N3425X information

[silent101]

 

Hello,

 

I have been looking at Mooneys for several months now and have finally started looking at different planes. I am a new PP and this will be my first airplane purchase so I am really looking for any help possible. Anyhow, I went out to look at N3425X this Sunday witch is a 66'E model. With this plane it has had a lot of work done in 2000 witch worries me because of the age and the very little hours it has been flown according to the logs. I know the tanks have been spot repaired; it will need a paint job and landing gear disk. No gear ups and ok interior with a 430W. 377SMOH rebuilt by G&N witch I can’t find many reviews on the work they do? Has anyone ever heard of Indy Air sales also? What have been your experiences with low time, low use engines? I know I have read a lot about maintenance issues with engines that sit and I really can’t afford to be going through everything. Any information or advice would be really helpful.  Here is the barnstormers add  http://www.barnstormers.com/classified_files/6/5/1/9/0/0/651900-N3425X_Info-Spec_Sheet.pdf      Thanks, Rob

 

[pjsny78]

Rob,

Welcome to mooneyspace.

I am not familiar with the E models as much as other people on here are. But I can tell you about the fuel tanks. This unfortunately is a problem inheritant in all money’s. If what you deem "spot repair" meaning the inspection panels being resealed. That is not something that should bother you. I have had to reseal what seems to be all of mine and have to do it again. It’s nothing serious is what I am getting at. That’s really all I can help you with. There are so many great people on here that I am sure will contribute and help you out on a lot of your other questions.

 

[N601RX]

Quote: silent101

 

Hello,

 

I have been looking at Mooneys for several months now and have finally started looking at different planes. I am a new PP and this will be my first airplane purchase so I am really looking for any help possible. Anyhow, I went out to look at N3425X this Sunday witch is a 66'E model. With this plane it has had a lot of work done in 2000 witch worries me because of the age and the very little hours it has been flown according to the logs. I know the tanks have been spot repaired; it will need a paint job and landing gear disk. No gear ups and ok interior with a 430W. 377SMOH rebuilt by G&N witch I can’t find many reviews on the work they do? Has anyone ever heard of Indy Air sales also? What have been your experiences with low time, low use engines? I know I have read a lot about maintenance issues with engines that sit and I really can’t afford to be going through everything. Any information or advice would be really helpful.  Here is the barnstormers add  http://www.barnstormers.com/classified_files/6/5/1/9/0/0/651900-N3425X_Info-Spec_Sheet.pdf      Thanks, Rob

 

[rbridges]

I would bet money that it needs a complete strip/reseal.  You can spot seal the tanks, but these are unpredictable.  The local mooney service center would not guarantee any repairs.  Your best bet would be to fly it to Wilmar in Minnesota and get a complete strip/reseal, but factor in another $8K in costs.  His repairs are guaranteed for 7 years, and everyone seems to be very happy with his work.

[philipneeper]

i bought my mooney 78 ranger....bought it after sitting for 14 years and has 500 hrs past tbo.. im still working on her but my engine is still in good condition.

[DaV8or]

IMO, the most important information on the engine condition is recent activity. If the engine sat for ages, but then was used regularly recently and produced no problems, then I'd say you're good to go. Thanks to MooneySpace, you can ask the previous owner about the previous useage. As to the fuel tanks, when shopping for any Mooney, if the plane doesn't have bladders, or a recent (say under 10 years) complete strip and reseal by one of the respected shops, then expect to be doing tank repairs in the future. Make you offer on the plane accordingly. Strip and reseal about $8,000, bladders closer to $10,000.

Buying an old airplane is all about balancing priorities with budget and risk. Since you're shopping vintage, I'm going to assume budget is an issue. This means you will be compromising something somewhere to get your plane. I know I had to. With this plane, it might be fuel tank condition. Remember, depending on how bad or location, sometimes you can fly a long time and just live with a little leaking.

[sleepingsquirrel]

Quote: DaV8or

...... Remember, depending on how bad or location, sometimes you can fly a long time and just live with a little leaking.

[silent101]

Thanks for the replies!

From what I have been trying to establish I want to get a plane with the cleanest airframe/ good engine/prop times and good avaionics. I have set aside around $20K for issues that may come up such as fuel tanks and posible repaint but budjet is defentaly a consern and I dont want something thats going to need 50k worth of impending work. Can anyone recomend were to get a good pre buy in the indiana area?

[231flyer]

LOL.......I would settle for 1/4 the speed of the SR71 and put up with a lot more leaks.

[231flyer]

Muncie Aviation in Muncie IN.  They are a MSC and do great work.  I used them all the time when I lived in Dayton OH.  Infact they did the prebuy on my 231 in 1993.

[rbridges]

definitely get a through pre-buy.  Without doubt, one of the most important steps in your purchase. 

[N601RX]

PM sent.

[jetdriven]

Quote: silent101

Thanks for the replies!

From what I have been trying to establish I want to get a plane with the cleanest airframe/ good engine/prop times and good avaionics. I have set aside around $20K for issues that may come up such as fuel tanks and posible repaint but budjet is defentaly a consern and I dont want something thats going to need 50k worth of impending work. Can anyone recomend were to get a good pre buy in the indiana area?

[mooneyman]

Quote: 231flyer

Muncie Aviation in Muncie IN.  They are a MSC and do great work.  I used them all the time when I lived in Dayton OH.  Infact they did the prebuy on my 231 in 1993.

[Guest]

G&N is a solid name and has been around for a long time they do HIGH QUALITY work. 

 

Indy aero is straight up and also a nice place to deal with. 

 

One thing others seem to not mention about low engine time. If one engine has 100 hours on it for the year and flys once a month and another engine flys .45 every seven days which would be 20-30 hours for the years I myself would buy the 20-30 per year engine. 

[rbridges]

Quote: BluSky

G&N is a solid name and has been around for a long time they do HIGH QUALITY work. 

 

Indy aero is straight up and also a nice place to deal with. 

 

One thing others seem to not mention about low engine time. If one engine has 100 hours on it for the year and flys once a month and another engine flys .45 every seven days which would be 20-30 hours for the years I myself would buy the 20-30 per year engine. 

[DaV8or]

Quote: jetdriven

That was so important to us that we pulled off a cylinder and did a visual on the cam.   The airplane had only flown 50 hours in the last 3 years, but it was from Tulsa, and the price was right.

[silent101]

Quote: DaV8or

And there you have it. Byron's plane is proof that just because an engine sits doesn't mean it will have corrosion on the cam. His course of action, pulling a cylinder, is a good idea in thia case. However, it will add significantly to the cost of your prebuy and the owner might not be thrilled with the idea.

[jetdriven]

Quote: DaV8or

And there you have it. Byron's plane is proof that just because an engine sits doesn't mean it will have corrosion on the cam. His course of action, pulling a cylinder, is a good idea in thia case. However, it will add significantly to the cost of your prebuy and the owner might not be thrilled with the idea.