teethdoc Posted January 28, 2014 Report Posted January 28, 2014 My J came with the Lopresti cowling. Putting a new one on is an absurd price, but what value does it add to a plane you are looking at? I don't plan on selling the plane, just thinking out loud. Quote
Rwsavory Posted January 28, 2014 Report Posted January 28, 2014 It would not be a factor in the amount I would be willing to spend on a Mooney. Much more important factors would be airframe condition, engine time and condition and avionics. I am sure it's nice to have though. My father put one on his Comanche when they first came out, and it added quite a bit of speed. The original J cowl was much better than the original on the Comanche, however. Quote
LAE Posted January 28, 2014 Report Posted January 28, 2014 Mine came with the LoPresti cowl also. Absolutely love it! All other things being equal I'd pick it every time over one without if I were looking for a new plane. Market value I'm not real sure, I know Jimmy G @ All American adds value for it. I think it has the most bang for the buck when looking at speed mods on the J. Additionally I get a full inch + of MP at 8-9k' where the Js I've been in with factory cowl are doing good to make 1/2". Quote
jetdriven Posted January 28, 2014 Report Posted January 28, 2014 I'd add 5K for one that a LoPresti cowl over a comparable machine. I'd also add 4-5K for a J with an operable Century IIB/S-Tec 30ALT or a Century III over one that didn't have an autopilot. The book may not add anything but it sure makes flying easy. 1 Quote
rbridges Posted January 28, 2014 Report Posted January 28, 2014 On 1/28/2014 at 3:27 AM, jetdriven said: I'd add 5K for one that a LoPresti cowl over a comparable machine. I'd also add 4-5K for a J with an operable Century IIB/S-Tec 30ALT or a Century III over one that didn't have an autopilot. The book may not add anything but it sure makes flying easy. I agree. I'd be wiling to go a little higher b/c they look cool as hell, but I wouldn't pay anything near its actual cost. At the very least, your plane has awesome curb appeal and stands out when trying to sell it. 2 Quote
John Pleisse Posted January 28, 2014 Report Posted January 28, 2014 I'd value it up too, but I would be scrutinizing when purchasing a bird with one, because it is a labor intensive mod that requires some resourcefulness and artistic ability. It is my understanding there are good installs and then there are others. Wish I could afford one. I am coming up on paint this summer with tank bladders, new windscreen and control surface repair ranking higher. Its a great mod/STC. What does it cost these days? Including labor, is it over $15k? Quote
rbridges Posted January 28, 2014 Report Posted January 28, 2014 On 1/28/2014 at 1:26 PM, N4352H said: I'd value it up too, but I would be scrutinizing when purchasing a bird with one, because it is a labor intensive mod that requires some resourcefulness and artistic ability. It is my understanding there are good installs and then there are others. Wish I could afford one. I am coming up on paint this summer with tank bladders, new windscreen and control surface repair ranking higher. Its a great mod/STC. What does it cost these days? Including labor, is it over $15k? I'd like to see what someone says, but my guess would be nearly double that price. I bet the cowling is 10-15k itself. 1 Quote
teethdoc Posted January 28, 2014 Author Report Posted January 28, 2014 On 1/28/2014 at 1:53 PM, rbridges said: I'd like to see what someone says, but my guess would be nearly double that price. I bet the cowling is 10-15k itself. I'll admit it looks sweet, but no way I'm paying $20+ thousand. I'm about to spend a bundle on a factory reman engine, and fuel bladders. Quote
Marauder Posted January 28, 2014 Report Posted January 28, 2014 On 1/28/2014 at 1:53 PM, rbridges said: I'd like to see what someone says, but my guess would be nearly double that price. I bet the cowling is 10-15k itself. The last time I looked it was over $22k installed (~$18k for the kit, $4-5k for labor). Sent using Tapatalk Quote
John Pleisse Posted January 28, 2014 Report Posted January 28, 2014 Last time I checked, it was $12,500 for the STC and 40 hours labor... I am sure it has gone up.. Quote
