Well, I got the old bird back to Boise. At the last moment we had an issue with a tach that didn’t run (bad cable) and a mag that was timed 180 deg out (firing on the top of the exhaust stroke) but thanks to a very astute and gracious guy 2 hangars down we got them both fixed the afternoon before I left. After numerous taxi runs, run-ups and mag checks I took off and headed north to Columbia,CA for the first fuel stop. The motor ran perfect. No hiccups. Fuel burn is uneven and I burned 17 gal out of the right tank and 10 out of the left on the first leg so it was left wing heavy for the last hour. I need to adjust the vent tube as I know it’s not exactly where the CPA bulletin says it should be for even venting. Not a drop of oil burned that I can tell after 6 hours of flying. I’m sure the chrome rebuild 230 hours ago went a long way toward protecting those cylinders during it’s 15 years of sitting. My son and I replaced the bladders in 2 1/2 days. The ones that came out were original but had been repaired back in 1988. No wonder we didn’t have to replace anymore than about 3 ft of seam tape. It must have been replaced when the bladders were repaired. Rebuilt carb installed, rebuilt mags, new plugs, overhauled shimmy damper, “new” used tires I carried down with me that Todd at Hitchcock Aviation was kind enough to loan me, rebuilt shimmy damper and brake fluid topped off. (probably should change that) No leaks so far! Prop needs to be refurbished and that will happen shortly. Thanks for everyone’s input!

If it continues to be as successful as it appears so far, have you considered investing heavily in the Idaho lottery?

Cary

Hah! Well, not yet anyway. Nothing is perfect of course. I noticed an oil leak yesterday with the oil weeping out a seam in the front of the cowling above the air scoop. I’m guessing there may be a push-rod tube leaking (or many) after all the sitting. I’ll check that out today.

Let’s see...the carb heat knob works it’s way out in flight. Annoying
The cabin air knob won’t pull out at all.
Only one radio...a Val flip-flop Com only. Works fine.
No working artificial horizon. Just an old military style ball that seems stuck on “Dive”.
I do have a G-meter though! (Anyone want to trade for an AH?).
Has a King 8002 Loran in front of my face. Trash. I have my checklist taped over it.
Throttle knob is red like ixture should be. Annoying again.
The fuel vent next to the strut on the left wing needs it’s position adjusted. Fuel feed is uneven with the right tank burning about 4 gal more per hour.

So there’s a decent size punch list I need to get to. But it flies hands off in calm air and that’s really nice.

If those are your only issues, I’ll send you money to buy more of those lottery tickets

Is the G-meter 3 1/8 or 2 1/4?
I have an old AN electric horizon that I think still works.

I'm with Cary and Bagarre, where do I send my lottery money!!! Really glad it is working out for you! You're having better luck than I have on airplane 'projects'!

Well my wife and I (yep!) pulled the cowling yesterday and found what we hope is the oil leak and are hopeful it’s the problem...a loose oil temp (or oil pressure...not sure) unit that is screwed into the block between the push rods. I could turn it by hand to tighten and did so, about a turn and 1/2. I’ll fly it in the next day or 2 and check again. Used some LPS2 on the rusty cables for carb heat, cabin air and cabin heat. I need to replace those.
The G-meter is 3 1/8.
The worst thing about the paint is that it really doesn’t need replacing. It’s GM yellow and white just like my first car...a ‘55 Chevy. The brown is GM also. Anyone got a favorite polishing wax to use with a buffer?

It would be interesting to know what you and the mechanics find inside that engine, and how long it lasts if you run it.
Sounds like you got a good deal at this stage.

Save the Loran. That along with An ADF make great book ends

Sometimes different fuel feed rates aren't the vent system, it can be the supply lines; if they've been replaced with lines with the wrong wall thickness that can affect feed rates. I've seen that with the elbow lines coming off the tank in a 172F.

I get that but these are original....as is the wiring..

WWhunter wrote:I'm with Cary and Bagarre, where do I send my lottery money!!! Really glad it is working out for you! You're having better luck than I have on airplane 'projects'!

That should be your oil pressure line, coming off the block my jug #1 if i'm visually reading your write-up correctly.

I won’t say much about the engine yet until I get a compression check but all seems very good so far. I’ve been to Smiley Creek (100 lbs under gross) and then into Johnson Creek for one night. I only have about 12 hours on the plane since I flew it home from KWHP on July 1st but aside from needing another radio, an updated EGT gauge and a new artificial horizon, all is very good. I’ll also replace the throttle, mixture and prop cables (which are all the wrong colors) and I just got a FA for a Cessna 310 fork which I have along with 8.00x6’s for the mains and a 6.00x6 for the nose. Can’t decide what to do for gauges. My budget is not big but I’d like to rebuild the panel this winter. Since I need the AH but it’s not mandatory for VFR I’m thinking of a G5, JPI or EI fuel flow and a combined digital EGT/CHT. I don’t want too much of a mix of digital and steam until I can do it all right.

BirdyinBOI wrote: I’m thinking of a G5, JPI or EI fuel flow and a combined digital EGT/CHT. I don’t want too much of a mix of digital and steam until I can do it all right.

I am big on EI. They have very good after market help. If we meet up at Garden Valley in a few weeks I will show you mine.

Tim

I was parked right next to him at Johnson Creek 2 weeks ago. Can't say much about the engine, but the airframe looked great.

Compression check and borescope tomorrow! (Aug 2). I’ll report later....

Had the compression test and borescope yesterday. All cylinders and valves looked very good with the scope. Compressions came in at 59,60, 70, 74,74, 72. The mechanic said that with only 12 hours on the motor since the 15 year idle period I shouldn't worry. “Fly 20 more hours and they will come up”. Actually he just said to go fly the crap out of it and it will be fine. I tend to agree.

You only have two that I'd consider low.
Read this article by Mike Bush and the referenced Continental SB before you get out any wrenches.

https://www.airframesalaska.com/v/vspfi ... ession.pdf

Ah....great article. Thanks so much.

Pull one of the lifters in the front that does double duty while you are looking at it.

Tim

https://backcountrypilot.org/me/my-photos/39001958panamayellow/album?albumid=5940

New tires and 310 fork...