1974 Citabria GCBC

CamTom12 wrote:

hotrod180 wrote:

hotrod180 wrote:No huge changes-- just shuffled a few instruments around, moved the com radio, and removed a couple inop instruments and the old-fangled panel-mount GPS.

Fixed your second picture link

Thanks. Don't know what I'm doing wrong, but I just can't get the pic itself to post instead of just the address. I musta watched Zane's how-to-post-a-photo video ten times, it's just not happening for me.
And re the fun meter, it's pretty much permanently pegged!

No worries! It was pretty close, just needed a "/" in front of the "img" in the second tag.

Thanks, I went back & fixed it in my post. Hopefully I'll remember that the next time I post a photo (but that's doubtful....)

I still need to have the control wheels wrapped in black deerskin and install the glove box door.


John

Purty!

It may look complicated, but after some study you can figure it all out.

I love the optimism in the ASI.

Gump

GumpAir wrote:I love the optimism in the ASI.

Gump

LOL....how do you he doesn't have an o-470 on the nose?!?!

Robert:your panel may be even simpler then what I had in my T-Craft, got to love that On the other hand.....I think we all have a vague idea how the old school altimeter and air speed indicators work: some kind of clockwork mechanism, springs, etc. I just ditched mine and replaced them, along with the VSI, with a GRT MINI-B. I had occasion to take a look at how it determines the above parameters, amazing!


Pretty cool, but I am seeing a pretty big difference in IAS, the plane is slower when going fast and not as slow when going slow, both, so GRT sent me another module to plug in. No difference..... either my old style gauges were lying to me all these years (2 different S-7's, 20 years) or these new style thingies are not very accurate at the lower speeds, time will tell. That, or all of a sudden my plane can't make it over 100 mph and can't fly slower then 45, both which I know to not be true. Also for some reason since my panel re-do, my IFLY 700 cannot lock on the sats, almost like I'm getting some kind of interference from the MINI install (the only panel change besides going with a carbon graphite one versus the aluminum one). Worse, my Sirius sat radio is having problems, but that appears to be a docking station glitch. Anyone else flying new style solid state ASI notice a change from your old style ASI numbers?? BTW, I for sure have it set up for MPH, not knots, that would be the easy fix.

The pics didn't post right, trying again.

Bit of a thread revival here.

Just finished up a little spruce up in the instrument panel department recently....along with a few other small improvements. I managed to grab on to the edge as I fell into this particular rabbit hole, so nothing too crazy but I'm happy with the new look and feel of a little low budget customization of my old 180.

When I first bought this plane, It already had one G5 installed along with a bunch of King radios and such...basically a 90's IFR stack. A few months into ownership I sprung for the second G5 and installed it as a DG only since the KX-155's won't play with the G5. I finally got tired of not being able to use the second G5 as an HSI, so I decided to yank out all the king stuff and go to a single Garmin SL-30 Navcom setup that would allow it. Since I also yanked out an old Narco XPDR, I replaced it with a matching SL-70 XPDR...gently used of course!

I also wanted to make room in the center panel for my iPad mini, which is basically my primary nav source anymore...using Foreflight. To facilitate that, I changed some of the engine instruments to my favorite EI instruments...had to get rid of the 4-in-1 cessna gauge that just doesn't work when you're trying to mount an iPad on a small panel like this.

This all got started when the plane went down for annual Nov 1st and found a leaky fuel bladder...the quote for the bladder include a minimum two week time for delivery, so I decided to start the process. Other improvements included a new carpet kit, a good overhaul of the rudder pedal system with new bearings and some paint, some selkirk insulation on the firewall and sidewalls, and an overhaul of the fuel selector.

The day it started!! 22 lbs. of radios came out, with only about 7 lbs. worth going back in...




Love it when I can use my milling machine or lathe to make airplane parts!!




It even fits! You can see from the sharpie notes center panel that I had better intentions for this project



Yuck...


Getting better...


Making more progress...


Almost there...


What was probably the 100th time crawling under the panel to do some wiring...


Finished and flying Jan 3rd!!

Your panel looks fantastic! Well done! If you ever decide you want an auto pilot consider the GFC-500 as you are all set up. I have a 185 with a similar panel as you and I've been very happy with the auto pilot. You should be proud of that panel.

185MW

Why not move everything over to the right a bit so the AI/DG becomes centered over the yoke and the airspeed indicator goes where it belongs.

Looks great Bart!

Very nicely done, Bart!!
The firewall bushings are looking good too!

Looks awesome Aaron. I’ve been wanting to do something similar on my 57’ ever since I got it.

The Cub



MacCub



Joe's 170
Before

After

C180_guy wrote:Why not move everything over to the right a bit so the AI/DG becomes centered over the yoke and the airspeed indicator goes where it belongs.

If you've done a '57 panel like this then you'd know why

Also, when you're coming in slow landing off airport concentrating out the left front windshield, the ASI is in just the right spot

This is all I can afford right now: