N631BW RENOVATION complete!

[Flying_Monkey]

Well, I am finally getting around to posting a thread about the renovation Don (flyguydon) did on my 1973 Cherokee Six. A bit of background- Don had previously done some work about 4 years ago on my '73 Challenger- engine monitor, a little paint, interior plastic. I decided (with the help of some on this forum) to upgrade to a PA32-300 and we found one online. It was in Tennessee and was a higher time airframe (had been owned by RAM freight). The paint, interior, and avionics left a lot to be desired but we decided, with it's near 2000 hour motor, that it would be a good "blank slate" to do a major project. Don drove out there and checked out the plane...just looking for a solid airframe free of corrosion with a good maintenance history. He discovered the plane had been out of the factory corrosion proofed and maintained well, especially by RAM. A little while later, I closed the deal and Don and Mark (msires) went to pick it up. We agreed it would be a very involved project but Don was up to the task. After the flight home, he said it flew great and made great power, etc.

Over the next year and a half (a BIT longer than expected) Don did a lot of great work on it and we faced a bunch of setbacks that delayed us. I'm going to list out some of the highlights here...

WHAT WE DID(and when I say we I mean Don did it and I paid)

overhauled the IO540K1A5
JPI EDM900 installed
IFD540, SKYTRAX, AVIDYNE AXP322 remote transponder, GARMIN SL30, GRT MINI-GA (purchased before G5 was even announced!)
Airtex leather seats and sidepanels
Airtex carpet
Airtex headliner
All new plastics
Complete strip and paint
NEW glareshield
new windshields
new side window
Power and music inputs wired


SOME SETBACKS

Avionics company not placing the order for Avionics despite having my money (for months) and then kind of gong out of business...
The Notorious Lycoming Rod bushing AD near the end of the Overhaul
3 Pieces of plastic not having PMA from the only company that makes it and not having the original plastic to send in as an "owner engineered part."
Avidyne 540 dies right at the end of process on the last test flight

We stayed with a steam gauge panel for now since I am waiting to see how the Dynon HDX shakes out. SO I didn't want to spend much money on making the panel cosmetically perfect or anything since it will relatively soon probably be changing....

I actually had never seen the plane in person until I went to Don's in Florida a week and a half ago. It looks great and flies great too! I am really enjoying the added comfort, stability, speed, and cool avionics we have in the plane. I hired a ferry pilot/CFII to fly from Florida to California with me to bring the plane home. It was a good move since I did my BFR and once back home my IPC. Flying the plane for over 20 hours this past week I am really now comfortable in it. I learned a lot on the trip as we widely dodged thunderstorms and build ups.

I'm sure Don can answer some questions and chime in on this project. It was a real learning experience for both of us. I am really pleased with the results.

Here is a link to some pictures: A few near the end aren't quite done- we added some touches on the panel. And yes I know the analog tach reads zero in the panel pic!

Enjoy.

https://www.icloud.com/sharedalbum/#B11GWBC59Gl5G3o

 

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