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Thread: Overhauling and updating a Cherokee or similar modest project

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    cluttonfred's Avatar
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    Overhauling and updating a Cherokee or similar modest project

    Much as I love homebuilts and vintage aircraft, a reality check of my budget suggest that I might want to tackle restoring and updating a modest 1960s-1970s GA aircraft, especially if I want to take more than one family member at a time or much baggage up in the air with me. Not that I will stop dreaming and perhaps buidling a single- or two-seater on the side, but that's another thread. ;-)


    I would think that you could start with a time-worn but airworthy Piper Cherokee and then overhaul and update it so it's actually lighter and better performing than it came from the factory. I don't mean putting in glass panels or anything radical, just complete inspections and overhaul, a thorough tear-down and cleaning, new interior and exterior, new lightweight electronics to replace the boat-anchor period ones, removing unwanted IFR equipment for a basic modern VFR panel, lightweight starter and battery, etc. Of course, the mechanical bits would all need to be done and the whole project overseen by an A&P, but there is a lot of elbow grease work that I could do myself.


    Does anyone have any links to sites or articles documenting this kind of restoration and update on a modest budget?
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    Quote Originally Posted by cluttonfred View Post
    Does anyone have any links to sites or articles documenting this kind of restoration and update on a modest budget?
    Define "modest budget."
    Restoring a 40 y/o factory airplane isn't cheap but in the end you get a known quantity. I haven't seen many end up "lighter" than before either, usually it's the opposite. But I agree with your overall assessment.

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    Quote Originally Posted by martymayes View Post
    Define "modest budget."
    Restoring a 40 y/o factory airplane isn't cheap but in the end you get a known quantity. I haven't seen many end up "lighter" than before either, usually it's the opposite. But I agree with your overall assessment.
    Here is what I did as the latest project, It's a 1948 Cessna rag wing 170. we bought it for $5k, and we are in it now at $27K, every thing is new, the aircraft was completely disassembled stripped repainted, new windows, new interior, new wiring, new wheels tires and brakes, PeePonk gear mod, tail pull handles, 1 piece windscreen, shoulder harness, new instrument panel, new radios, Engine up grade to a 0-300-D, with a vac pump, 60 Amp Alternator, 6 new cylinders, engine rebuilt to factory new spec. new carb, mounts, oil filter kit, new prop, Whelen 3 light strobe kit, landing light mod to leading edge and the light blinker mo
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    we started with a derelict barn find.
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    new prop spinner
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    Last edited by Tom Downey; 02-24-2014 at 08:09 PM.

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    cluttonfred's Avatar
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    Looks fantastic, Tom. Sell it to me? Seriously!

    On the restoration, are you (or one of the "we") an A&P or did you have to pay someone to do those parts of the restoration that require sign-off?
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    Matthew Long, Editor
    cluttonfred.info
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    and other safe, simple, affordable homebuilt aircraft

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    Quote Originally Posted by cluttonfred View Post
    Looks fantastic, Tom. Sell it to me? Seriously!

    On the restoration, are you (or one of the "we") an A&P or did you have to pay someone to do those parts of the restoration that require sign-off?
    I am the A&P-IA, this is a "we" effort, the wife and I.
    We have decided to keep it for a while, gotta get a little flying out of all that work. It took 15 months Nov. 12 to Feb 14,

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    Ah, there's the rub, you clearly know how to do the things that 1) I can't do on a certified plane and 2) I don't know how to do, anyway. If you do decide to sell, please shoot me a PM--I really was not kidding. Cheers, Matthew
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    Matthew Long, Editor
    cluttonfred.info
    A site for builders, owners and fans of Eric Clutton's FRED
    and other safe, simple, affordable homebuilt aircraft

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    Find a good A&P, that will supervise your work and learn, I had to.

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    Quote Originally Posted by cluttonfred View Post
    If you do decide to sell, please shoot me a PM--I really was not kidding. Cheers, Matthew
    Make me an offer. ?

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    Believe me, I would love to be doing just that. Unfortunately, I have a wife and three kids and a job that takes me from country to country around the world--neat in many ways but tough on aviation as a hobby. I'll have to do the crash course (not literally, I hope) once I retire. ;-)
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    Matthew Long, Editor
    cluttonfred.info
    A site for builders, owners and fans of Eric Clutton's FRED
    and other safe, simple, affordable homebuilt aircraft

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    Quote Originally Posted by Tom Downey View Post
    Make me an offer. ?
    I am not going to waste your time, so let me chat with some friends first and get back to you if I get a good reaction. We were considering going in on a plane together to have it shipped out hear to Kenya and a 170 like yours would be perfect for the hot and high conditions here, though I might remove the spinner for easier inspection. If you wouldn't mind PMing me some details (TTAF&E, TSMOH, etc.) I'll see what they say.
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    Matthew Long, Editor
    cluttonfred.info
    A site for builders, owners and fans of Eric Clutton's FRED
    and other safe, simple, affordable homebuilt aircraft

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