The International Cessna^® 170 Association

Painter don't need a ladder. He can stand flat footed and poop in a dump truck . Is that a whiskey still in the timber behind the open air hangar?
One of the best paint jobs I've seen was done under a very large water oak. Nothing wrong with improvising.

David-
If Amos Painting is still in business in Mena, it is an excellent shop and Darrell would rather paint 170s than anything else and he has done them all from tiny homebuilts to C-5As. I had mine painted there in 2009 when it was disassembled and it is flawless. In 2009, his base price was $7500 for a white base plus 2 color trim. I had extra trim detail done plus the N-number on the wings and all the interior trim pieces and door jambs painted as well and the total price was $10,000.

Call Del Lehmann at Mountain Airframe in Mena AR, 479-437-3333. Del had the entire airplane taken apart for restoration and I had Del manage the job and cycle the various parts and pieces in and out of the paint shop as required. Del then reassembled the plane and made sure everything was correct. If there is anything else that needs to be done such as re-jig the wings or replace any damaged skins, etc, Del has all the tooling to do that as well. He even has a trailer to transport the plane with the wings off so that is no problem either.

If you need any interior work done, Rose Aircraft Services has an excellent interior shop on the same field and will work with Del to make sure the job is perfect.

There is also an good engine and a good avionics shop on the field if you need any of those services, or at least there was in 2009.

Good luck and PM me if you have any specific questions.

In case you haven't noticed, I'm a big fan of Del Lehmann.

Thanks Richard!
I'll try to call Del tomorrow.
I went to look at the project today. I didn't take any photos..not much to photograph other than bad paint and some mouse turds. Aside from the paint, panel, electrical, landing gear and brakes .... it's actually in better condition than 81D. FAR less corrosion (has bright metal), no repairs that I could find less a damaged panel right where a baggage door will replace
It has some corrosion here and there but its the same spots that 81D has.

I need to figure out the logistics of ripping out everything electrical before sending it to whoever will be doing the paint....and I'm on the edge of leaving it bare metal.
There may be yet another project rebuild thread on this forum yet.

PLUS ONE, on Del!

bagarre wrote:.........I'll try to call Del tomorrow.........no repairs that I could find less a damaged panel right where a baggage door will replace............

Del does a beautiful job on baggage doors as well!

Oh well,
During the time I was reviewing log data and ordering 337's from the FAA, some dude showed up with a pocket full of cash and a trailer and bought the plane as-is and hauled it away the same day.
So, I don't need to repaint anything.

I can't blame the guy. Cash is king and I wouldn't have bough it as is as fast.
So I guess it's back to converting 81D to a 210hp plane.

Sorry to hear that. That happened to me a couple of times when I was shopping for a 170. I found some real beauties and was ready to start the normal purchase process, but someone wired money sight unseen and no prepurchase inspection. I can't compete with that kind of decisiveness, or impulsiveness, or lack of caution. Whatever it is.

The guy that sold the plane has done quite a few of these conversions (he said six, I think) and has offered to help me with the exhaust and some of the more difficult brackets that need made. From talking to him, he has a wealth of knowledge about hanging an IO-360 on a 170 which is useful. The STC is incredibly lacking in detail of how to actually make things fit right.

Bitter sweet, I guess.

There is merit to having your financial arrangements already in-place ( or "pre-approved") prior to shopping for anything including airplanes. For when you stumble onto that "prize" the last thing you need is a Johnny-come-lately with a pocketful-of-cash and no caution or patience... to upset your hard search-and-find.
With the confidence of having your ducks already lined up you can deal with more confidence and command greater control over the seller's commitment and prepurchase activities.

In this case, I had the cash but wanted to review the logs and talk to the guy about some sheet metal work I wanted to pay him to do while it was in his shop.
During that time, someone offered him cash Cash (not cash, ill route it to your bank to the IRS knows about it) and took the project no questions asked.

Oh well, next one.