The International Cessna 170 Association

This is bound to be a long-running project, but I'd like to hasten it a bit. And, honestly, I could use some advice. I would like to replace the entire cowling setup for my B-model, 180hp Bush conversion, but replacement parts are just impossible to find, they are extremely difficult to locate even a reference to online. Thanks to our members library (and especially Bruce), I have copies of a number of Avcon drawings, which include part numbers. I have yet to find any reference to these P/Ns online-anywhere.

I've been to the salvage yard in Sutton, AK, and cobbled together, from 3 cowlings: an upper cowling, a lower cowling, and both L/R hinged doors. However, none of these has a nosebowl that will work for the 0-360 conversion. This is where I've come up empty. Additionally, I still need to source a set of blisters, or a pattern to fabricate them.

As I said, the entire project will take a decent amount of time and rework, not just to compile & repair, but to fit to the aircraft. However, I'm eager to put in this time in the interest of building a cowling that fits more like it should, and looks less like, well, crap.

I would be grateful to any feedback, advice, guidance, heh- correction, the community could offer.

Thank you.

-Joshua

Delaire make a nose bowl, though whether they will sell you one without their STC I have no idea.

Thanks, Charlie. I have seen references to such on this forum, but I'm also having difficulty locating contact information for Del-air. Don't suppose you have a lead on that?

-Joshua

Del-Air
2121 Wildcat Way
Porterville, CA 93257
559-784-9440

They don’t have a web site.

Stoots aviation in Alaska have a STC for a 180 hp STC. They might sell spares for the nose bowl.

Thanks, Dave. I tried several times today, but couldn't get through - left a message. Ghost, I called Dave Stoots as backup and he directed me to CAC plastics in Wasilla. The fella I spoke to took my information to arrange a meet up to diagnose my existing nose bowl for repair options. I'm pretty optimistic there. Thanks, guys! This is the most progress I've made in months.

-Joshua

Joshua
I don’t know why I didn’t think of it before but Steve at CAC Plastics rebuilt a busted-up pair of fiberglas Ski-Fernandez hydraulic wheel-skis for my C180 and they came back reinforced and looking like new. No new cracks after about 10 years. The previous owner had Bondo’d up all the holes and cracks which fell out after the first season’s use making the skis unairworthy. Steve ground out all the debris and knew where the weak points were. He built them back up with structural fiberglas and did a beautiful job. CAC has a Repair Station license so you even get the correct paperwork back with the parts.

Bill Milton at The 195 Factory, (518) 882-6392, has cowl blisters for the C195 that might work, I don’t know, they might be too small, but you can give him a call and find out.

Good luck.

Been awhile but was an Avcon bowl found ?

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