Text Box: REFURBISHMENT WILL COST MORE THAN YOU BUDGET FOR AND IT WILL TAKE MUCH LONGER THAN YOU EXPECT

The interior was in sad shape. Soundproofing was all worn out and seating was comfortable for those used to sleeping on rocks. It had to go. The best help that pilots and owners can provide to a new owner is sharing their successes and failures on discussion boards. This is not the AOPA plane give away project where everything is the best possible and donated for no charge. Here, every dollar counts. It took a couple of months to formulate a plan to refurbish 40842 and since most interior items are cosmetic, I started to shop for materials and upholstery expertise. Once all the seats, except for pilots, were removed, it was time to start the process of bringing 40842 back to new glory.

 

The dirty job of cleaning all the interior aluminum took a couple of days. Flying 40842 to it’s appointment with the paint shop was akin to sitting in a very noisy beer can. Do the major, dirty job of stripping, cleaning, priming and painting first.

 

 

 

 

According to the paint shop, 40842 had two coats of paint which required lots of stripper. I asked that all worn out parts, such as rod ends or the nylon locking nuts be replaced. Also, new stainless steel external fasteners. At the same time, the brake system was renewed with discs, pads, fluid. Front and main struts were rebuild with new rubber and new tires were installed. The plane also has a new propeller and a Knots2U speed kits installed, including, wing root fairings, flap gap seals, flap/Fuselage gap seals, aileron and stabilator gap seals.

Here are the final stages of the paint job.

Process:

All controls to be removed, stripped, inspected and, most important, rebalanced to neutral specifications after painting. Use methylene chloride mixed with a soap or a wax carrier. But do not use an acid stripper that has corrosive properties.

 

Etching, treating the surface with a mild solution of phosphoric acid to thoroughly clean the metal deep into its surface structure.

Alodined, a so-called chromate conversion process that serves as both a base corrosion protector and an adhesion improver for subsequent coats.

For paint, I considered DuPont products, specifically Imron, AcryGlo, JetGlo and Desothane high-solids exterior topcoat. Went with US Paints awlgrip.

 

 

N40842

Home Page

The Purchase

Strip and Paint

Interior

Engine

Complete