jclemens Posted October 23, 2015 Report Share Posted October 23, 2015 Hey everyone! I am the DOM at a MSC in central FL and we are getting ready to finish up the restoration of a 1980 231 we acquired. Plane will be new firewall forward. Engine is a 0 smoh by us with new cylinders, new exhaust, new turbo, new mags, new harness, etc. Prop and Governor are 0 smoh. The new Merlyn waste gate and turbo plus intercooler will be installed as well. Airframe has a recent red, black, and white Acclaim style paint scheme, speed brakes, brand new UV solar grey glass all the way around (all 1/4, double tinted rears), and a brand new grey leather interior. The panel has freshly installed by us Garmin GTN750, 650, GTX33ES, GDL88 ADS-B in/out, FS210 bluetooth, GMA35 audio panel. Aspen PFD Pro coupled to a KFC200 autopilot with altitude preselect. It's also equipped with the original weather radar, we sent the entire system out for fresh tags and to make the display look brand new again. This thing is a gorgeous aircraft that is loaded to the gills with the latest avionics. I should be ready to test fly it in a couple weeks. More pics to follow. This is what it looked like when we got it......And here are some shots during the restoration. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bonal Posted October 24, 2015 Report Share Posted October 24, 2015 Look forward to seeing the after shots looks like you started out with a real nice one. Welcome to Mooney space however I suspect you've been lurking about. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jclemens Posted October 24, 2015 Author Report Share Posted October 24, 2015 seemed like the appropriate venue. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
carusoam Posted October 24, 2015 Report Share Posted October 24, 2015 JC, Will the finished product be more of a 252 when it is done? Details and photos will always be appreciated. Updates with their appropriate paperwork are often of interest to others around here. Modernization of an older bird is always going to have a following here. Best regards, -a- Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jclemens Posted October 24, 2015 Author Report Share Posted October 24, 2015 Well, it won't really be a 252, but it will out perform one. This aircraft has the TSIO-360-LB engine versus the original -GB engine, a true 252 would have the -MB. That came intercooled from the factory and uses a different turbo setup that incorporates an automatic waste gate. A 231 with a waste gate and an intercooler is a few knots faster that a 252, but the real gain is in the useful load. The 231 will be about 200 lbs lighter than 252, giving you a greater payload capacity. This one might even be better than that, I think we pulled at least 50 lbs of wiring out of it during the avionics upgrade! When it's done it will be put on scales and we shall see. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bonal Posted October 24, 2015 Report Share Posted October 24, 2015 seemed like the appropriate venue. definitely Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
M016576 Posted October 24, 2015 Report Share Posted October 24, 2015 That... Is.... Awesome... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
M016576 Posted October 24, 2015 Report Share Posted October 24, 2015 That... Is.... Awesome... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cliffy Posted October 25, 2015 Report Share Posted October 25, 2015 We have a 231 here at our airport that taxied into a cement drainage ditch with a new motor and prop BUT NO INSURANCE! Literally not a single piece of the airplane is salvageable-wing, tail, gear, prop, fuselage, engine, etc, all bent. Older radios too Definitely not a candidate for your kind of restoration that looks so good. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chrisk Posted October 25, 2015 Report Share Posted October 25, 2015 We have a 231 here at our airport that taxied into a cement drainage ditch with a new motor and prop BUT NO INSURANCE! Literally not a single piece of the airplane is salvageable-wing, tail, gear, prop, fuselage, engine, etc, all bent. Older radios too Definitely not a candidate for your kind of restoration that looks so good. Must have been one heck of a drainage ditch! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jclemens Posted October 26, 2015 Author Report Share Posted October 26, 2015 (edited) Wait until you see the finished product! We are shooting for "nicest, best equipped 231 on the planet." I think we did a pretty good job. I will post some more pics this week of the project a little further along. We should have the avionics and the interior all done this week. Edited October 26, 2015 by jclemens 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cliffy Posted October 26, 2015 Report Share Posted October 26, 2015 Found it in the ditch when everyone came to work in the AM. Nobody around. Happened at night. Taxied off the yellow line, across a double yellow line, across 2 helicopter pads and another yellow line and into a 12' wide, 5' deep cement drainage ditch Word has it he was going home after someones wedding the evening before. Really want to see the completed pics. It looks cool! