New Mooney parts for old Mooneys

[ryoder]

I like the look of the brand new Mooney cowl. Any way those can be put on a vintage Mooney?

What about the air conditioning system? It says it weighs 65 lbs and I think thats a small price to pay to be able to operate it on takeoff and landing. Where does it install? Is it electric driven or compressor driven?

[N201MKTurbo]

The new Mooney cowl fits an IO 550 not an IO 360. The length is all wrong.

I think all the AC systems are 24V and your vintage Mooney is 12v. Besides putting that much weight in your tail would screw up your W/B. You don't have to balance a big bore Continental.

[DAVIDWH]

At present time, LOPRESTI AVIATION, (1-800-859-4757) is mfg. updated cowls for the M20J, M20E and the M20F.

 

Not sure about the M20C. You might want to raise your credit card limit and give him a call, or you could quickly solve the problem by

 

purchasing a later model Mooney. Understand the new Acclaims out of Kerrville are quite nice???

 

Best,

 

DH

[fantom]

You might want to raise your credit card limit ....

DH

and get a second job. Lopresti love their own products. I miss Roy!

[Oscar Avalle]

With regard to the AC I would actually look at the portable units that some of our friends are advertising on the web. I bought one and it works actually quite well to reduce the temp in the cabin during take off and landing. 

[clh]

A second for the portable A/C units.  The weight is there only when you need it,  and it can be used to cool the cabin before start-up.

The ice is a hassle, but well worth it.

[ryoder]

I have the bekool and love it but it's not cool enough for me. I want real air conditioning some day.

Mooney should start selling mods.

[rbridges]

the cowl question is raised quite often.  honestly, unless you find a modified vintage mooney, you'd almost come out cheaper to sell your plane and buy a J model.

[KSMooniac]

Would you put a $20k A/C unit in your C model if it were technically feasible?  Those things are EXPENSIVE.

[N601RX]

I'm in the process getting everything together to put a J cowling on my F. A good cowl and the necessary accessories are difficult to find, usually if J is damaged enough to be parted out, the cowl is trashed also. I looked for about 3 years before I found what I considered to be a good enough deal for me to do it. It's going to be a few months before I start the work, but will post pictures when I start.

[ryoder]

I would put an eight thousand dollar ac unit in but not twenty. I prioritize comfort over almost anything including speed and avionics capabilities.

[Guest]

Add the air conditioner, and remove the rear seats. Most long bodies are very heavy because of all the additional systems. Keep it light, climb faster to the cool air.

Clarence

[fantom]

Wes Dale was working on an A/C mod for older Mooney's when he was at Premier. Don't know how far he got. He's back in Houston these days.

[MB65E]

It's a quality of life thing with the AC. Especially in the summer in the desert/south. Took a T182 with AC from SMO to DTN in late June this year! All I can say was it was really cool! However, The thing was a tank with high DA out of PHX. And that was only with two people!

If I lived in Louisiana I'd modify the E with AC.

-Matt

[ryoder]

i think not having sweat all over my hands and stinging my eyes increases safety of flight. You guys up north don't know how bad it gets down here with the humidity. Sweat doesn't really cool you off. I'll look that guy up with the ac system.

[N201MKTurbo]

My flying buddy always says "climb and maintain 70 degrees" while holding short when it's 115 out.

[carusoam]

I'm pretty sure the guys up north know how bad it is in the south...(they have airplanes)

1) they enjoy giving the new guy a hard time...

2) they bought the engine pre-heater to use for the next few months...

3) they are focused on emergency supplies and tools to stay alive after an off airport landing...

There is one supplier that can take care of many of your needs...

AC, preheat, and photo services (for that inflight photo)

Search for icebox and you should be able to find a cost effective solution that fits in your back seat.

Trying to fit an AC to an old plane, you would need a ton of cash, or have your own AC skills to match your A&P skills.

It would cost less to buy an Ovation with AC already, than develop a viable AC unit for a smaller engined plane...

Have you seen the air scoop that fits in the side window?

Best regards,

-a-

[ryoder]

Good point on the scoop. I might also look into ventilated seat covers. I have the bekool ice box and it's pretty good.

[clh]

I do not have a bekool, but something that I designed and built about ten years ago   It will keep the temperature down around 75-80 deg F until I get up to altitude. This is especially true if  I start up the unit while the plane is still in the hangar and let it do it's thing while I preflight. 

 

If I wait to start it up when the plane is out in the Texas sun, It is not as effective at cooling down.

[Aron Peterson]

If you get a turbo and put some portable o2 in the plane it's only 32 degree at flight level 180. Cool enough.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[furledd]

On the topic of newer parts on older planes

 

I asked several folks if i could put J model elevators on my F model - they are 1) stronger and 2) nicer looking as being corugated vs. the old "smooth" look that shows every little hangar rash wave in it that I have.

 

Even if I went so far as to keep and switch the old counter weights, still because the elevator it was not on the plane when it was new, it's not legal to do it. Of course, never a F model elevator comes up for sale in excellent shape, always the ones I cant use.

 

I am so very tired of the legal spaghetti of a certified plane and making logical upgrades - There should be something in the Constitution about use common sense when making laws

 

Makes me want to buy a kit plane

[Bob_Belville]

Add the air conditioner, and remove the rear seats. Most long bodies are very heavy because of all the additional systems. Keep it light, climb faster to the cool air.

Clarence

Easy for a guy from Ontario to say...

[jetdriven]

On the topic of newer parts on older planes

 

I asked several folks if i could put J model elevators on my F model - they are 1) stronger and 2) nicer looking as being corugated vs. the old "smooth" look that shows every little hangar rash wave in it that I have.

 

Even if I went so far as to keep and switch the old counter weights, still because the elevator it was not on the plane when it was new, it's not legal to do it. Of course, never a F model elevator comes up for sale in excellent shape, always the ones I cant use.

 

I am so very tired of the legal spaghetti of a certified plane and making logical upgrades - There should be something in the Constitution about use common sense when making laws

 

Makes me want to buy a kit plane

A friend of mine's G model has the corrugated elevators.

[N601RX]

If you ordered a new elevator for a F model today from Mooney would you get a smooth skin or corrugated one?  I'm not sure. Sometimes part numbers get superseded and their is a legal path to use newer parts.

[Johnnybgoode]

"Makes me want to buy a kit plane"

You could do worse...

RV-4 & '65 C-model owner