262 Conversion

[FAST FLIGHT OPTIONS LLC]

Could anyone tell me who has the STC for the 262 conversion on the older 231's?  I'm trying to figure out if it's still possible to have it done and how much of a cost one would be looking at. I'll bet it this day and age it's not economically feasible to have the conversion done if it were even still possible

[KSMooniac]

It was a Mod Works STC, and as far as I understand it isn't available any longer after the hurricane many years ago.  You could always call them and ask, though.

[Parker_Woodruff]

It wouldn't be worth it, especially with plane values these days.  You'd be better off buying a 252 or Encore.

[Bennett]

From memory, there were actually two "Trophy" conversions: the Trophy 261, and the later 262.  I had the 261 coversion done to my 231 in the early 1990s when Coy Jacobs was at Punta Gorda, and the firm was called Mod Works. When Tim took over the Mod Works, Coy left and established the Mod Squad, and the Trophy 262 conversion was created. I believe they were essentually built to the same goal: to build a 252 clone, but leaving it a 12 volt system. The later 231 and 252 airframes were the same (I'm sure there might have been some minor differences such as rounded window corners) with the 252 having a one peice belly pan, and an improved Contintal engine with a better wastegate system, an intercooler, some more engine tweaks. and a different propleller. The 261/262 STC conversions replaced everything firewall forward with the same engine propeller combination as the factory 252, and added a one piece belly pan, as well as a new cowl with a different variable vent system (the 252 cowl).  The 261/262 POH was a reprint of the 252 POH, and I regularly flew her at FL270 (with Prist in the fuel tanks).  The conversion, at that time, was generally less expensive than selling a perfectly good 231, and buying a new factory 252.  In my case, while the 261 conversion was supposed to use a remanufactured engine, I actually got a brand new engine since at that point there were no remanufactured engines for the 252.  It was a great airplane, and I owned her for about 16 years.  I would not think that converting a 231 would make much sense now, since there are good existing conversions for sale, and 252 prices are reasonable at this point.  If you really want to persue the STC, you might want contact Coy Jacobs at his company: Mooney Mart.  Before a whole bunch of negative postings come in about Coy, I want to say that all of my dealings with him, including selling my 261 though him, were honest, without gile, and met my expectations. I think that he, and Paul Lowen at LASAR know more about Mooneys than anyone else I have ever met.  I am not endorsing Coy, as I know some Mooneyspace members have had "difficulties" with his work.  I can only tell you about my experiences.

[Greg@williamslawoffice.us]

There is a little more to the history of the 262 conversion. The actual mechanic on the STC is Robert (Bob) Meier, who was the original owner of Mod Works, and he still owns the STC for the 262 Conversion. Mooney Mart just subbed out the engine and other installation work to Bob when he was based at Wimauma, FL. Bob is now one of the owners at Mooney Mod Works at Sarasota(SRQ). He still offers the 262 conversion there. Whether it makes economic sense is a good question. I think most of the value in an older Mooney is the engine. The better the engine, the more value the airplane. The MB engine is a good package to operate.

[thomas1142]

What would the approx cost be to overhaul an engine (262 conversion) that has reached TBO?