Before-During-After Panel Upgrade Thread

[Andy95W]

Love the Tom Hanks quote, Chris.

[Stetson20]

On 12/16/2020 at 1:37 PM, PJClark said:

Out of order but there you have it!

So can you share in AMUs how much this cost? To the nearest 10AMUs would be enlightening. Understand if you’d rather not put that number in a public forum. It’s beautiful, BTW!

[Niko182]

29 minutes ago, Stetson20 said:

So can you share in AMUs how much this cost? To the nearest 10AMUs would be enlightening. Understand if you’d rather not put that number in a public forum. It’s beautiful, BTW!

Itll probably be between 80 and a 110k depending on how expensive or cheap the shop was. My moneys on 85k. 

[elimansour]

 

 

[Stetson20]

2 hours ago, Niko182 said:

Itll probably be between 80 and a 110k depending on how expensive or cheap the shop was. My moneys on 85k. 

Wow.. that’s shocking. Not in a good way, either. I see why they say get the airplane you want.

[PJClark]

17 hours ago, Stetson20 said:

Wow.. that’s shocking. Not in a good way, either. I see why they say get the airplane you want.

Nope.  All in $57k.  That included exchanging the old 530W for GTN 750.  Shop kept all removed equipment except GDC31, GDL88, AND FS210.  I sold those on eBay for around $3.5k so my net was $53.5 I guess.

The G3X is surprisingly inxpensive to do

[aviatoreb]

In process.

[LANCECASPER]

I've never seen a batteryminder mounted in the airplane, just the wiring to plug it in externally.

[aviatoreb]

8 hours ago, LANCECASPER said:

I've never seen a batteryminder mounted in the airplane, just the wiring to plug it in externally.

It's very convenient.  The plug from the outside is behind a little door that was otherwise unused.  So it's easy to use.  I had it done when I had the airplane painted and where it was placed was the paint shop's idea.

[StevenL757]

My turn...All in all, 10 years' ownership and four phases of upgrades to get it where I want it.  Lots of work, but grateful and fortunate to be able to own and fly this thing.  The revised W&B gives me 1007 lbs. useful load.

Original cockpit as purchased in 2010

 

First phase - factory reman IO550N8B engine and new F7498 Hartzell scimitar

 

Second phase - Initial G500, L-3 ESI500, GTN750, L-3 Lynx9000+ install

 

Third phase - Upgrade to G500TXi, add GTN650, PFD controller, upgrade EDM900 to EDM930

 

Fourth (and hopefully last for a looonnnnng time...) phase - GI275 and GFC500+YD install.  More simplified and functional.

[0TreeLemur]

On 2/4/2021 at 8:48 PM, aviatoreb said:

In process.

Interesting application of velcro to retain interior panels...  Interested in learning how you positioned them on the panels.

 

 

 

 

How in the world did a human install this?   Tiny human?   Long, thin human?

[aviatoreb]

34 minutes ago, 0TreeLemur said:

How in the world did a human install this?   Tiny human?   Long, thin human?

Which part?  Which picture are you looking at?

I happen to know its not humans.  They have Keebler elves working at the shop, as they were recently laid off from the cookie factory.

[0TreeLemur]

Just now, aviatoreb said:

Which part?  Which picture are you looking at?

I happen to know its not humans.  They have Keebler elves working at the shop, as they were recently laid off from the cookie factory.

That little box in the tail above and near the starboard static port.   In pondering the eventual addition of Brittain altitude hold capability to our C, I can't envision how that work could occur back there without involving said Keebler elves!  I suppose someone had to physically enter that space.  There's no place to sit/lie though.

[Minivation]

13 minutes ago, 0TreeLemur said:

That little box in the tail above and near the starboard static port.   In pondering the eventual addition of Brittain altitude hold capability to our C, I can't envision how that work could occur back there without involving said Keebler elves!  I suppose someone had to physically enter that space.  There's no place to sit/lie though.

When you're an avionics tech, you learn to get verrrry familiar with this area. I like to call it Mooney's Cozy Home of Pain and Suffering. I usually access this area by leaning in forward then twisting my upper torso to the right to face the ceiling. If you're gonna be in there for more than a minute, it requires a ton of upper body strength in order to keep your upper body supported and to avoid resting your waist on the sharp sides on the battery access panel.

[Nukemzzz]

On 1/23/2021 at 11:08 PM, LANCECASPER said:

It's getting there . .  I should get it back this coming week

I wouldn't be able to see over the glare shield on this one!  lol

[Nukemzzz]

What you guys have been upgrading "From" is what I upgraded "To"! 

