-site when the engine is
removed from the pump house or when the replacement engine is being
installed. Any interested organization should contact me at work
(607) 937-2355, or at home (570) 827-3129.
Engine enthusiasts Mac and Betty Sine are regular
contributors to Gas Engine Magazine. Contact them at: 13 Main St.,
Lawrenceville, PA 16929.