DaV8or Posted January 28, 2014 Report Posted January 28, 2014 The value of the Lo Presti cowl depends on who is looking at the plane and which plane it is on I would think. To the uneducated Mooney buyer, it probably doesn't add much value, it just looks different. The the buyer that has done the homework, it is likely worth much more. Similarly, if it is installed on a J it may not be worth as much as it would be installed on an E, or F. The bigger speed increase and greater functionality on the vintage planes is significant. Also there is the fact that there are few cowling mods available for the vintage planes anymore. When I was looking, I found no vintage Es, or Fs with a Lo Presti, but if I had, I would have definitely placed a premium on that plane. I personally would have been willing to pay $5000 extra for it on a vintage plane, particularly on an E. On the other hand, if I were shopping Js, I would still place a premium on it, but it would be more on par with other pluses on the spread sheet. Kind of like speed brakes. Really nice to have, but not required. In a J I would put higher value on avionics and a good auto pilot. Quote
Bennett Posted January 28, 2014 Report Posted January 28, 2014 I have the LoPresti cowling on my J. Two great things about it. One, the Boom Beam HID landing light, and Two, the ram air setup, which is quite different from the stock ram air in a J. I routinely can add about 1" to 1.25" MP at 7-8000' using it, and for a naturally aspirated engine, I think it is significant. No downsides that I know of, but if you also have a PowerFlow exhaust system, the clearances are a bit tight. Not a problem for me, but I have heard a few mechanics at LASAR cuss a bit about the clearances. The cowl kit also comes with a set of overlapping nose gear doors that have a fairing directly behind them to minimize drag, and for the same reason, a fiberglass windshield fairing that smooths the transition between the cowling and windshield - see photo below. 1 Quote
DaV8or Posted January 28, 2014 Report Posted January 28, 2014 On 1/28/2014 at 4:53 PM, Bennett said: I have the LoPresti cowling on my J. Two great things about it. One, the Boom Beam HID landing light, and Two, the ram air setup, which is quite different from the stock ram air in a J. I routinely can add about 1" to 1.25" MP at 7-8000' using it, and for a naturally aspirated engine, I think it is significant. No downsides that I know of, but if you also have a PowerFlow exhaust system, the clearance are a bit tight. Not a problem for me, but I have heard a few mechanics at LASAR cuss a bit about the clearances. The cowl kit also comes with a set of overlapping nose gear doors that have a fairing directly behind them to minimize drag, and for the same reason, a fiberglass windshield fairing that smooths the transition between the cowling and windshield - see photo below. The Boom Beam light doesn't come with the cowl kit, it's extra and can be added to any Mooney on it's own. I think it's about $900. It's too bad that Lo Presti couldn't do a more budget version of the kit that didn't include the gear doors, door fairing and the windshield fairing. Those things add to the kit price, but more importantly, the install time. Although, I guess in for a penny, in for a pound. Quote
kmyfm20s Posted January 28, 2014 Report Posted January 28, 2014 On 1/28/2014 at 4:53 PM, Bennett said: I have the LoPresti cowling on my J. Two great things about it. One, the Boom Beam HID landing light, and Two, the ram air setup, which is quite different from the stock ram air in a J. I routinely can add about 1" to 1.25" MP at 7-8000' using it, and for a naturally aspirated engine, I think it is significant. No downsides that I know of, but if you also have a PowerFlow exhaust system, the clearance are a bit tight. Not a problem for me, but I have heard a few mechanics at LASAR cuss a bit about the clearances. The cowl kit also comes with a set of overlapping nose gear doors that have a fairing directly behind them to minimize drag, and for the same reason, a fiberglass windshield fairing that smooths the transition between the cowling and windshield - see photo below. Bennett, do you have the wing root fairing? Looks great! Quote
