It’s always the “Higher Power” ($) that wins....

Ryan Smith wrote:I hate to see all the folks that have been run off from TIC170A on here. If it’s any consolation, I beat the “Convention culture” system and got elected to the BOD without ever having been to one. Hopefully things change soon as it didn’t seem to be as divisive when I was a kid. Several conventions in AK and Canada and an Alaskan president or two were the norm when I was a kid.

I miss seeing stuff like this on that site. I’ll continue to stalk BCP and IG for updates.

Let me know when you’re president of TGC170A and I’ll trade back my 182 for the 170B again!

Aryana wrote:
Let me know when you’re president of TGC170A and I’ll trade back my 182 for the 170B again!

That will be the day...

Aryana wrote: I’ll trade my 182 for a 185....

Fixed....

Well... Change of plans.

Fate dropped a super clean bone stock, unadulterated 1800TT 55' into my lap yesterday that I could not pass up. So... the 52' is getting the wings plucked and will be loaded on a truck for a trip out west to a good new home where the resto will be continued. The new owner is also a silent member here on BCP, so hopefully he will chime in on his progress with the bird.

For those that aren't familiar, here is the readers digest: The 55 is slightly different from the 52 in a couple of basic ways. 1) it came with the stiffer "lady legs" 2) the tailwheel steering is improved, 3) the airframe has a manifold which distributes the heat into the cabin a bit better, 4) the rear window shape was changed, 5) how the cowl opens and cools was changed, and 5) the foolish piano keys are gone with a better (IMHO) panel layout.

Same plan for the 55 as the 52. Full restomod... Gut, utility interior, modern/simple light panel, 180hp, fixed pitch, 180 gear, baggage door, sportsman, vgs, ext baggage, etc etc etc...

First step is to drain the fuel and get her on the scales for a baseline. I'm interested to see if I can pull just as much weight out of this one as I did the 52.

FWIW... this one also has a very low time motor and prop, both are now for sale. (details to follow). I also will be selling the lady legs. $500 donation on the motor sale to BCP.

Awesome! 55 is the best year 170B according to my highly biased opinion =)

Looks like fun Greg!

Couple more pics...

FP-5L fuel totalizer. Nice.

If you ever want to get rid of that diamond patterned lower instrument panel switch overlay to save weight, my family wants one for our ‘55.

That attitude indicator weighs a ton. Some good low hanging fruit there weight wise.

The ADF lets you listen to some cool tunes LOL

Greg, make sure the tailwheel has the correct tension springs installed and not the compression ones that can bottom out and rip the pulley off the bulkhead.

Aryana wrote:If you ever want to get rid of...

. Pretty much everything you see in that pic save the control yokes, AS, TB, and VSI are getting tossed. Switches, radios, panel... everything.

Please save the lower panel overlay for me!! My dad will be happy.

Aryana wrote:Greg, make sure the tailwheel has the correct tension springs...

Thx. Everything is getting replaced. All springs, cables, wires, etc etc etc...

Good call on dumping the stock switches. They’re junk.

A push button starter would save a lot of headache for your students too. The pull start is a PITA in comparison.

I’m excited to see you do another 170 since that’s where you started.

She sat for a long time pickled, purchased and flown by an airline pilot 100 hrs or so, and then sat for the last 3 years... When it was pickled, it was fogged with ACF-50 which was great. You can see it in the laps up on top of the wings as well as the tail feathers where the hangar dust is darker. I'm pretty pumped with this find.

Sweet interior. Hope you’re keeping the orange.

Nice score! I forget if you said you were going to do a center stack but I would think that would be a real nice feature in a trainer. More valuable than a baggage door any day.
Any which way, it’s gonna be sweet. Also a fan of the orange.
-DP

Holy shit. I wish I had half of your energy. lol..

I am with everyone else in saying this should be fun to watch. Again......

I’m a fan of orange and that’s a nice scheme. I hope the paints in good enough shape to keep it.

MTV

The paint is nice, however...

The 70's were widely agreed to have spawned worst design of the 20th century and are often referred to "the decade that taste forgot." Like scientists listening to the beginning of the universe, looking at this bird provides a window into this truth... One of the first things we learned in art school is that folks have the right to have bad taste. No matter how hard you work at it, in a commercial context often times you just cant save the customer from themselves... Fortunately, with this project, I have the opportunity to save this bird. Stripper is in the future.