What type of ceiling vents do you have?

[DaV8or]

I am seriously considering a major remodel of my ceiling panel that would include conversion of the rotory dial outlets to the eyeball swivel type like on airliners, conversion of the finger toasting spotlights to eyeball swiveling LED spotlights and conversion of the dome light to LED as well. In addition, all new plastic covering, new knobs and new speaker grill. Making the molds, jigs and layout for the parts is not cheap or easy, so I'm trying to determine if there are others out there that would like a conversion like this, how many there are and how much they would be willing to spend.

First step is to try to determine how many planes Mooney built with the rotory vents like mine. A picture is attached below of the rotory vents I have. So far it seems they made them from 1965 - 1969 at least. I suspect they started in either '64 or '65 and I have no idea when the ended. So what type do you have and what year is your plane?

Thanks for the help!

[flhelo]

You have the same vents as my 68G.  I would be interested.

[skyking]

I have the airliner ball type in my 1959 M20A

[DaV8or]

Quote: skyking

I have the airliner ball type in my 1959 M20A

[Hank]

My 70-C has your rotary-type vents overhead. I have airliner ball-vents in the footwells.

[skyking]

Dave: They work well and i prefer them to the rotary type.

Hank: Mine are opposite to you.

i have the ball type in the ceiling and rotary in the footwells.

[Vref]

 I have no idea when the ended. So what type do you have and what year is your plane?

Thanks for the help!

[DaV8or]

Well, now we know that the rotory vents went at least '65 to '78 and that's a whole lot a Mooneys! May have to make a photoshop of my plans. Seems like there are a fair number of planes with this type. Anybody have a '64? How about after '78?

[flyguy241]

1979 is when they changed from the rotary.  I wanted to change that out in my 1978 as well, but I have the feeling it is going to be a really expensive upgrade since the air inlet in the 1978 is on top of the fuselage, whereas the air inlet for the '79 is on the dorsal fin just in front of the tail.  At one point, Mooney was offering an upgraded interior that would install the latest and greatest along with the eyeball type air outlets.  They mention needing to move the air inlet on certain year models.

[flyguy241]

Jim, I had the same thought, but I honestly don't know what you get into when you start digging in that area.  I did not look into it after I realized what Mooney was suggesting to make that upgrade and it is more of a project than what I need to tackle.

[omega708]

I am seriously considering a major remodel of my ceiling panel that would include conversion of the rotory dial outlets to the eyeball swivel type like on airliners, conversion of the finger toasting spotlights to eyeball swiveling LED spotlights and conversion of the dome light to LED as well. In addition, all new plastic covering, new knobs and new speaker grill. Making the molds, jigs and layout for the parts is not cheap or easy, so I'm trying to determine if there are others out there that would like a conversion like this, how many there are and how much they would be willing to spend.

First step is to try to determine how many planes Mooney built with the rotory vents like mine. A picture is attached below of the rotory vents I have. So far it seems they made them from 1965 - 1969 at least. I suspect they started in either '64 or '65 and I have no idea when the ended. So what type do you have and what year is your plane?

Thanks for the help!

Did anything ever come of this? I would like to change out my rotary vents out and replace them with wemac / eyeball vents that can actually be aimed (squarely at my face in the hot Texas summers.)

[Dale Logsdon]

Plane Plastics has the rotory dial vents. They are not PMA approved so you will have to send in 1 of your oem vents and Plane Plastics will make you as many as you like. Sending in your OEM gives them the proof to satisfy FAA that you participated in the production of the part making it owner produced and acceptable to the FAA.

[jetdriven]

I don't know if interior decorative parts are even required to have a PMA.

[Hector]

So far it seems they made them from 1965 - 1969 at least. I suspect they started in either '64 or '65 and I have no idea when the ended. So what type do you have and what year is your plane? Thanks for the help!

My 67C looks just like your picture. I'm interested.

[testwest]

JimR is correct, we did replace the entire overhead vent system on our 77 J with the dorsal inlet and eyeball vents. It is an extensive, expensive mod. The airflow really is nice though, and it is not nearly as noisy as the older overhead vent door.

[Marauder]

Speaking of these vents, do any of your's rattle (the metal vent itself)? Mine was driving me nuts.