I'm thankful that folks like you keep the "pretty damn good" used avionics market going.  lol

Now I'm hoping that you start flooding the market with cheap GTN650 or IFD440's.  Note that I've left room for up to a 530W size....

Since my "New" pick I've installed a EI R1 tach and a Vertical Card Compass. 

Side note:  This was all done by my hands, in my hanger, with a A&P/IA inspecting my work work at the end.  

Other side note:  See that N number in the background?  It's no longer flying...crashed on take-off in Florida not long after that picture.

S

 

[0TreeLemur]

3 hours ago, StevenL757 said:

Fourth (and hopefully last for a looonnnnng time...) phase - GI275 and GFC500+YD install.  More simplified and functional.

Damn that's clean.  Looks like the front end of big aluminum.   I guess I'd give up my steam gauges for that layout.  Which autopilot is that?

-Fred

[0TreeLemur]

2 hours ago, Minivation said:

When you're an avionics tech, you learn to get verrrry familiar with this area. I like to call it Mooney's Cozy Home of Pain and Suffering. I usually access this area by leaning in forward then twisting my upper torso to the right to face the ceiling. If you're gonna be in there for more than a minute, it requires a ton of upper body strength in order to keep your upper body supported and to avoid resting your waist on the sharp sides on the battery access panel.

How then do you work with your hands if they are busy supporting yourself off the razor blades?   Can't install nut plates with one hand, can you?  Just curious.  I'm never going to get in there.  My metal knee doesn't let me go into tight places without running the risk of getting stuck or having some kind of horrendous leg cramp.

[StevenL757]

3 hours ago, 0TreeLemur said:

Damn that's clean.  Looks like the front end of big aluminum.   I guess I'd give up my steam gauges for that layout.  Which autopilot is that?

-Fred

Thanks Freddo! (Apollo 13 reference)   :-)

The autopilot is the Garmin GFC500.

[Minivation]

18 hours ago, 0TreeLemur said:

How then do you work with your hands if they are busy supporting yourself off the razor blades?   Can't install nut plates with one hand, can you?  Just curious.  I'm never going to get in there.  My metal knee doesn't let me go into tight places without running the risk of getting stuck or having some kind of horrendous leg cramp.

Cantilever upper body  (i.e. using your abdomen muscles alone to keep your waist-up held in place). But don't get me wrong - I'm no gym guy (quite far from it).

I'm not sure if I'd have the strength and patience to install nutplates there though. In fact, from the picture it looks like the installation simply uses three screws held together by nylock nuts. That arrangement would be easily doable if you used an angle-drill and drilled out one or two holes at at time.

[JimB]

I have a technician that can crawl in there and sit upright with her legs crossed and appear to very comfortable! We were just installing a GFC 500 and it requires riveting some brackets and installing the servos much farther back that the magnetometer shown earlier. Wish I had taken a picture. I tried to get in there and after finally getting myself back out, I hurt for 2 days.

[Minivation]

1 hour ago, JimB said:

I have a technician that can crawl in there and sit upright with her legs crossed and appear to very comfortable! We were just installing a GFC 500 and it requires riveting some brackets and installing the servos much farther back that the magnetometer shown earlier. Wish I had taken a picture. I tried to get in there and after finally getting myself back out, I hurt for 2 days.

Wait, this gives me ideas. Why not certify a Mooney for 5 seats? Hmm. 

"Where's the fifth passenger?"
"Oh, the kid? He's out in the back. It's gonna be a bit dark and cold back there, but we gave him a blanket. He'll be fine."

Edited February 17, 2021 by Minivation

[donkaye]

I had owned my airplane for 21 years before I started my upgrade journey.  I thought it was a one time effort.  It was not.  It started in 2013 and continues to this day. So far there have been 5 major iterations and numerous small ones, each with a good reason.  There will probably be more as other new technology comes online.  For those interested here is the order: 1. G500, GTN 750/650, GMA35. GTS 800, GDL 88, GTX 330ES, ESI 2000, GDL 69A, WX 500, MVP-50.  2. G500TXI, ESI 500, GTX 335, FS 210, Alpha Systems AOA.  3. GCU 485 Controller required a panel change.  4. GFC 500, G5.  5. GTN Xi 750/650.  6. Aera 760, Landing Height System.

[Danb]

Damn that’s nice Don..

[donkaye]

2 hours ago, Danb said:

Damn that’s nice Don..

Thanks.  When I thought about doing everything imaginable in the way of avionics with the Bravo and loving the Mooney in general and its speeds versus buying a turboprop or jet without all the new innovations (although the Epic has been tempting), the decision was not difficult given the type of flying I do.