I've been wanting to build a super bush plane, and have come to the conclusion that it should be a Cessna 180 (speed, STOL, 4 pax, payload). The idea is to put 280-300hp on it, and a STOL conversion (Sportsman's, VGs, etc.) Now, the question is: should I buy an older short fuselage C180 (less weight), newer C180, or am I building a quasi C185, and for that reason just look for a C185???

Eduardo

Lightest weight planes are the best in my opinion. If you desire the power upgrade in an older 180 to O-520 or O-550 will give you the most octane options. But Ive never owned a 185 so dont know the greatness they may hold.

I'm in the same camp except my choice is narrowed to either a late model up grossed c180 or the c185. To me it looks like by the time you've invested in additional HP into the c180 you might as well just buy the 185. Don't think the difference in weight would be that much once you're comparing like for like.

Maybe you just used 'short' and 'long' to describe the looks of the interior arrangement, but just in case you hadn't...
From the first C-180, to the last C185, they were all the same length. The cabin was raised about 3" just aft of the wings in the later model C-180s to make room for the 5th and 6th Pax. This is the same fuselage as the C185.

I view all three birds early C180, late C180, and C185s as 3 that could easily be interchanged. But each one will do some things better than the others, and trying to make one out of the others is generally going to cost you a bunch of money to have a ship almost as good as you could have. Carefully defining your mission is going to go along way toward building the best suited ship for your money and effort. No one can make that decision for you better than yourself, and even then, if you have not experienced the virtues of all these ships first hand you still won't get it....

As an example, buying a later 180 with a good radio stack and plush interior, and then hanging a Pponk on it, is going to get you close to owning a nice C185, at much more expense... Or taking the same late model 180, and trying to put it on a diet to get where the earliest 180's can reach in weight, will get you close, but still no cigar, and at much more expense and effort.

Based on what your post says, you will probably be best served by a 3 window 180... and when you throw the word 'building' in there than it is worth noting that these things only got heavier as the series went on, so taking an older 3 window back to stock form is always going to yield a lighter bird than a later one... The later 180 can for all intents and purposes of this post be identical in function to a C185, so why complicate things in the bush with injection?

Take care, Rob

I own a 1961 C185 io-470f 260hp no float kit with many mods. I think you would be best served by getting a later model 180 if you don't want injection or an earlier model 185 with no float kit. I personally like the 3rd window and higher gross weight of 185 that you will not get in an early model 180. Later model 180 have kenmoore gross weight increase mod.

Also, you will not have a model instrument panel in an early 180 which I like a lot. Spend a little more money up front save all the headaches and money of doing all of the mods. By a plane that has the mods you like and enjoy flying.

There are many more items I did not go into but feel free to message me if you would like to know more.

Thanks for your responses guys. Rob, you've really cleared things up for me. What you say makes a lot of sense, so I think a 3 window 180 or an older 185 would do the trick. I think I have the purpose clear in mind, and while reading your post, it all makes sense to me. Thanks!

Eduardo

bcp2012, thanks for your input. I will send you a message.

Eduardo