[M20F-1968]

Just saw this thread. I may be able to help as I converted my entire interior to the newer style, including the vent system and the NACA duct in the dorsal fin. I started with an Ovation interior, and then cut and re-fiberglassed the panel so they fit into my F model. It really was not as much work as you would think. The major reason I say this is that the fiberglass Ovation style panels are quite large and with one panel you cover much of the interior. The shape and size of the interior is the same except for the window size and cabin length. Both of these parameters can be easily changed with some basic fiberglass skills. In fact, once you have one set of panels made for a particular model, using them as a mold with mold release allows you to copy them quite easily. All can be done using flame resistant resins so the parts are suitable for aircraft use. One could change to the eye-ball wemac style vents using either the NACA duct in the dorsal fin, or using the overhead scoop and flexible ducting to the wemac vents. In that case you would need to make a manifold that distributes the air to 4 smaller hoses. There should be enough space above the ceiling for this however. For what it is worth, I have 2 Ovation fiberglass panels left over from my rebuild which make the right and left ceiling and have arms that form the window pillars between the windows. I would like to sell them at a reasonable cost as they are left over and I am trying to clear out my hangar of unused parts. I can be reached at (617) 877-0025 or e-mail at johnabreda@yahoo.com. Happy Holidays, John Breda

[mjc]

I had the rotary ones in my 1969 M20C when I bought it. A few years ago, I bought new headliner pieces and installed eyeball vents in them where the rotary ones would have gone. The vents were surplus airliner vents. The vents are connected to the plenum using SCEET tubing.

The job was a huge pain and took quite a while. It was necessary as my headliner and vent deflectors were badly cracked, so I had todo something and figured I might as well upgrade them. The new setup is much better, but... it was a huge pain.

Edit... I didn't get rid of the scoop on the top... I just directed the air to eyeball vents.

[DaV8or]

To those that did the conversion to later model venting, did you have to do any FAA paperwork of any kind, or get any approval? Is it considered a minor alteration?

[bnicolette]

I had a ceiling eyeball (wemac) vent break the other day.  Does anybody have a part number for these or a cross over part from spruce that is the same?

I haven't taken it out yet, but the part that you grab with your fingers to twist is loose and seems like it will push up into the assembly.

 

Thanks for any help.

[isaacpr7]

I had the rotary ones in my 1969 M20C when I bought it. A few years ago, I bought new headliner pieces and installed eyeball vents in them where the rotary ones would have gone. The vents were surplus airliner vents. The vents are connected to the plenum using SCEET tubing.

The job was a huge pain and took quite a while. It was necessary as my headliner and vent deflectors were badly cracked, so I had todo something and figured I might as well upgrade them. The new setup is much better, but... it was a huge pain.

Edit... I didn't get rid of the scoop on the top... I just directed the air to eyeball vents.

mjc,

 

Do you have any pictures whatsoever of this project. I am trying to do the very exact same thing right now due to the same reason (cracked deflectors). Do you have any pictures of the end result as well? Any help would be much appreciated.

[jetdriven]

Hang on I may develop a Fiberglas piece to transition to the euro vents and fill the hole in the headliner too

[AmigOne]

Hang on I may develop a Fiberglas piece to transition to the euro vents and fill the hole in the headliner too

If I imagine correctly what Jetdriven means, I believe it is the way to go. One piece that does it all of a size that cover the existing round vents, which by the way, at least in my 68C are useless. Vacuum forming probably the easiest way, here is a link how to build one http://makezine.com/2011/09/08/how-to-large-homemade-vacuum-forming-machine/

[jetdriven]

It's actually pretty easy to make a mold and vacuum form a fiberglass piece that you install the vents too. You cut the end to flush install the euro vents and then rivet and proseal the other end to the plenum. I'm up to my ass in pre-paint airplane prep but this is a big thing to me.

There might be a market for vacuum formed fiberglass pieces to install the euro vents in the rotary vent Mooneys. Who's in for a set of 4?

[carusoam]

How are you going to vaccuum form fiberglass Byron?

The resin thermosets and does not melt or soften which is required for vacuum forming.

Best regards,

-a-