New PA-18 Project in Louisiana

[N36KG]

I am excited to be starting a 1955 13-rib Supercub rebuild. It was a flip-over casualty auctioned by the insurance company. Just got the project home and started the tear-down phase. Oh boy!

 

[N36KG]

This aircraft was originally powered by a C90, according to the log book. Flaps were added in 2000.

 

[N36KG]

Measurement to see if the crank flange is straight or bent.

[video]https://drive.google.com/file/d/1ZusY4NDdyFxAOHzs8iLzY0zvxhIfL7PM/view?pli=1[/video]

 

[N36KG]

Engine, boot cowl, and instrument panel removed yesterday. Getting ready to start replacing bent tubing in cockpit area. No photos of this effort yet. But here is a photo of how we brought the project home, packed in a 26 ft u-haul truck.

 

[N36KG]

Does anyone have a pa-18 airframe fixture within reasonable driving distance from Lake Charles, Louisiana?

 

[N36KG]

One perk of buying this broken airplane, is that I have acquired tools, like this 5/32 punch found abandoned in the left wing. I also acquired a small crescent wrench found abandoned in the tail.

 

[D.A.]

...packed in a 26 ft u-haul truck.

Good 'ol 26ft Uhauls. Mine came home in one also.

 

[KeithO]

Can I ask how you find these auctions?

 

[N36KG]

Here is a link. https://underwriterssalvagecompany.com/

 

[farm_boy252]

One perk of buying this broken airplane, is that I have acquired tools, like this 5/32 punch found abandoned in the left wing. I also acquired a small crescent wrench found abandoned in the tail.

A little birdie once told me a story of doing an annual inspection and finding a punch in place of one of the bolts holding the wing on....like they used it to get the holes lined up when putting the wings on an left it there. :roll:

 

[mvivion]

A little birdie once told me a story of doing an annual inspection and finding a punch in place of one of the bolts holding the wing on....like they used it to get the holes lined up when putting the wings on an left it there. :roll:

Was the plane a Boeing?

Sorry, too good an opening to resist.

I found a MAC open end wrench on top of the engine of a 185 after an annual once. Took it to our Chief of Maintenance, and asked who it might belong to. "Whose name is on it?" he replied. No name engraved on that wrench says I. The reply: "Must be yours, then." I never did get the rest of the set, though.

MTV

 

[farm_boy252]

Was the plane a Boeing?

Sorry, too good an opening to resist.

I found a MAC open end wrench on top of the engine of a 185 after an annual once. Took it to our Chief of Maintenance, and asked who it might belong to. "Whose name is on it?" he replied. No name engraved on that wrench says I. The reply: "Must be yours, then." I never did get the rest of the set, though.

MTV

Haha it was a Cessna. Part 2 to the story was that he was guy who did the annual inspection the year before, so his punch!

 

[fishhook]

What about a second fuel selector left behind? I found one under the floor of a cessna awhile back. They must have forgot to pull it out of the hole when swapping a new one in! As for a jig, its nice but not required. Lots of careful measuring will get you well within pipe specs. But a jig for locating the top deck is very handy. Dont be afraid to cut stuff loose and cut tubes out and re align whole sections. I have seen fuselages with one wing fitting 3/32 off vertically, did not even effect the wing according to the owner. Another had the firewall 3/8 shorter to the right side.

 

[Farmer Hank]

I had a helicopter mechanic years ago who routinely put some one else’s initials on his tools.

 

[mvivion]

I had a helicopter mechanic years ago who routinely put some one else’s initials on his tools.

Is that what you call “Preventive Maintenance”?

MTV

 

[Farmer Hank]

“Plausible deniability” are the government’s current buzzwords.

 

[N36KG]

Well, after some good advice from some folks who PM'd me, I made a jig for just the top deck to locate the front wing attach points. Now I am ready to fit the replacement tubes in their places.

 

[D.A.]

…I made a jig for just the top deck to locate the front wing attach points…

That's so simple and so cool how you did that. The side square tubes raise the top deck to proper height and as long as the top deck is square, you just reconnect the dots for the windshield posts and the x brace to the firewall. Very cool!

 

[N36KG]

Update video.

VID_20240406_113931863.mp4

drive.google.com

 

[farm_boy252]

Update video.

VID_20240406_113931863.mp4

drive.google.com

Says I need permission to access

 

[N36KG]

Fixed video permissions.

 

[N36KG]

Here is what I am thinking for the panel design (see photo). Any thoughts? Any experience with the G5? Anyone have one fail and have to fall back on steam gauges?

 

[Steve Pierce]

Do you already have those radios? They really impede being able to work on anything in the panels laid out that way. I put the primer on the right like Piper did, easier for me to operate. I use circuit breaker switches so I have less switches/circuit breakers and put them all together to simplify the wiring. USB charger under the right side of the panel along with a map pocket for phone etc and the cords can be hidden.

 

[N36KG]

Yes, I have all the items, except the power port. I will make a revision B tonight. Thanks for the input, Steve.

 

[Southern Aero]

Looking good! I bid on that one too!

 

[Mr. Ed]

Watched the video. Question: Unless the image is somehow mirrored, it looks like your door is on the left side of the fuselage and throttles on the right. That would be opposite every other PA18 I’ve ever seen. Has it been modified or was that an option with Piper?

 

[N36KG]

The video is mirrored. I used the front-facing camera. Will try to straighten that out if I make any more videos.

 

[N36KG]

Looking good! I bid on that one too!

Well, I hope you get the next one!

 

[hotrod180]

Are you planning on flush-mounting that G5?
You might want to check spacing on either side of it--
they make a flush-mount kit, but I think maybe you need a bit more room.
BTW besides being less expensive, I think the pre-STC (aka "experimental") G5 may have more capability than the STC'd ones.
Installation is legal per FAA policy statement PS-ACE-23-08.

 

[DENNY]

Steve makes a very good point! That looks like it would be a bitch to work on unless you have good side access through the Boot cowl. Set in the front seat and figure out you can install and reach everything without laying on your back. Switches should be on drop down panel. What about a GPS? Lots of good threads on the topic.
DENNY