I believe Rob is correct. My wife's '56 172 has the same open type of cowl that yours shows, and it is from a '59 172 via a field approval. It was done many years ago for improved cooling. The exhaust appears to be Bartone extensions. Hope that helps.

Brent

Very ambitious project for sure. I really like that cowling from a 172, looks good and not as big of a pain removing and installing as my 52 170B. I have the 8042 with the spinner like in your photo and is very difficult to weasel the cowling up behind the spinner and the get the screws in.
Good luck with your panel and all the other details and thanks for the pictures.

Randy

robw56 wrote:The cowling to me looks like that of a ~59 or so 172. I've seen other 170s with it installed. Not sure if it's a field approval, STC, or they just stuck it on there. ....

x2.
Looks like the Bartone exhaust mod.

ps- the exhaust in that photo is definitely non-standard for an O-300. I'd guess something is for sure going on under that cowl.

That looks like the Bartone exhaust. I have them and love them as they don't rub on the cowl and the belly stays cleaner.

Hygreen229

Did you happen to get any of the parts and pieces from Hubler Field?

Wannabe curious is all.

PS: I had the original Bush conversion and it kept the stock cowling except for the bumps on the nose.
Took the original fiberglass ones off of the inside and put some Harry Delicker aluminum ones on the outside for a bit more airflow room. As you probably know the original 170 cowling gives you the best seat in the house.

PPS: If you are going to install BAS pull handles - Put the tail up in the air, (on a barrel etc.) It's a bitch trying to crawl out backwards much less up-hill and backwards. I mention this only because it sounded like you do not have all rigging in the tail yet.

The extensions do appear to be the Bartone extensions in that photo. I have had my eye on those since I gave up the 180hp dreams for now.

No parts from Hubler although I am quite familiar with Hubler. We pick up wrecked airplanes as part of my job and we also are in the parts business so I see lots of parts daily.

The airplane did have the STC for the tail pull handles and I would like to put them back on this tail as it didnt have them. Noted about putting it up on something for getting back out of that skinny tail

Here is the panel with the majority of the instruments hanging in there. Right side there will be an engine monitor, suction gauge, EGT, CHT gauge and ammeter. Far left side needs something as its pretty blank, probably to my intercom and maybe a clock?? over there. First panel its rough coming up with everything to look good and functionality.

wannabe wrote:.... If you are going to install BAS pull handles - Put the tail up in the air, (on a barrel etc.) It's a bitch trying to crawl out backwards much less up-hill and backwards. I mention this only because it sounded like you do not have all rigging in the tail yet.

You think it's a bitch in a 170- try it in an omnivision Cessna like my C150/150TD.
The air in the angar was pretty blue by the time that job was done!
I never even thought to put the tail up on something. Doh!

Sorry its just been panel photos mostly but it has taken many hours to make it happen, here it is with all instruments installed. iPad mini mount bottom, then a nav/com and transponder above that. I have to admit, even with a drilling template for each size, some of the mounting holes are not lined up. Had to oversize a few which I am fine with however one in particular is pretty bad. The head of the screws aren't even quite covering the "over sizing" of the hole..any advice for one like this? Probably can use washers but that will look a bit funny I would think.

Holes - You could weld em shut - polish flat - and re-drill ?

I just had my new C-180 instrument panel carved out by Mr Lasermann in Red Deer, Alberta. Very reasonable cost, perhaps there is a laser shop near you. If your "template" panel is now close to what you want, they should be able to transfer it to their cad program, fine tune the details to perfection. The laser cuts are clean, precise ...they even cut in the aircraft registration to the panel.

54c180 wrote:I just had my new C-180 instrument panel carved out by Mr Lasermann in Red Deer, Alberta. Very reasonable cost, perhaps there is a laser shop near you. If your "template" panel is now close to what you want, they should be able to transfer it to their cad program, fine tune the details to perfection. The laser cuts are clean, precise ...they even cut in the aircraft registration to the panel.

There is a shop near me and I contacted them a while back, the price seemed very reasonable, just seemed like they wanted it in a cad file already and I supply the aluminum which is fine. Now that I have these two pieces and they are hand cut very close...you might be on to something.

http://www.avion.com/

Don't know if he is still in business but you would just have to send him a sketch or photo

He has / HAD all the variations on cad.

Trimtab wrote:http://www.avion.com/

Don't know if he is still in business but you would just have to send him a sketch or photo

He has / HAD all the variations on cad.

I had spoke with Avion previously as well. Their name was one of the first I came across when starting this. The whole STC kit was what turned me away because I had the ability to make myself. I could ask them about maybe just cutting panels. Its just the little things like the mounting holes not being right so having to auger them out etc. Overall I think it might just work the way it is...how perfect do I need it

Two panel pieces installed. with my T style yoke cut down approx 4" this has allowed the 6 pack. With a seat in place and the yokes turned over there is plenty of room and feels fine. Here comes the technical stuff...

When moving the control yoke in and out through the travel all is normal except when pulling all the way back to full stop the yoke comes "up" kind of like that of a Piper Cherokee if anyone is familiar. I don't have the elevator controls hooked up yet so maybe it wont go that far out if you will anyway do to the stops for the elevator?

Anyone familiar with this? I am going to post this on the 170 forum as well to see if anyone has any ideas. This reverse engineering thing is sometimes tougher than it looks.

kygreen229 wrote:This reverse engineering thing is sometimes tougher than it looks.

Glad to see you getting that bird back in the air!

With respect to your control yokes... I would strongly advise buying an STC with some data behind it rather than just guessing. When you don't know what you don't know....

I do not think the yoke supports even attach to the instrument panel. At least they do not in our '57 172.

On the bottom piece - make it out of 5052 and break the edge over so it does not cut your legs.



Tim

kygreen229 wrote:.....with my T style yoke cut down approx 4" ......When moving the control yoke in and out through the travel all is normal except when pulling all the way back to full stop the yoke comes "up" kind of like that of a Piper Cherokee if anyone is familiar. I don't have the elevator controls hooked up yet so maybe it wont go that far out if you will anyway do to the stops for the elevator? .....

When you pull the yokes back all the way in my C180, the yoke "stems" do change angle. That's why they have the Teflon "eyeball" fittings through the panel. When you cut down the control column 4", you changed the geometry, so the angle is more acute. I dunno if I woulda cut them down, but that's just me. If you really need the room for instruments and/or centerstack radios, a later model Y column would be better. I know a guy who has one, if you'd like I can see if he wants to sell it.

FWIW my C180 has a six-pack of flight instruments, and still has the stock T control column.

hotrod180 wrote:...my C180 has a six-pack of flight instruments, and still has the stock T control column.

He is rebuilding a C170.

kygreen229 wrote: Two panel pieces installed. with my T style yoke cut down approx 4" this has allowed the 6 pack. ....

Yes, but he does have a t column. Not sure if it's the same p/n and/or dimensions as the early 180 uses, but in a lot of cases a 6-pack instrument layout can be accommodated by not centering an instrument on the control yoke centerline. Note the location of the DG & horizon in the photo-- now imagine if the sixpack had been offset to the left just a bit, so the yoke stem was centered between the DG and the VSI, instead of right under the DG.