Gear up project J

[Elijah]

Hi all, first post on here but I've been a lurker for awhile. I've got an early J model that landed gear up, acquired as salvage and I'm working with an I/A buddy to get it flying again. It needs lots of TLC but I enjoy a good project and have had a lot of fun with this so far - I enjoy working on airplanes almost as much as flying them. I'm a long time owner of a Cessna 140 so I have another way to get my flying fix in the meantime  I've got most of the belly damage repaired and slowly putting stuff back together. Fabbed new skins and a couple belly formers. Still waiting on flap hinge stuff from Mooney. I'll attach a few pics, maybe start a bit of a project log as time allows. 

My main reason for posting is I need replacement nose gear doors. I can get new ones from Mooney but before I do that, just thought I'd check once more to see if anyone here has some they want to let go of. It's $1300ish per door new from Mooney, which actually isn't too bad considering salvage places are asking $1000ish for old ones and I haven't been able to find any in stock. Also will need some kind of ADSB solution eventually, I am leaning towards a GTX335 or similar. I plan to keep the steam gauges but would like a simple GPS so a GNX375 is also a consideration. So if anyone is pulling something like that out of a panel, keep me in mind  Ok, thanks for reading! 

[T. Peterson]

1 hour ago, Elijah said:

Hi all, first post on here but I've been a lurker for awhile. I've got an early J model that landed gear up, acquired as salvage and I'm working with an I/A buddy to get it flying again. It needs lots of TLC but I enjoy a good project and have had a lot of fun with this so far - I enjoy working on airplanes almost as much as flying them. I'm a long time owner of a Cessna 140 so I have another way to get my flying fix in the meantime  I've got most of the belly damage repaired and slowly putting stuff back together. Fabbed new skins and a couple belly formers. Still waiting on flap hinge stuff from Mooney. I'll attach a few pics, maybe start a bit of a project log as time allows. 

My main reason for posting is I need replacement nose gear doors. I can get new ones from Mooney but before I do that, just thought I'd check once more to see if anyone here has some they want to let go of. It's $1300ish per door new from Mooney, which actually isn't too bad considering salvage places are asking $1000ish for old ones and I haven't been able to find any in stock. Also will need some kind of ADSB solution eventually, I am leaning towards a GTX335 or similar. I plan to keep the steam gauges but would like a simple GPS so a GNX375 is also a consideration. So if anyone is pulling something like that out of a panel, keep me in mind  Ok, thanks for reading! 

That is quite a first post!! You certainly are a can-do fella! I look forward to following your progress. Welcome aboard!

[1980Mooney]

2 hours ago, Elijah said:

Hi all, first post on here but I've been a lurker for awhile. I've got an early J model that landed gear up, acquired as salvage and I'm working with an I/A buddy to get it flying again. It needs lots of TLC but I enjoy a good project and have had a lot of fun with this so far - I enjoy working on airplanes almost as much as flying them. I'm a long time owner of a Cessna 140 so I have another way to get my flying fix in the meantime  I've got most of the belly damage repaired and slowly putting stuff back together. Fabbed new skins and a couple belly formers. Still waiting on flap hinge stuff from Mooney. I'll attach a few pics, maybe start a bit of a project log as time allows. 

My main reason for posting is I need replacement nose gear doors. I can get new ones from Mooney but before I do that, just thought I'd check once more to see if anyone here has some they want to let go of. It's $1300ish per door new from Mooney, which actually isn't too bad considering salvage places are asking $1000ish for old ones and I haven't been able to find any in stock. Also will need some kind of ADSB solution eventually, I am leaning towards a GTX335 or similar. I plan to keep the steam gauges but would like a simple GPS so a GNX375 is also a consideration. So if anyone is pulling something like that out of a panel, keep me in mind  Ok, thanks for reading! 

Parting 1978 Mooney M20J 3538.9 AFTT Lycoming IO-360-A3B6D 776 SMOH Garmin Avionics - Air Salvage (azairsalvage.com)

Look at the first pic - the nose gear doors appear to be still there.

[EricJ]

Nice!   I looked at that airplane a couple of times while it was parked after the gear-up landing, and noticed the other day that it had disappeared (and been replaced on that ramp by a Cirrus with no engine).    I wondered what happened to it.   Glad to see somebody is giving it some attention.   

[blaine beaven]

Glad to see a bird being repaired and not heading for the scrap heap! Good luck!

[Pinecone]

I would recommend going to the GTX-345 transponder as it gives you ADS-B in also and Blue Tooth connection to iPad or other devices.

Consider steping up to a GTN-650Xi.  Much more capable.  Has nav and com and GPS. 

Good luck on the project.  Nice seeing a plane that was written off being put back in service.  You might consider doing more of these.

[PT20J]

2 hours ago, Pinecone said:

Good luck on the project.  Nice seeing a plane that was written off being put back in service.

