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Thinking of an Upgrade

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Thinking of an Upgrade

I fly a 182B and am thinking of an upgrade.

Option 1 is to do a tailwheel conversion--after all said and done about 18 to 20 K

Option 2 is to sell my pane at depressed market and buy a 180 at depressed market.

If I take option 2, do I pull the 310 fork and go stock wheels and pants and sell the 310 fork separate. Same goes for the Aux fuel in bagage area. The aux fuel tank will work in the 180.

Tim
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Re: Thinking of an Upgrade

Buy a Maule.

Gump
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Re: Thinking of an Upgrade

If you intersted in a good C-185 I know of one. If interseted PM me and I'll get you in contact with the owner.
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Re: Thinking of an Upgrade

I'd keep the fork on it. I'm not in the market but keep watching for when I am again and I look at straight 182s alot and that fork would be a bonus for someone like me wanting to buy one. But I'd honestly rather force myself to be patient and save more to get in a 180 or wragged out 185. As for aux fuel, I'd take it out and keep it for your next plane or sell it separate. Seems some folks would rather not have to deal with removing it from a plane they buy. Doesn't seem like aux fuel is very popular.
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Re: Thinking of an Upgrade

hicountry wrote:If you intersted in a good C-185 I know of one. If interseted PM me and I'll get you in contact with the owner.
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A good 185 may be a bit out of my wallet capacity.

Tim
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Re: Thinking of an Upgrade

qmdv wrote:
hicountry wrote:If you intersted in a good C-185 I know of one. If interseted PM me and I'll get you in contact with the owner.
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A good 185 may be a bit out of my wallet capacity.

Tim

:?: You got that big submarine pension don't you :D
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Re: Thinking of an Upgrade

I'm disappointed with you, Tim :( I'm going to report this thread!
:D I thought you wanted to convert and then join the 180/185 Club?
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Re: Thinking of an Upgrade

Tim - save the aux tank. I am selling one on ebay and it is only up to $200. Buy your 180 back east and Deb will cook for you again!
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Re: Thinking of an Upgrade

Tim, I will soon be adding the 182 to the tailwheel conversion STC I have. If you want to be the first guinea pig, you will be able to get this done for significantly less money than the numbers you were talking about.

One thing to remember is that if you have spent X years and Y dollars de-bugging your 182, getting it just the way you want it, and developing your confidence in that particular airplane... buying a 180 would be starting that whole process over again regardless of the difference in purchase price.

Just another option to consider.
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Re: Thinking of an Upgrade

patrol guy wrote:Tim - save the aux tank. I am selling one on ebay and it is only up to $200. Buy your 180 back east and Deb will cook for you again!

And you can buy breakfast =D>

Tim
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Re: Thinking of an Upgrade

im dumb i guess, but i would keep the 182 and leave the wheels where they are...the 182 platform is tough to beat as an all-around airplane...
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Re: Thinking of an Upgrade

Yes, but it still gains a little in a couple of areas with a tailwheel.
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Re: Thinking of an Upgrade

jomac wrote:im dumb i guess, but i would keep the 182 and leave the wheels where they are...the 182 platform is tough to beat as an all-around airplane...

You ae probably corect. Especialy the old ones.

Maybe I should just Ponk it and maybe a Sportsman. :D :D :D

Tim
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Re: Thinking of an Upgrade

After buying a stock '56 182 in 2006, I spent the next several years getting it to exactly the point I wanted for backcountry flying (new panel, new instruments, new paint, new interior, Landes nose fork, 8.50's, VG's, etc., etc.), most of which I was able to do myself under the supervision of a very able and generous A&P/IA. As a result, I've been able to fly it everywhere my C180 and C185 buddies were willing to fly theirs, including most of the more challenging strips in Idaho, and had no complaints at all about capability or performance. Then, at the end of this last summer, like many of us here, I started itching for another airplane. Being a Cessna fan, my thoughts naturally turned to 180's and 185's. Unfortunately, I don't have much equity in my 182 and don't have the cash to buy a Skywagon of decent quality, so in late September I bit the bullet and decided to do the 182TW conversion. I'm up to my eyeballs in it now and hope to finish by the end of January. I'm working alongside the same A&P/IA, so am saving lots of $$ on that side of the equation. The parts (most of which I now have) will cost around $10K, but I've already reduced that by $2K by selling my Landes nose fork, wheel and tire. I'll also sell my gear legs, tailcone and a few other nose gear components to reduce my parts costs even more. I'm hoping the FMV of the airplane will increase by $20K, so it makes at least a little economic sense. Although I can say the project is definitely not for the feint of heart, neither is it rocket science. Frankly, it's mostly a $%#* load of grunt work (i.e., drilling out rivets). It certainly helps that my hangar is ten minutes from my house, my kids are long gone and I'm not married. My point is that for those who own early-model 182's but still yearn for something new and different, this conversion might be for you. So, if anyone here would like more information on the specifics of this project, please let me know. I'm glad to share.
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Re: Thinking of an Upgrade

P-ponk Tim, you'll have that old grin back-
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Re: Thinking of an Upgrade

dprathe wrote:So, if anyone here would like more information on the specifics of this project, please let me know. I'm glad to share.


Yeah, I have a question or two. How do you plan to get that long piece of 115 degree angle into place, that goes on the front of the forward bulkhead and under the fwd. angled floorboard? The answers I've gotten to that question vary, everything from:

1) Removing one side of the boot cowl skin
2) Cutting the angle into two or three pieces and splicing it together in place
3) Ripping out the seat rails, tunnel, and the center gearbox floorboard
4) Cutting a small hole in the boot cowl and sliding it in from the outside

Did you buy all new Cessna parts, or did you save a few bucks and buy some used parts?
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Re: Thinking of an Upgrade

The answer I got from the STC holder was to cut a small "L" shaped hole in the boot cowl skin since it would be covered up by the float reinforcement plate. That said, I'm waiting for my A&P to give me an opinion on splicing.
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Re: Thinking of an Upgrade

EZFlap wrote:
dprathe wrote:So, if anyone here would like more information on the specifics of this project, please let me know. I'm glad to share.


Yeah, I have a question or two. How do you plan to get that long piece of 115 degree angle into place, that goes on the front of the forward bulkhead and under the fwd. angled floorboard? The answers I've gotten to that question vary, everything from:

1) Removing one side of the boot cowl skin
2) Cutting the angle into two or three pieces and splicing it together in place
3) Ripping out the seat rails, tunnel, and the center gearbox floorboard
4) Cutting a small hole in the boot cowl and sliding it in from the outside

Did you buy all new Cessna parts, or did you save a few bucks and buy some used parts?

Sorry, forgot to answer the last part of your question. Almost all the parts are salvage or owner-produced. Buying all new Cessna parts would more than double the cost.
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Re: Thinking of an Upgrade

Go for the I80, such a great plane. I did the same had a I82 which i loved found a I85 got more for the I82 as they where asking for the I85 (luck) and now have a amazing plane which can carry when you want and then with 3I B/W can give you all sorts of fun. I guess in the end it all depends on what you can get for the I82 what do you want for it and what year is it?
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