The International Cessna^® 170 Association

I am making a slow transition from a fine 140 to a 1954 170b. Would like to put a center stack of radios in the 170b. Could use some help, pictures do and don’ts. Any help would be appreciated.

It's been done before. I believe all have been the 337 route. I do not recall every seeing an STC'd conversion for this. Some people have installed panels from a C172, others have installed a panel from Avion Research ( http://www.avion.com ). The main problem you'll have is the control column. On the 170 it is "T" shaped and the center stacked radios would prevent full aft motion of the control column. Some have converted to the "U" shaped control column to get around this. I suppose that a "taller" panel like a 172 "may" allow you to get some clearance by positioning the radios above the "T", but that's just a guess on my part.

I stand corrected. Del-Air has an STC for this which addresses the panel and control column.

STC: SA4540NM
Description of the Type Design Change:
Installation of modified instrument panel and control yoke.

Give them a call. Good people.

I saw a friend's 170 down in FL earlier this year that had a neat center stack panel in which the top of the center stack was low enough to permit clearance for the original "T" configuration control rack and still provided a lot of room for radio equipment in a more modern and safe layout. The man that did this panel for my friend has moved to SC and I can't seem to get his contact information. Does anyone have plans for, or know someone who does the "low" center stack panel for the 170 that will allow use of the standard flight control linkage The Avion panel looks really nice...but why go to the time and expense to hack into the control rack when you don't have to

John,

I'd be interested in seeing some pictures of your friend's panel. I assume he had to offset the stack either left or right (my choice) from dead center, as you still have to clear the vertical tube of the control column. I would also assume that the had to pack the instruments a bit tighter to make room?

Miles

I don't have a picture yet, but you are correct in that the stack is offset to the right of center just enough to clear the tall center column, and the top of the stack starts lower than traditional center stack panels to prevent the top radio from fouling the horizontal control tube. This lower stack leaves room across the top for some shallow depth engine instruments or accessory instruments.

When I get a photo, I'll pass it along. Seems I saw a panel like this pictured in the SRAM or 170 book from the Association. I'll drag those out and look there as well.