I second that. They’re not building any new ones!

[1980Mooney]

16 hours ago, Elijah said:

...It's $1300ish per door new from Mooney, which actually isn't too bad considering salvage places are asking $1000ish for old ones and I haven't been able to find any in stock. ....  Ok, thanks for reading! 

If you do order new ones from Mooney, I assume you are getting the updated overlapping nose gear doors 550099-1 and 2 

[Elijah]

17 hours ago, 1980Mooney said:

Parting 1978 Mooney M20J 3538.9 AFTT Lycoming IO-360-A3B6D 776 SMOH Garmin Avionics - Air Salvage (azairsalvage.com)

Look at the first pic - the nose gear doors appear to be still there.

Thanks a lot for that, I called him this morning and sound like I've got a set of doors! Real excited, and it's not too far away either. 

 

2 hours ago, 1980Mooney said:

If you do order new ones from Mooney, I assume you are getting the updated overlapping nose gear doors 550099-1 and 2 

That's right, I guess they don't make the stock ones anymore. Was there a significant speed difference with the overlapping doors? 

[1980Mooney]

1 hour ago, Elijah said:

Thanks a lot for that, I called him this morning and sound like I've got a set of doors! Real excited, and it's not too far away either. 

 

That's right, I guess they don't make the stock ones anymore. Was there a significant speed difference with the overlapping doors? 

That’s great to hear – I hope you got a good deal. Most importantly you can get them now.

The overlapping nose gear doors may have slightly reduced noise and may only slightly improve speed – I doubt it’s 1 mph. You will never notice the difference. The important thing is to get your plane flying ASAP.!

[Elijah]

A great deal considering the alternatives, $700 for both doors shipped. Thanks AZ salvage! I still have a ways to go before it's flying but definitely a good step in the right direction! Appreciate the encouragement and suggestions above also! 

[A64Pilot]

I don’t see a downside to the tailbeacon ADSB myself, unless of course your spending a whole bunch on avionics, which I would advise against until at least the first year is gone, because it’s possible there could be some unknown $$$ expenses

[Echo]

I bought my plane with a GDL82 ADSB solution installed.  It is in the belly and works in tandem with your existing transponder.  Mine works great.  i like that you don't have to update the transponder.   

[Elijah]

I won't be spending a bunch on avionics, I don't mind steam gauges and I can't justify spending tens of thousands after which the airplane will still fly the exact same way :-)  

On ADSB, my thinking goes like this: a tailbeacon is around $2k, but the existing transponder is an old King KT76 and may need service in the near future. In which case, you might be money ahead to just buy a mode S transponder, probably around $3.5k and now you have only one box to maintain, relatively new, should give quite a few trouble free years. 

I actually have a tailbeacon on my cessna and it works fine but I have had to swap out the old Narco mode C. I also wonder how long it will last since it is out in the elements whenever you're out of the hangar. The GDL 82 is a nice solution, plus being a UAT you have the advantage of "anonymous" mode. Decisions, decisions.... :)

[LANCECASPER]

5 hours ago, Elijah said:

I won't be spending a bunch on avionics, I don't mind steam gauges and I can't justify spending tens of thousands after which the airplane will still fly the exact same way :-)  

On ADSB, my thinking goes like this: a tailbeacon is around $2k, but the existing transponder is an old King KT76 and may need service in the near future. In which case, you might be money ahead to just buy a mode S transponder, probably around $3.5k and now you have only one box to maintain, relatively new, should give quite a few trouble free years. 

I actually have a tailbeacon on my cessna and it works fine but I have had to swap out the old Narco mode C. I also wonder how long it will last since it is out in the elements whenever you're out of the hangar. The GDL 82 is a nice solution, plus being a UAT you have the advantage of "anonymous" mode. Decisions, decisions....

As long as you have a WAAS source for the transponder. (The GTX335 or 345 each have one model which includes a built in WAAS source).

Since ADS-B is here to stay, if you can find a used GTX345, since it has in and out, you won't have to think about that again. 

[Aerodon]

We installed a GTX335 with its internal GPS and the built in encoder in our C172.  I find the flight aware tracking much better that the various 978Mhz units.

Installing an extra GPS antenna was a pain in the butt, but the internal wiring is easier.  If I did it again I would look for a combined VHF/GPS antenna, but the hole patterns are 'wrong' for a Mooney.

Mooney panels are short of space, so I am a big fan of remote mounted units - transponder, audio panel, DME etc.

 

Don

 

[Rotorhead]

What is the plan for the engine? Do you know how long it was sitting for or what its history was?

[Elijah]

On 11/2/2023 at 5:41 AM, LANCECASPER said:

As long as you have a WAAS source for the transponder. (The GTX335 or 345 each have one model which includes a built in WAAS source).