rbridges Posted January 28, 2014 Report Posted January 28, 2014 On 1/28/2014 at 4:53 PM, Bennett said: I have the LoPresti cowling on my J. Two great things about it. One, the Boom Beam HID landing light, and Two, the ram air setup, which is quite different from the stock ram air in a J. I routinely can add about 1" to 1.25" MP at 7-8000' using it, and for a naturally aspirated engine, I think it is significant. No downsides that I know of, but if you also have a PowerFlow exhaust system, the clearance are a bit tight. Not a problem for me, but I have heard a few mechanics at LASAR cuss a bit about the clearances. The cowl kit also comes with a set of overlapping nose gear doors that have a fairing directly behind them to minimize drag, and for the same reason, a fiberglass windshield fairing that smooths the transition between the cowling and windshield - see photo below. the lopresti cowl seems to taper more towards the front than the stock 201 cowl. You would think that would help with aerodynamics. Quote
Bennett Posted January 28, 2014 Report Posted January 28, 2014 On 1/28/2014 at 5:41 PM, KMYFM20J said: Bennett, do you have the wing root fairing? Looks great! Thanks, Yes, I have the wing root fairing, and fairings everyplace I can. All helps at bit towards better speeds. I stand corrected on the HID Boom Beam. Frankly I didn't know it was available separately, but DaV8or is correct. I don't think I have seen a LoPresti cowl without the HID light, but I guess it can be done. The HID light is great, and I always have it on in airport environments, and whenever the weather is murky or in haze. My LED "recognition lights" can be set via a rotary switch to act as additional landing/taxi lights (or pulse, or alternate). I keep the LED strobes on at all times, as I want to be seen by pother pilots and towers, etc. Quote
fantom Posted January 28, 2014 Report Posted January 28, 2014 Does anyone know if LoPresti is actively marketing the cowl. They weren't several years ago, claiming they changed the vendor supplying them, and that they needed a bulk order of (ten or twenty?) to get a new vendor committed. Then with the latest cowls there were serious quality issues that made some well known MSC guys say bad words, and spend lots of extra time cutting and glassing. The major benefit of the cowl is the circular openings in the front, allowing for better air distribution. Even when Roy was alive, he wouldn't guarantee even a one knot improvement. Aesthetics aside, I wouldn't give a plug nickel for one on my J. Quote
fantom Posted January 28, 2014 Report Posted January 28, 2014 On 1/28/2014 at 3:07 PM, openskyflyer said: It is nice to see all of the new bladder converts on this thread! Quote
rbridges Posted January 28, 2014 Report Posted January 28, 2014 On 1/28/2014 at 7:14 PM, fantom said: Don't be a hater. Quote
fantom Posted January 28, 2014 Report Posted January 28, 2014 Just feeling sorry for those trying to justify the use of wing condoms 1 Quote
John Pleisse Posted January 28, 2014 Report Posted January 28, 2014 I am considering the Magnums.... B500A 2-BAG ADD-ON 10 gals $2,650.00 M20F,J Worth it? Already throwing in towel on useful load, anyway. 1 Quote
rbridges Posted January 28, 2014 Report Posted January 28, 2014 On 1/28/2014 at 7:49 PM, N4352H said: I am considering the Magnums.... B500A 2-BAG ADD-ON 10 gals $2,650.00 M20F,J Worth it? Already throwing in towel on useful load, anyway. running lean of peak, you'd probably have 8 hours endurance. Quote
fantom Posted January 28, 2014 Report Posted January 28, 2014 On 1/28/2014 at 8:30 PM, rbridges said: running lean of peak, you'd probably have 8 hours endurance. ...as long as you watch your BMI Quote
PTK Posted January 28, 2014 Report Posted January 28, 2014 The LoPresti cowls that I have seen both in person and in photos, IMHO, leave a lot to be desired in how they fit and mate to the fuselage surfaces. The best way I can describe it is that the mating surfaces just don''t seem to fit properly leaving noticeable vertical and horizontal unevenness. Also the mating lines are not at all uniform. These are real issues not present in my original Mooney cowl. For these and other reasons I'm not a fan of this mod and would not regard it as a plus. I'm neutral and leaning against it. Certainly wouldn't add "value" for one. This is my opinion. Quote
KSMooniac Posted January 28, 2014 Report Posted January 28, 2014 On 1/28/2014 at 7:49 PM, N4352H said: I am considering the Magnums.... B500A 2-BAG ADD-ON 10 gals $2,650.00 M20F,J Worth it? Already throwing in towel on useful load, anyway. NOOOOO! I feel like I'm a knight protecting useful loads all across the land... please don't! (I can't remember if you already have bladders or not.) Quote
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