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Danb Posted October 26, 2015 Report Share Posted October 26, 2015 Jc,,pm me with the price if and when for sale dan Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mike A Posted October 26, 2015 Report Share Posted October 26, 2015 Where are you having the interior done at? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DXB Posted October 26, 2015 Report Share Posted October 26, 2015 Someone's gonna get an amazing plane - thanks for keeping the fleet going and updated! Helps us all in the long run. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ArtVandelay Posted October 26, 2015 Report Share Posted October 26, 2015 IIRC, there was another MSC (Dugosh?) that was considering doing exactly this, I hope it works out. For Florida residents, it would be better tax wise if buying a plane like this, to buy the plane as it was and pay for refurbishing separately, there is no tax on airplane maintenance. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jclemens Posted October 27, 2015 Author Report Share Posted October 27, 2015 (edited) For Florida residents, it would be better tax wise if buying a plane like this, to buy the plane as it was and pay for refurbishing separately, there is no tax on airplane maintenance. Then you have to wait for it, who wants to do that? Wouldn't you rather have it right now! But seriously, we are a Mooney service center, a FAA certified engine overhaul facility, and a Garmin service center. We get a pretty good deal on parts, and we are providing the labor. If you were to do all the things to this plane that we are doing, the taxes you saved would not make up for the difference in retail and labor. This plane will be able to be bought somewhere around 160K when it is ready to go to the market, you couldn't build one like this for that price. The wholesale price on a 1980 M20K with factory equipment is $63,000.00. Average overhaul is $42,000.00. Avionics would be $70,000.00. Paint, windows and interior would cost you another $15,000.00. Then get a fresh annual with all new tires, brakes, etc. for another $3-4K. Once your done with all that, fly it around for 20-30 hours and then bring it back to get it "just right". You be over $200K when you get done, the tax offset won't make up for that. The only downside to this plane will be trying to pry me out of it once it's done Edited October 27, 2015 by jclemens Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jclemens Posted October 30, 2015 Author Report Share Posted October 30, 2015 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
flyboy0681 Posted October 30, 2015 Report Share Posted October 30, 2015 With all money and effort put into the panel, why not fabricate a new piece of powder coated sheet metal? 5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jclemens Posted November 12, 2015 Author Report Share Posted November 12, 2015 I didn't see anything wrong with the old piece of sheet metal that would justify the effort. I am a much better technician than a photographer, the pictures don't do it justice. I will update this thread tomorrow with new photos. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andy95W Posted November 12, 2015 Report Share Posted November 12, 2015 Great craftsmanship. I think it looks great. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LANCECASPER Posted November 12, 2015 Report Share Posted November 12, 2015 On 10/29/2015, 9:40:28, flyboy0681 said: With all money and effort put into the panel, why not fabricate a new piece of powder coated sheet metal? Only three advantages I see is that (1) the Aspen would be flush mounted, which would look great and (2) a lighter colored panel which would make it look more modern, in line with the rest of the upgrades being done and (3) for one time you could put everything exactly where you want it (maybe replace the ship's instruments and the JPI with an EDM930 or an MVP50). It's fun to spend other people's money. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alan Fox Posted November 12, 2015 Report Share Posted November 12, 2015 As we say in Jersey , that plane is gawjeous.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ArtVandelay Posted November 12, 2015 Report Share Posted November 12, 2015 3 hours ago, LANCECASPER said: Only three advantages I see is that (1) the Aspen would be flush mounted, which would look great and (2) a lighter colored panel which would make it look more modern, in line with the rest of the upgrades being done and (3) for one time you could put everything exactly where you want it (maybe replace the ship's instruments and the JPI with an EDM930 or an MVP50). It's fun to spend other people's money. If you are going to do that, then you would have to consider Garmin 500 instead of the Aspen Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
flyboy0681 Posted November 12, 2015 Report Share Posted November 12, 2015 Just now, teejayevans said: If you are going to do that, then you would have to consider Garmin 500 instead of the Aspen I vote for the modern, clean look. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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