Welcome! Becoming a registered user of ShortWingPipers.Org is free and easy! Click the "Register" link found in the upper right hand corner of this screen. It's easy and you can then join the fun posting and learning about Short Wing Pipers!

Page 1 of 12 12311 ... LastLast
Results 1 to 10 of 112

Thread: Pacer bush plane underway!

  1. #1
    SClow303's Avatar
    Join Date
    Aug 2015
    Posts
    155
    Post Thanks / Like

    Default Pacer bush plane underway!

    So I finally got my new project home about 3 days ago. The first day was spent just moving the project home and getting things situated in my shop. This plane started life as a Tri Pacer and was converted to a taildragger in 1989 using the Blanton conversion plans. It had the Ford V6 installed and test run and then the project moved through several hands and never really got worked on. The fuselage has been stretched 24 inches, the wings extended 18 inches each with the Ailerons pushed out to the tips and the flaps extended to 87 inches. It has hornier tips. I removed the Ford engine the first day to prepare to offer it up for sale. Yesterday I spent the evening taking all the electrical system out and nicely labeling everything. I took the firewall off leaving everything intact to go along with the motor. Today the airframe was stripped of the old fabric and I am very pleased with the tubing that was underneath! Saturday will be going through the airframe and planning structural changes for the near gear which will be a PA-18 style but wider up top and extended 3 inches. I am very excited about this build!

    Wish list is as follows...

    - Extended PA 18 style gear.
    - 60 inch skylight
    - Extended rear windows.
    - Catto Prop
    - Second smaller baggage door above the stock one for the top baggage area.
    - Second light set up in the right wing with LED lighting.
    - ACS billet yokes.
    - Gullwing patroller doors on both sides.
    - Squared off PA-18 sized tail.














  2. #2

    Join Date
    Apr 2011
    Location
    Tekoa Washington
    Posts
    42
    Post Thanks / Like

    Default Re: Pacer bush plane underway!

    Looks good!!! Similar to the project we finished a few years ago.
    Attached Images Attached Images

  3. #3
    SClow303's Avatar
    Join Date
    Aug 2015
    Posts
    155
    Post Thanks / Like

    Default Re: Pacer bush plane underway!

    Quote Originally Posted by bushcruiser View Post
    Looks good!!! Similar to the project we finished a few years ago.

    I would love to see more info and pics of that build!

  4. #4
    rocket's Avatar
    Join Date
    Dec 2010
    Location
    Talkeetna AK
    Posts
    988
    Post Thanks / Like

    Default Re: Pacer bush plane underway!

    SC,

    have any pictures of the ford V6 install. Just really curious thats all


    Rocket

  5. #5
    SClow303's Avatar
    Join Date
    Aug 2015
    Posts
    155
    Post Thanks / Like

    Default Re: Pacer bush plane underway!

    I have more pics of it on my home computer. My friends swears by this motor and thought I was nuts for taking it off. It has 1.4 hours test time on it. Has a cool electronic Holley carb with adjustable mixture. I have a ton of paper work for this thing. I am going to try and sell it as a complete FWF. Engine, Gear Drive, Mount, Radiator, Cowling and Prop.



  6. #6
    andya's Avatar
    Join Date
    Dec 2007
    Location
    UT47
    Posts
    1,995
    Post Thanks / Like

    Default Re: Pacer bush plane underway!

    Knew a fellow that had one 20 years ago, only problem he had initially was cooling.
    I guess water cooling can get a little complicated with pressure reliefs and such.
    "Progress is our most important problem"

  7. #7
    pistoncan's Avatar
    Join Date
    Dec 2007
    Location
    Vienna Mo
    Posts
    653
    Post Thanks / Like

    Default Re: Pacer bush plane underway!

    I have been working on something similar for the last 11 years. I started with wagabond plans and extended the tail 21 1/2 inches for better ground handling and designed my own tandem seating. I have all the Blanton plans etc here and are familiar with them.

    Has the plane ever been licensed? If it was you are probably OK. The reason I ask, is that conversions like that were done back in the late 80's and early 90's but since then the FAA has clamped down on that kind of conversion and it may cause you difficulties.

    If my mind serves me, the Javelin company (Blanton) that made the belt drive for the ford had some quality control difficulties and there were several lawsuits before they folded. They don't have a very good reputation in the homebuilt arena. I have no idea what one would be worth.
    Attached Images Attached Images

  8. #8

    Join Date
    Apr 2011
    Location
    Tekoa Washington
    Posts
    42
    Post Thanks / Like

    Default Re: Pacer bush plane underway!

    Quote Originally Posted by SClow303 View Post
    I would love to see more info and pics of that build!
    There are several photos in the photo gallery under "bushcruiser"

  9. #9
    SClow303's Avatar
    Join Date
    Aug 2015
    Posts
    155
    Post Thanks / Like

    Default Re: Pacer bush plane underway!

    Long 100 plus hour work week at my actual job so I did not get much done on the project. Today I carefully removed the floor and toe brake set up. All of the electrical wiring that was left came out also. Tomorrow we determine the course of action for reinforcing the fuselage for the PA 18 gear. I am also looking closely at the tailwheel attachment to determine if we want to beef it up and rework it at all. I am anxious to get the fuselage tubing done so we can start the real fun of building it. The owner before me primed and painted everything with all the pulleys in place. While they are in excellent shape struts ally it looks terrible. Some of the those pulleys are pretty pricey! I am pulling all the cables out to make new ones and will decide how to clean up the pulleys without hurting the phenolic. I will snap some pics tomorrow!

  10. #10
    SClow303's Avatar
    Join Date
    Aug 2015
    Posts
    155
    Post Thanks / Like

    Default Re: Pacer bush plane underway!

    Finally back on the build some. Helped out with several annuals over the past couple of weeks which lead to some engine work on one and lots of time invested. I had my friend stop by yesterday and take a look at the structural changes needed for the lower fuselage for the PA-18 gear conversion. Has anyone thought of using a 1 1/8 .058 tubing to sleeve the forward cross member from the outside? I easily made a poster board template of the tubes in the cluster and we thought we could run the 1 1/8 tubing through the computerized band saw lengthways. I can then transfer my template to the tubing halves so that I can then sandwich the old tube. It is something that we are considering. I will be making my new gear attachment brackets out of 1.75 square tubing. Not sure what suspension I will be running yet... Keep leaning toward AOSS or the suspension from Super-12.com. Another thing that I am doing this week is starting to mock up the larger rear side windows. I am trying to decide if I can source the window retention channel or just bend some up.
    Last edited by SClow303; 11-01-2015 at 03:10 PM.

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •