Availability of Avcon cowl components

How to keep the Cessna 170 flying and airworthy.

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flyingredyeti
Posts: 108
Joined: Sat Jun 20, 2015 10:27 am

Availability of Avcon cowl components

Post by flyingredyeti »

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
First time aircraft owner: '26C A gleaming Cessna 170B with 180 horsepower: the perfect mechanical bird.
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daedaluscan
Posts: 497
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Re: Availability of Avcon cowl components

Post by daedaluscan »

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

1956 170B C-GDRG #27019
flyingredyeti
Posts: 108
Joined: Sat Jun 20, 2015 10:27 am

Re: Availability of Avcon cowl components

Post by flyingredyeti »

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
First time aircraft owner: '26C A gleaming Cessna 170B with 180 horsepower: the perfect mechanical bird.
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DaveF
Posts: 1516
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Re: Availability of Avcon cowl components

Post by DaveF »

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

They don’t have a web site.
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ghostflyer
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Re: Availability of Avcon cowl components

Post by ghostflyer »

Stoots aviation in Alaska have a STC for a 180 hp STC. They might sell spares for the nose bowl.
flyingredyeti
Posts: 108
Joined: Sat Jun 20, 2015 10:27 am

Re: Availability of Avcon cowl components

Post by flyingredyeti »

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
First time aircraft owner: '26C A gleaming Cessna 170B with 180 horsepower: the perfect mechanical bird.
hilltop170
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Joined: Sat May 06, 2006 6:05 pm

Re: Availability of Avcon cowl components

Post by hilltop170 »

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.
Richard Pulley
2014-2016 TIC170A Past President
1951 170A, N1715D, s/n 20158, O-300D
Owned from 1973 to 1984.
Bought again in 2006 after 22 years.
It's not for sale!
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c170b53
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Joined: Mon Apr 22, 2002 8:01 pm

Re: Availability of Avcon cowl components

Post by c170b53 »

Been awhile but was an Avcon bowl found ?
Jim McIntosh..
1953 C170B S/N 25656
02 K1200RS
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Hawkeyenfo
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Re: Availability of Avcon cowl components

Post by Hawkeyenfo »

PM sent
Fly Navy !!!!

1941 Boeing PT-13D Stearman
1952 Cessna 170B
1960 Piper Aztec (PA23-250)
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