My 1946 120 Resto project N77220

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6643
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Re: My 1946 120 Resto project N77220

Post by 6643 »

flyingdakota » Sat Jan 26, 2013 3:03 pm

Kazoo120,
Yeah the instrument panel is made from Magnesium. To bad you used stripper on it. You'll need to get it SUPER, SUPER clean, don't paint it with Zinc-Chromate either otherwise it will still corrode. Probably an epoxy primer would work best. Or if you feel up to it use the old one as a pattern and use a router and very carefully cut a new panel from aluminum. Just a thought.
Cheers!
Tim

Life is too short to sweat the small stuff!
NC2404V 1948 C-140 "The Arctic Tern"
http://arctictern-nc2404v.tumblr.com/
A&P IA as of 10/02/2009
http://www.mixasllc.com/
FB: https://www.facebook.com/MASat4S9
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6643
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Re: My 1946 120 Resto project N77220

Post by 6643 »

Kazoo120 » Sat Jan 26, 2013 3:24 pm

Didn't use anything on the inner panel, the paint was like that when I separated the halves. Not sure what had been done to it in years past. It's "chalky" in appearance and feel, not in very good shape...Don't know what tool was used to cut out the altimeter hole for the different adjustment knob, looks like a saw of some type. It's going to take some work or replacement to make it look nice.

flyingdakota » Sat Jan 26, 2013 4:17 pm

Go to the harware store and get the thickest plexiglass they have..3/16" will work but 1/4" would be better. Use this for your template. Use a router and a pattern bit to cut the panel to size and all the instrument holes. Omit the areas you don't want to cut out in the old panel and shape the aeras in the plexi until your satisfied with the way it looks. Use the same technique to cut the aluminum panel using the plexi as your pattern to follow. Make sure you use a sharpe new router bit on the aluminum and move slowly to avoid slipping and cutting an area you don't want. It will look like a factory panel when your done.
Cheers!
Tim
Life is too short to sweat the small stuff!
NC2404V 1948 C-140 "The Arctic Tern"
http://arctictern-nc2404v.tumblr.com/
A&P IA as of 10/02/2009
http://www.mixasllc.com/
FB: https://www.facebook.com/MASat4S9
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Re: My 1946 120 Resto project N77220

Post by 6643 »

Chris Buerk » Sun Jan 27, 2013 5:09 pm

You're gonna make me look bad. You're really getting busy! I've been milking the restoration of my 140 for over 7 years now. I for one really appreciate your desire to keep it original. I'm not a total purist, believe me, but I'm all for the KISS principle and for keeping things light. It's a li'l Cessna after all, not a business jet.
I've attached a couple of pictures of what I've been working with/on.
I have a few extra holes in the panel, but nothing hideous.
For what it's worth, I'm sticking to the original fuses. They're cheap, reliable, and simple.
The only modifications I've made are: Electric turn and bank (returning to original) instead of venturi-powered, and a built-in intercom.

Keep up the good work.

Chris

my panel before. pretty ugly
my panel before. pretty ugly
img_1713_copy_174.jpg (373.23 KiB) Viewed 7243 times
my panel today
my panel today
img_2158_141.jpg (460.05 KiB) Viewed 7243 times
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Re: My 1946 120 Resto project N77220

Post by 6643 »

James » Sun Jan 27, 2013 9:10 pm

You have a blank canvas to work with. I have panel envy! When I first seen your pictures, all I could say was WOW! I do not think I have ever seen one that original! You are very lucky!

I can not take credit for my panel, it is the work of my father. He kept it mostly original. He did add circuit breakers, key start for the O200, and a panel mounted intercom. He also installed the original brown face gauges in their original locations. We even have a stock ashtray and glove box.

Here are some pictures of our panel if you are interested.

James
120BR 46' 120
5729E 59 150TD

radiostack_900.jpg
radiostack_900.jpg (87.46 KiB) Viewed 7243 times
panel_rt_123.jpg
panel_rt_123.jpg (125.19 KiB) Viewed 7243 times
panel_lt_200.jpg
panel_lt_200.jpg (123.34 KiB) Viewed 7243 times
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Re: My 1946 120 Resto project N77220

Post by 6643 »

Kazoo120 » Fri Feb 01, 2013 10:48 pm

My A&P friend Ray and I finished removal of the wiring "Harness" last night. It wasn't really a harness at all, just a group of wires held together by P-Clamps, Adel's, and grommets. One of the wires came right off one of the fuse holder lugs! and there were some rubbed thru wires. I could not melt the old solder with a soldering gun, leaving Ray to suspect they had used silver solder but another Pilot I work with suspects that it was simply very oxidized solder. The wiring was definitely done in-place, by hand, at aircraft assembly, in 1946.

Overall it's simpler than a Ford Model A wiring I think. Dirt simple actually. Once out, I soldered wires back together (had to cut some wires to remove the fuse holders) on the bench to hold and use the old wiring as a pattern. We'll work on specifying a new wiring schematic, to later include radio's and any other items to be added.

Also removed:

-Pull cable for the starter
-Primer and its plumbing
-Voltage regulator
-Magneto switches and wiring

Panel is now completely stripped! (wonder if I technically needed to call in an asbestos Hazmat removal team?)