Since ADS-B is here to stay, if you can find a used GTX345, since it has in and out, you won't have to think about that again. 

Yep, a 345 would be great too if I can find one for a decent price. I have a stratus already so I'm not as concerned about the in part, although having that built into the panel is certainly convenient. 

On 11/5/2023 at 12:03 PM, Aerodon said:

We installed a GTX335 with its internal GPS and the built in encoder in our C172.  I find the flight aware tracking much better that the various 978Mhz units.

Installing an extra GPS antenna was a pain in the butt, but the internal wiring is easier.  If I did it again I would look for a combined VHF/GPS antenna, but the hole patterns are 'wrong' for a Mooney.

Mooney panels are short of space, so I am a big fan of remote mounted units - transponder, audio panel, DME etc.

 

Don

 

I could see that beeing a challenge to get another antenna on the roof, it's got to be done though. I need to tear the interior apart anyway to replace the windows. 

 

On 11/5/2023 at 10:17 PM, Rotorhead said:

What is the plan for the engine? Do you know how long it was sitting for or what its history was?

I have all the logs, it was overhauled in 2009 and was running until the gear up incident, that was fall of 2019 I think. So, it sat for 3.5 years in winslow. We pulled it off and took it to a shop where they did the prop strike AD etc. It's got 250ish SMOH and ran nicely on the ferry flight. Once I get her airworthy I plan to put some hours on it and keep an eye on the filters/oil analysis. 

[EricJ]

6 hours ago, Elijah said:

I have all the logs, it was overhauled in 2009 and was running until the gear up incident, that was fall of 2019 I think. So, it sat for 3.5 years in winslow. We pulled it off and took it to a shop where they did the prop strike AD etc. It's got 250ish SMOH and ran nicely on the ferry flight. Once I get her airworthy I plan to put some hours on it and keep an eye on the filters/oil analysis. 

When I looked at it it definitely appeared to have had a significant oil leak going on for some time.   Glad to hear it's running well, but it was evident that it needed a fair amount of TLC.    It also appeared that it'd probably be a nice airplane if it got the attention it needed.   The gear-up damage didn't look bad.    I think you got a really good foundation for making a nice Mooney.

[Elijah]

7 hours ago, EricJ said:

When I looked at it it definitely appeared to have had a significant oil leak going on for some time.   Glad to hear it's running well, but it was evident that it needed a fair amount of TLC.    It also appeared that it'd probably be a nice airplane if it got the attention it needed.   The gear-up damage didn't look bad.    I think you got a really good foundation for making a nice Mooney.

The quick drain on the sump was leaking, that was the only significant oil leak I noticed on the engine. There was quite a bit of oil accumulated under the cowling and on all the belly and nose gear area. The gear up damage was not too bad, although this was actually it's 2nd gear up landing. It's a labor of love, I think it will be a nice plane eventually! 

I finished drilling the new skins last weekend, they're ready to go now. 

[Elijah]

This curved one for the side was a little tricky, I bent it roughly on a sheet metal brake and then rolled it on an english wheel to smooth it out. It turned out pretty good. 

[PT20J]

4 hours ago, Elijah said:

This curved one for the side was a little tricky, I bent it roughly on a sheet metal brake and then rolled it on an english wheel to smooth it out. It turned out pretty good. 

Really nice work!

[Pinecone]

Maybe this will start a cottage industry of flipping gear up airplanes.  Buy at salvage and repair, sell, repeat.  Makes some money and gets airplanes back in the air.

[Elijah]

11 minutes ago, Pinecone said:

Maybe this will start a cottage industry of flipping gear up airplanes.  Buy at salvage and repair, sell, repeat.  Makes some money and gets airplanes back in the air.

I'm a ways from being finished but even at this point I think you have to value your time at "not much" to make any money doing this  But I'm having fun, I work on computers all day and this hand work is kinda relaxing. I intend to keep it and fly it for my personal airplane - at least for the forseeable future. I have had some good trips in other people's mooneys and look forward to doing more of those. 

Latest challenge is getting the main gear out, I need the spring removal tool... I'll get them cleaned up and powder coated. I'm pretty sure it's the factory paint and it's not looking so good (lots of little rust spots). Probably should strip and paint the gear wells too while the gear is out, they need it bad. The more you look, the more work you find...

[EricJ]

7 hours ago, Elijah said:

Latest challenge is getting the main gear out, I need the spring removal tool... I'll get them cleaned up and powder coated. I'm pretty sure it's the factory paint and it's not looking so good (lots of little rust spots). Probably should strip and paint the gear wells too while the gear is out, they need it bad. The more you look, the more work you find...

There's a trick to stack quarters/washers/shims/whatever in between the coils while the gear is down, then let it up a bit.   The washers/shims will keep the spring long and take tension off the gear connection.