Looking at purchasing original M20 - things to look for?

[DirkS]

Hi all,

So, a friend of mine and I are looking at purchasing an early Mooney. We originally were thinking a C model, but just got offered the possibility to purchase a 1958.

i thought I’d ask the shared wisdom here if there’s anything in particular we should be looking at/worried about with the first generation. This would be our first Mooney, so no experience with them at all to this point. 

Thanks for any advice you have!

 

[Hank]

You'll need A&P / IA comfortable with wooden construction. Watch out for all wood issues of the wing--delamination, insect damage, etc. Plus the rest of the typical Mooney problems, except for corrosion of the wing spar.

On the other hand, the wood wings have a reputation for being very smooth in the air.

Which engine & prop was used in '58? The earliest models had 150hp engines, but I don't remember if they all had constant speed propellers or not.

[outermarker]

If you are not an A&P/IA the labor costs are higher to inspect the wood wing. Additionally, the controls on the wing are made of fabric. With the extra costs spent on annual inspections, and only having a 150hp engine, you might be better served by buying an early 1960s model, which is all-metal and features a 180hp-200hp engine. I've owned both versions. I flew a 1958 M20 for 10 years, but that was when there were more people still working on wood and labor was ALOT cheaper.

[Echo]

I would NOT buy a wood wing Mooney.  If it is free?  Maybe.

[hammdo]

@Sabremech has a 56 I believe he is restoring. Wood wing and all - but I believe he got it free - He is an AP/IA - good person to ask…

-Don

[Sabremech]

As Hammdo said, I have a 56 M20 that I’m bringing back to airworthy. I don’t think it really matters if it’s a wood wing or aluminum for maintainability in the near future. The mechanic shortage is fast approaching. I’ll be retiring from full time in January to pursue things that are fun to me.

If you’re considering purchasing an airplane, experimental may be the way going forward.

David 

[outermarker]

Hinckley airport in Illinois has a Wood Wing Mooney in good condition that the owner passed a few years ago. It's inside. It was bought for the engine. Someone should look into this one.

[Aaviationist]

15 hours ago, DirkS said:

Hi all,

So, a friend of mine and I are looking at purchasing an early Mooney. We originally were thinking a C model, but just got offered the possibility to purchase a 1958.

i thought I’d ask the shared wisdom here if there’s anything in particular we should be looking at/worried about with the first generation. This would be our first Mooney, so no experience with them at all to this point. 

Thanks for any advice you have!

 

I would stick with your original plan. 

[DirkS]

Thank you everyone- I appreciate the comments!

I can confirm it has the 150hp engine. It does seem to be well taken care of (same owner for the last 40+ years), and it’s local, so I’d easily be able to talk to the shop that’s been maintaining it, and hopefully continue that relationship if we did buy it. There’s a brand new prop just being installed - still wrapped in padding so I couldn’t tell you the brand off-hand. 
 

But, I have no experience with wood aircraft at all, which is one of the reasons for asking. I’m also not a small/light guy, so I was also wondering about the 150hp engine vs the later 180s in terms of performance.  Of course, I’m sure it’s the usual you pay more to get more that always exists in aviation. That, and realistically, most of the time it’ll be a 2-person plane. 

[outermarker]

I believe the all-metal Mooney with 180hp was introduced around 1960.

[cliffy]

With 150 HP its basically 2 person airplane

If the wood is OK (and you have a good wood savvy A&P it might be alright

I think (I need to verify) that all the wood tail are AD'd and changed to metal 

Check this out if it still has a wood tail? 

Question- Why are you looking around at the "bottom of the barrel" so to speak?

Rarely is a barn find worth it in the end  Remember the airplane is almost 70 years old.

Radios installed vs needed today? 

Landing gear rubber donuts?

Fuel leaks?

How long ago was it flown and how much has it flown  in the last 2 years? Engine cam lobe problems!

Now if you like saving history and don't mind lots of work to get there  (and $$$$) then it might be a good deal.

If all you really want to do is go fly - move on to a better candidate. 

This one is not a buy it and fly it prospect. 

[MikeOH]

You're asking the right questions, and are smart to do so.  However, the fact you don't know and have to ask tells me that the best answer to your "Things to look for" question is, to be blunt, ANOTHER PLANE!

[outermarker]

The one I owned had a metal tail section installed. It just takes a lot of time to inspect the wood, especially the center section, which means everything comes out of the cabin. That is why I said you could exchange the annual labor rate/hours for an all-metal airplane.

[DirkS]

So, let me try to answer the questions:

Metal tail - yea, confirmed, saw that. 
Landing gear pucks have just been replaced as part of the annual it’s undergoing. 
Avionics - a little old, but functional.

Why are we looking at this one? Because the owner is someone that we know casually, and it’s also at our local airport, which makes the whole process, including inspections, much easier. 
 

I also quite understand that the answer might be “look at something else” - that’s why I’m asking questions. 

[Sabremech]

27 minutes ago, DirkS said:

So, let me try to answer the questions:

Metal tail - yea, confirmed, saw that. 
Landing gear pucks have just been replaced as part of the annual it’s undergoing. 
Avionics - a little old, but functional.

Why are we looking at this one? Because the owner is someone that we know casually, and it’s also at our local airport, which makes the whole process, including inspections, much easier. 
 

I also quite understand that the answer might be “look at something else” - that’s why I’m asking questions. 

The wood wing is really not that hard to inspect. That was the key factor as to whether this airplane would fly again or be parted out. My 56 still had the original landing gear shocks installed and the nose pucks were shot. The engine mounts were sagging a lot and I was shocked at the price for replacements. I have all new instruments from a friends C model as he upgraded to glass. So at least I’ll move up to the 80’s for the panel. Getting back going on mine now. I’m looking forward t flying this one and comparing it to my friends C. 
David

[bonal]

So many negative waves, it seems the OP is asking good questions and it seems that this airplane has been well cared for.  New prop new shock disks and an IA that has been with the plane for 40 years with the same owner.  Don’t know how hard it is to remove the fuel tanks but from what I understand the wood wing has an actual metal fuel tank that is probably a lot easier to maintain than the goop that is in most of our mooneys.  Just saying there is someone that wants to take stewardship of a piece of Mooney history.  I think that’s pretty cool and I hope it works out for him and this plane.  Just because a newer plane that is no guarantee of some issues that could permanently ground the aircraft lots of airplanes flying around that are much older and in beautiful condition.  Go with eyes wide open and good luck some pictures would be nice.

[1967 427]

Some people are meant to be caretakers in life.  The person who eventually purchases this aircraft is a caretaker.  They are the ones who make purchases like this to preserve the history of our Mooney’s.  In my opinion this is a plane should be kept as close to original as possible.  (Obviously for safety improved radios).  I have owned a car for a long time, I am it’s present caretaker, and I tell my wife that she will have to sell it to the right person. (A new caretaker). 

Short version-  If this aircraft meets your mission and you want to take pride in its history, this is the plane for you.