Wired in place in 1946!
Wired in place in 1946!
100_3180_190.jpg (419.86 KiB) Viewed 7243 times
Panel "Face" hahahahah
Panel "Face" hahahahah
100_3182_177.jpg (28.43 KiB) Viewed 7243 times
Harness reassembled to be able to copy it for repair
Harness reassembled to be able to copy it for repair
imag0891_101.jpg (22.88 KiB) Viewed 7243 times
Panel completely stripped now!
Panel completely stripped now!
100_3199_186.jpg (34.29 KiB) Viewed 7243 times
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Re: My 1946 120 Resto project N77220

Post by 6643 »

Kazoo120 » Sun Feb 10, 2013 11:14 pm

Back to the disassembly. Dove into the pedal/brake assemblies today, it was the toughest of the cockpit area work with respect to working position and the way things have to come apart. The nuts on the bottom of the clamp blocks were a real pain, got cramps holding the open end wrenches on those. And the nuts/bolts on the brake masters took some work. I have new found respect for the Mechanic's that do this every day!

Also removed the motor mount,,, geez that thing is lightweight, it's amazing to know the motor hangs off of it and all the thrust transmits through it!

And removed:
-Gas/water separator
-Battery box (to make it easier to go down the tunnel)

Getting to where we'll be working the control cable replacements, that's going to be the point of starting re-assembly, the turning point as it were.

Firewall nearly stripped
Firewall nearly stripped
dscn2749_558.jpg (33.24 KiB) Viewed 7243 times
Water/fuel separator
Water/fuel separator
dscn2750_140.jpg (23.19 KiB) Viewed 7243 times
Motor mount
Motor mount
dscn2748_231.jpg (30.3 KiB) Viewed 7243 times
Pedal/brake assy and battery box out
Pedal/brake assy and battery box out
dscn2752_103.jpg (32.3 KiB) Viewed 7243 times
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Re: My 1946 120 Resto project N77220

Post by 6643 »

Kazoo120 » Sat Feb 16, 2013 11:11 am

Continuing with the fuel selector valve. Had to fabricate some shortened wrenches to get under the panels and get the b nuts loose and off, but overall it wasn't too bad a job. Will research now how to rebuild the valve..

Fuel select valve removed
Fuel select valve removed
imag0928_823.jpg (17.64 KiB) Viewed 7243 times
Some of the lines that we removed too
Some of the lines that we removed too
imag0929_333.jpg (21.06 KiB) Viewed 7243 times
Cleaning up below the pedal assy
Cleaning up below the pedal assy
imag0924_167.jpg (22.11 KiB) Viewed 7243 times
Cleaning up
Cleaning up
imag0932_648.jpg (23.39 KiB) Viewed 7243 times
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Re: My 1946 120 Resto project N77220

Post by 6643 »

Kazoo120 » Sat Mar 02, 2013 11:27 am

It's been a couple of weeks since any major work days on the project 120. Took some time to go snowmobiling in the Michigan Upper Peninsula, and worked on preparations to sell a race car that I have, to gather more funding for the restoration. I'm working "The List" of tasks on the fuse and looking forward to warmer weather to do some chemical corrosion removal.

Birthday gift from Wife, a Cessna blueprint of the 120. Framed and now in the work area. I have actually referred to it for info.
Birthday gift from Wife, a Cessna blueprint of the 120. Framed and now in the work area. I have actually referred to it for info.
imag0982_177.jpg (21.3 KiB) Viewed 7243 times
Rebuilding the race car for sale. Moving from 4 wheels to three wheeled avocation!
Rebuilding the race car for sale. Moving from 4 wheels to three wheeled avocation!
imag0936_159.jpg (28.31 KiB) Viewed 7243 times
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Re: My 1946 120 Resto project N77220

Post by 6643 »

Kazoo120 » Fri Mar 22, 2013 2:30 pm

Back to work on the 120 project. Have been working the pedal assy and brake master cyl's. I got the master cyl's apart and boy are they simple devices, at least as far as rebuilding. I had been looking for some sort of rebuild "Kit" for them but the reason there isn't such a thing (at least as far as my search went", is because there's only 1 o-ring to replace. AND the one that was in there at 67 years old, looked like new, still rubbery. But replacement is very much in order.

Then onto stripping the paint off of the upper engine cowling, came off very well.

And 16 year old helper Greg spent more time on the floorpan under the rudder pedal assy cleaning, and it's really starting to look good under there!

About ready to reassemble
About ready to reassemble
imag1056_155.jpg (34.66 KiB) Viewed 7242 times
Paint removal from upper engine cowling
Paint removal from upper engine cowling
imag1057_212.jpg (34.85 KiB) Viewed 7242 times
Further floorpan clean-up
Further floorpan clean-up
imag1059_838.jpg (70.63 KiB) Viewed 7242 times
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Re: My 1946 120 Resto project N77220

Post by 6643 »

Kazoo120 » Fri Mar 22, 2013 3:13 pm

Had the opportunity to see a Luscombe 8A under restoration in the area locally. It's a 1947 and the owner has had it for some time. It's fully disassembled and in a constructed paint booth, and a little further along than my 120 with respect to fuselage fiishing. Plane is very straight and he has a C90 he's just bought to put in it, and has added a fan powered generator and will be adding an electrical system to it, although still plans to prop the plane for starting I think I unerstood.

It was great to talk to someone who is doing the same type of project. He said my 120 project, "would be perfect, if only it were a Luscombe". :swordfight We had a great discussion and he plans to stop out and see our work.

Luscombe cockpit area
Luscombe cockpit area
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Luscombe down the Fuse
Luscombe down the Fuse
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Luscombe looking forward
Luscombe looking forward
imag1051_366.jpg (29.18 KiB) Viewed 7237 times
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