7AC serious start
- Thread starter Eric Brown
- Start date
Eric Brown
Well-known member
The factory will modify structure to accept the flat spring type gear legs, re-route elevator control cables, relocate elevator trim control to side panel and re-route trim control cables, add reinforcement gussets to structure clusters at fuselage station 2C (7EC/FC mod), and redo questionable quality of previous repairs.
Additional mods to be completed outside of the factory include, O-200 engine, 13 gal. wing tanks, squared wing tips, Citabria rear windows and windshield, hydraulic toe brakes, battery and starter, wind generator, and keep the original vertical fin. Basically, a 2006 model 7EC. Why ???? Because I love Champs & Citabrias and I want to.
Additional mods to be completed outside of the factory include, O-200 engine, 13 gal. wing tanks, squared wing tips, Citabria rear windows and windshield, hydraulic toe brakes, battery and starter, wind generator, and keep the original vertical fin. Basically, a 2006 model 7EC. Why ???? Because I love Champs & Citabrias and I want to.
Joe
Well-known member
I was reading along wondering Why, until I read the last line and it all made perfect sense. Sounds like a fun project.
Eric,
I don't know what your experience level or budget are but I also had my fuselage inspected and repaired at ACA. If I were doing it again I'd make sure they put all of the grommets in place for the fuel lines, trim cables, and static lines (if applicable) and I'd let them mount the formers for me. Their method of mounting the formers with the eyelets is way lighter than doing it with nuts and bolts. I made a crimper from a pair of vice grips and was able to set some of my formers with eyelets but I'd just let ACA do it if I had to do it over.
Good luck, it's exciting to see a new project just getting started!
Bob Turner
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Everything sounds great except toe brakes. I have toe brakes in the Dec, and heel brakes in the Cubs.
Flew an O-200 Champ DEN- SAN. Loved it. Slow, but plenty of gas, and 11,000 feet over Angel Fire was no problem at all.
Flew an O-200 Champ DEN- SAN. Loved it. Slow, but plenty of gas, and 11,000 feet over Angel Fire was no problem at all.
Bruce
Well-known member
The question why? Best answer in the world—- because I want to
or as my brother always tells me It’s only money. He has 2 Ferraris to my 2 planes and one Porsche. Remember the one with the most toys wins!
Merry Christmas
or as my brother always tells me It’s only money. He has 2 Ferraris to my 2 planes and one Porsche. Remember the one with the most toys wins!Merry Christmas
Eric Brown
Well-known member
Eric, I did the same thing, dropped it off and then waited to hear back from Pat. Good luck, I'm sure they'll bring it back to perfect for you.
Eric Brown
Well-known member
Gentlemen, I need some opinions. I have received recommendations from the ACA factory. They are suggesting that the entire fuselage cabin area be replaced with a new structure, leaving the aft fuselage structure as the only original part. They are basing this on the condition of the damaged areas (see attached photos). Cost would be $8 to 11k.
My response was to complete only the mod items (see 12-16-21 post) and don't do the repairs. As an A&P, I thought that I may be able to do the repairs. This would bring the cost down to about $4500. They are also feeling a bit reluctant to do only the mods and feel the fuselage really needs to have the repairs completed by the factory, which I fully understand. A complete new fuselage costs $15 to 17k. Whadda ya think ??
My response was to complete only the mod items (see 12-16-21 post) and don't do the repairs. As an A&P, I thought that I may be able to do the repairs. This would bring the cost down to about $4500. They are also feeling a bit reluctant to do only the mods and feel the fuselage really needs to have the repairs completed by the factory, which I fully understand. A complete new fuselage costs $15 to 17k. Whadda ya think ??
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Eric,
I spent about $7500 for the repairs they did to my 8KCAB frame but that included powder coating. It's actually more cost effective for them to do entire sections rather than individual tubes since there is more time involved in grinding out tubes and then fitting new ones. But it's a personal decision and it would suck for them to red tag your frame which was something I told Pat I'd be ok with if that was what they felt they needed to do.
Good luck
I spent about $7500 for the repairs they did to my 8KCAB frame but that included powder coating. It's actually more cost effective for them to do entire sections rather than individual tubes since there is more time involved in grinding out tubes and then fitting new ones. But it's a personal decision and it would suck for them to red tag your frame which was something I told Pat I'd be ok with if that was what they felt they needed to do.
Good luck
Bob Turner
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- Joined
- Apr 4, 2018
- Messages
- 3,925
Wish I could get a good Cub fuselage for that.
Hiperbiper
Well-known member
OK. From your pics it looks as though the bird was on it's back at least once. Do the logs say anything about it?
Just wondering. Next, how long has it been flying with these repairs. Are the repairs done well? The pic of the front spar carry-thru welding look good (dirty but good) as does the rear diagonal sleeve repair. But that's just from a picture. Even if the repairs are good, strong and airworthy you can't expect the factory to want to leave them in place. The factory sells "good as new" repairs, not field repairs under a new paint job...
Of course it's your wallet, your project and your call...
I learned long ago that only new is new and everything else is used and repaired. And the price delta between those two points can be truly breathtaking depending on how close to "new" you want to get.
Chris
Just wondering. Next, how long has it been flying with these repairs. Are the repairs done well? The pic of the front spar carry-thru welding look good (dirty but good) as does the rear diagonal sleeve repair. But that's just from a picture. Even if the repairs are good, strong and airworthy you can't expect the factory to want to leave them in place. The factory sells "good as new" repairs, not field repairs under a new paint job...
Of course it's your wallet, your project and your call...
I learned long ago that only new is new and everything else is used and repaired. And the price delta between those two points can be truly breathtaking depending on how close to "new" you want to get.
Chris
b727plumber
1979 7GCBC, Frame-up restoration by ACA in 2022
That’s my 7GCBC in the background! They just finished our rebuild and I’m waiting for good weather to fly it from ACA back to Denver.
Good luck on your rebuild!
Eric Brown
Well-known member
UPDATE; Factory finished fuselage mods and repair. Picked up on 2-15-22 along with a pile of parts (save state tax and shipping). Now standing on gear legs with hardware store bolts with temporary Cessna axels and wheels. Photos attached. Dark tubing is new, light colored (tail) tubing is original 7AC. The new portion of fuselage is all 7EC (2006 model). One pix shows what was left behind at the factory. An FAA form 8130-3 was issued for the fuselage. Now the enjoyable part of the project can begin.
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Eric Brown
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Eric Brown
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Eric Brown
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Just finished skinning the wings. Now have to take them outside for spraying. Goal is to complete wings this summer. Will then continue with skinning tail surfaces, complete fuselage interior and windows, build a boot cowl, assemble the engine, and build a new engine cowl during the winter months. First flight goal set for Aug. 2024. Lots of work to do.
