Chris White ex-N205KD

Sort of a sore spot for me, cause I owned a '97 Encore for about 6 days last year... Anyway, in a nutshell, 220hp as opposed to 210hp and the stronger landing gear of the M and R models gives it a GTOW of 3130lbs - 230lbs more than the 252. Quote: Mcstealth Well, I don't know the differences.

Doug and I talked to one of the LoPresti boys at OSH '08, and he said they DID do one or two cowls for J's with the M20Turbo. They had a few pics of that plane on their display board - it looked COOL, like a mid-length Acclaim. Big nostrils. We asked him if they would do another and he said "Uh, NO." Apparently it was a thorough pain in the ass to get the cooling right. But, waive enough bills in front of them and they may break out the molds. They've done it before! Quote: KSMooniac Magnus, the short answer is my original cowl, cowl flaps, and gear doors are quite worn. The attachment holes are enlarged from wear so much that the cowl shifts "nose up" during the first flight after I put it back on after an oil change, and sits proud compared to the spinner. There is a slight gap between the back edge of my cowl and the corresponding skin on the fuselage that is even initially, but then it widens at the bottom and closes at the top after a flight. Later model 201's have a much better "fit" from what I've observed and probably wear much better than mine did with a gap back there from the factory. The cowl flaps and hinges are all loose, as are the gear doors. The leading edge of my gear doors are somewhat eroded too. I haven't totaled up how much it would be to replace all of that hardware, but whatever that amount is combined with the repairs I'll need to do to my cowl prior to paint are really pushing me towards the LoPresti cowl, even though it is expensive and will require quite a few hours to properly fit to my plane. I would rather put the money and effort into newer hardware that will also give me a speed boost on the same power, as well as reduce some of the engine/exhaust noise by getting a better seal on the nose gear doors. There is another owner in FL that is familiar with the LoPrestis and is somewhat negotiating a group-purchase for some cowls in the near future. We're hoping to get the price down to $10k or below for the entire kit (instl extra). If anyone else would like to join up, please send me a message. I'm not sure if the LoPresti cowl & revised induction system is compatible with the M20 TN kit, but if it isn't then I'll try to figure out a way to make it work later. Ultimately I'd like to have both, but if I have to choose one it will be the new cowl and paint job for right now!

Yes, there was an STC out there for a Rajay system, complete with the "dual throttle" and no intercooler. The M20Turbos system is different, and does require the front end makeover. M20Turbos uses only the standard throttle, not a separate one for the turbo. Quote: Seth I've seen TN M20Fs out there that are not modified with the J Cowl or windsheild. Are those kits still available? Do they not make them anymore? Costs?

So who here is really, HONESTLY, put-your-money-where-your-mouth-is serious about this? I would be happy to approach Mrs. Sandman about this, but I would prefer not to do so unless we had a list of owners ready to go. Perhaps with money in escrow? Any ideas? Quote: mooniac58 Get 5 of of MooneySpace'ers together and tell me she can resist $100,000 ?

Quote: Seth I would probably be in for a group order at an extremely discounted rate as well. Otherwise it just doesn't make sense considering the current market value of my M20F. Are there any book speed for a M20F with this TN Kit? The J according to a previous post by mooney205kd was: An owner with one of these in his 201 posted numbers of 174KTAS at 9.8 GPH in his, FL130 -Seth

Unfortunately, I think there'd be very little chance of her letting these go for $16k in order to get the total installed cost to $20k. That's less than half what she's advertising for right now. The installation costs will also vary, depending on where you get it put on. M20-Turbos is not a shop, so they cannot do it. They just sell you the paper and collect the parts. Mrs. Sandman does have a list of shops that have done successful installs. $30k installed might be a more realistic target for a group buy, but we can always hope!

I think we'd be in, too, for $20k instead of $35k. And this is after we just spent $50k + on a fresh overhaul and avionics makeover! An owner with one of these in his 201 posted numbers of 174KTAS at 9.8 GPH in his, FL130. Hard to beat that! Incidentally, I received a call from Mrs. Sandman, widow of the developer of the M-20Turbo, and they were offering the TN kit at $29k if you bought before the end of 2008. Maybe she's starting to see the logic of more sales if the price was closer to $20k rather than $40k. We can only hope...