Smooth Belly and front gear door mod

[Scott Aviation]

Hi I recently purchased a 76 M20J that was involved in a belly up landing, instead of fixing the sheet metal and front gear door I was looking at the mods available for these, Im struggling to understand the value of $4000 for the smooth belly from Lasar  and the $1500 kit from SWTA in texas, if anyone has some experience with the smooth belly, which is best, most affordable etc any info would help, also I saw somewhere you can get the front gear doors larger than factory that overlap more for better sealing and noise levels can someone offer some advice on these two items. 

[MooneyPilot231]

According to some articles on the MAPA site, the benefit of the one piece belly is nil. I believe that is directly from the test pilot who saw no appreciable increase in air speed. Check all the articles on MAPA website, I am almost positive that is where I read the info.

[LFOD]

I think the advantage from the one piece belly is the ease of removal during maintenance.  I actually had a mechanic refuse to work on my '67 F model because it didn't have a one piece belly mod...

[KSMooniac]

Dugosh is handling the new smooth belly option, and their # is 830-896-7550.  I'm very interested in this too, but haven't called yet to get the nitty gritty.

I've read that the benefits are easier MX access, and a slightly improved climb rate and quieter cabin.  It shouldn't help cruise speed at all.  After doing two owner-assist annuals, I cannot wait to add this mod to my plane!  Dealing with all those panels and screws is a PITA.

I'm also interested in overlapping gear doors because mine are worn, and I'll need to do something prior to paint.  I haven't pursued those yet.

[Parker_Woodruff]

I have no idea on the speed claims, but you'll enjoy faster shop work and less labor expense because of that.  The MX guys over at Don Maxwell like it a lot.

[GeorgePerry]

I have to weight in on this one....Sure there are alot of screws in the belly of a "non one piece belly" mooney, but give me a break.  Who cares if it takes an extra 20 minutes to remove a few panels.  Cordless drills make quick work of belly panels.  The smooth belly mod costs >$5K.  That's alot of scratch to save 20 minutes of shop labor once or twice a year.

[The-sky-captain]

I agree George. It seems to be pretty common in aviation to pay a whole lot for something that gives small rewards.

[fantom]

I have the one piece belly panel, and it's cool, however, once you know your Mooney you may not have to remove ALL the older belly panels to get at what you're looking for.

Also, I've never received a price break because of the one piece panel. I think the time difference is more like an hour.

 

[GeorgePerry]

Agree that if you've got to replace the belly anyway it makes sense to go with a one piece set up.  But to replace perfectly good panels for no other reason than saving an hour on labor during annual or "maybe" picking up a knot or two seems like overkill

[Scott Aviation]

Thanks for all your great comments on here, I got a quote to repair the damaged skins and formers $2200.  I believe the 1 piece belly is $3500 so if theres no speed increase and maintence is a negligable, I would rather have a metal belly anyday over fibreglass. But that carbon fibre mod looks interesting (thanks for the tip).  The front gear doors to replace were quoted at $1680 does anyone know where I can get the mod ones cheaper that seal better? BTW this is a fantastic site!

 

[TurboExec]

Save the coin and go with the metal skins instead of the one piece...$1300 buys a lot of gas!

[Capt_CrashN_Burn]

So is this yet ANOTHER LASAR Speed mod that doesn't perform as advertized?? :-0

[scottfromiowa]

Who is paying for the repairs?  YOU, or your insurance carrier?  My carrier paid for the over-lapping doors and the laser one-piece belly mod...there was "no extra cash in the pocket".  I either did OEM or substituted with the upgrade option.  I choose to upgrade to the K gear doors and the one piece belly.

I agree that replacement of either would be a waste, but I also wouldn't hesitate a minute (with proper inspection)...and would actually prefer a gear-up plane with these modifications vs. an OEM stock belly/gear doors.  My plane had a three blade prop at time of gear-up.  The prop helped "support" the plane vs. a two-blade prop and I had to only repair one stringer and the co-pilot in board flap hinge.  Wings had NO ground contact nor did tail...except bottom of retractable step and plastic on rotating beacon.  Also got a newly over-hauled exhaust out of the deal...

[Kwixdraw]

Am I mistaken or are the overlapping nose gear doors a factory part?  I read somewhere that they are supposed to cut down wind noise in the cabin.

[KSMooniac]

The overlapping nose gear doors are a factory part from later model J+ airframes.  I added them last year in conjunction with paint since my old ones were eroded at the front and in need of repair anyway.  I couldn't measure any noise reduction.

[rbridges]

Quote: scottaviation

Thanks for all your great comments on here, I got a quote to repair the damaged skins and formers $2200.  I believe the 1 piece belly is $3500 so if theres no speed increase and maintence is a negligable, I would rather have a metal belly anyday over fibreglass. But that carbon fibre mod looks interesting (thanks for the tip).  The front gear doors to replace were quoted at $1680 does anyone know where I can get the mod ones cheaper that seal better? BTW this is a fantastic site!

 

[Kwixdraw]

On the gear doors, do the overlapped doors last better than the early style. Mine have had extensions riveted onto the front and they are erroded away too.

[Vref]

about 460$ per door from LASAR...