Ok so I'm currently flying a Cessna 170, but came across a 1955 180 that I'm considering buying.

It has a PPonk O-470-50 with about 100 hrs (it has chrome cylinders). It was built in 1999 by Steve and flown until 2005 when the owner had a prop strike. Motor was removed and set back to Steve who tore it down, inspected, and gave it his blessing. It was reinstalled in 2005, but hasn't flown since after the owner lost his medical. The owner said he would start it up a couple times a year and taxi it around, then drain the oil and store it in his hangar.

Its definitely a bit rough, and in desperate need of updated radios, interior and paint.

What is everyone's thought on that motor sitting around for the last 15 years?

I have some experience with this. Dad bought a ‘65 185 in the mid 90s that had sat for 15 years. It was in a dry climate though and had not been run at all. The engine was in perfect shape. The fact that the owner of the bird you’re looking at warmed it up and then shut it down concerns me a lot. IMO that’s the worse thing you can do to an engine. Maybe a good bargaining chip.

I just bought a motor that has not run for 9 years. I honestly think it is a complete gamble, and you should pay for the core. You might get lucky, you might not.

I intend to ground run, then pull two cylinders and have a good look at the cam, then go from there.

And in your case, what a shame they did not pickle it properly after the inspection.

I spoke to Lycoming service about a 15 year old never run new engine and they told me that I should only consider it as a core. It may have been fine, but it may not have been.

Bore scope it. Pull a cylinder. It could be just fine or complete junk. You can’t assume anything. I’ve seen engines that sat for many years without running that were perfectly fine when inspected and continued on to live serviceable lives. Others, it was a dead give away by the rust all over the engine interior when looking down the oil filler tube. I will say that an engine stored with clean fresh oil vs one that had dirty used oil in my experience usually has a better chance of surviving.

Just my opinions, but here goes: There are so many planes out there - why settle for one with an array of unknowns waiting to rear their ugly heads? It may be a bargain, but likely not, particularly if the engine was operated as the owner stated. If he didn’t know enough to pickle it instead of just moving moisture around, what else did he do out of ignorance?

Did Steve throw new bearings in when he had it apart? Either way, I'd be pretty gunshy of that one... That and starting it up a couple times a year any taxiing around isn't a good deal at all.
John

Check also to see which crank it has. FAA has concerns on some cranks coming apart in the -50 ponks. Borescopes are cheap these days! If the plane has good bones and hasn’t been bit and pieced together that is a plus.

Deputydog wrote:Ok so I'm currently flying a Cessna 170, but came across a 1955 180 that I'm considering buying......

If you decide against buying it, please post the pertinent info in case somebody else is willing to roll the dice on it.

Guess it comes down to...who is your mechanic? If it’s me, myself and I, and you’re a motor head....and you can get if for the right price....fly it until it makes metal..


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m_moyle wrote:Guess it comes down to...who is your mechanic? If it’s me, myself and I, and you’re a motor head....and you can get if for the right price....fly it until it makes metal..


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That's what I'm leaning toward, owner is asking $75k. It is in desperate need of paint and an interior as well as radios/transponders too. Its going thru an extensive annual right now, so once I see the results, I'll probably hit him with an offer, but I'm thinking $60-$65k

MONEY PIT ALERT! Stay away from that plane and get one already done or is nicer. Those older 180s can eat you alive! If you can’t afford it buy a B model 170 with 180 hp.

Quickdraw1 wrote:MONEY PIT ALERT! Stay away from that plane and get one already done or is nicer. Those older 180s can eat you alive! If you can’t afford it buy a B model 170 with 180 hp.

I have a tendency to agree with this. Most planes can be money pits even when they are nice and flyable, but my experience with sitting/project planes is a dramitic increase in money expenditures. I can easily see $30-50K being spent on this 180 if you are wanting to paint it, do interior and radios.

My most recent 'great deal' has cost me almost as much as I paid for the plane to get up to almost trouble free flying. It looked nearly like new and sat for close to 12 years. Ran great for a while but then it required all new cylinders, carb rebuild, etc...etc...

In the end I wished I would have spent the money up front and enjoyed flying more verses the constant repairs and fixing. This is going on my 3rd experience and they all end up the same. I am fortunate that I have always had something else to fly while working on the project. I enjoy working on stuff (when I can) so it isn't a problem. If you plan on only having one aircraft, I would stay away from projects as one can get quickly discouraged. Just my experience.

My pponk Flew very little for few years before I bought it and is also a late 90s model, but given the trouble getting your mechanics time these days, sounds like you should definitely bore scope it, maybe run it and have the oil analyzed after a few hours of running so you have some idea what you’re buying...and borescope it again after a few hours of running.

You are not going to figure anything out until it runs a few hours.