Request for Recommendation ... Wheel Pants

[Lee]

Hi ... my '54 170 has 700x6 tires and really funky wheel pants (looks like they came off of a 182 or?) I am going to go back to the standard 600x6 ... any ideas as to what to do about wheel pants? Are the fiberglass ones listed in Wag Aero OK or should I try and find original aluminum? Any other ideas? Also ... backer plates (I have the Cleveland conversion) ... source? Thanks ... Lee (N1967C)

[doug8082a]

It really depends on how original you want to be. If having original aluminum wheel pants is high on your list, then you need to be prepared to:
1. Spend time trying to find a good pair that aren't dented, patched, have the mounting brackets, etc.
2. Spend anywhere from $1200 - $2000 for them

If, however, you are interested in having the original look and are OK with the fiberglass ones, then I'd consider that route. I've seen some on 170s that looked good. I've never seen them fresh out of the box, so I can't speak to the initial quality and whether they require any extra finish work prior to painting.

[Bill Hart]

Lee,

I have 2 sets of wheel pants one metal and one fiberglass, neither of witch will be on my airplane again as I am putting on 8.00’s. The fiberglass ones are not in great shape but are will work and in my opinion could be sanded and painted and look ok. The metal ones that I have I don’t think anyone would want to polish them but are in good shape. If you are interested in either of them send me an e-mail and I will get you some pictures of both sets. william.hart@honeywell.com The fiberglass ones I would be willing to let go for not much more than shipping cost to a member.

[n2582d]

Lee,
Here's where to spend your upcoming retro pay. http://www.cessna120-140.org/Classified/wheelpants.htm



The problem with these is that I don't think they are STC'ed yet for the 170. You would have to try and get them installed with a field approval.

[doug8082a]

I saw a pair of these at the Lancaster (LNS) brunch last fall. They really looked good. They even have the strip that runs over the top (complete with screws) to cover the seam between the two halves that the originals had. The fiberglass ones do not have the strip. These are as close to original looking as you can get without buying true originals.

[jrenwick]

The problem with these is that I don't think they are STC'ed yet for the 170. You would have to try and get them installed with a field approval.

Matt Lahti (who is a 170 association member and has posted on this forum) told me this when I asked him about it last April:

John, Sorry for the delay in responding, I just returned from Sun-N-Fun. I
do not have the STC for the wheel pants yet, I do include a copy of the 337
that was approved for my 140. They will fit a 170 B with 6.00 x 6 tires
since both use the same installation.

Let me know if you have any other questions.

Thanks, Matt

Lahti Aerospace, Inc.
Matt Lahti
2971 Sleaford Dr.
Waterford, MI 48329
Phone: 248-762-1836
Fax: 248-942-3849
http://www.lahtiaerospace.com

Best Regards,

John

[N2865C]

Or you could just leave them off. I'm not sure how they work out on 170's, but I had a 120 that I flew with and without pants. There was no perceptible difference in speed. It was pointed out to me that any gain in speed with the wheel pants could be credited to my wallet being that much lighter from having purchased them .

[Lee]

Ah, I see the word is out on our retro pay (still to come) ... oh, well ... what better way to spend it than making our -170 shine a little brighter! I agree with the comment about the speed ... my dad said the same thing about our PA-20 ... wheel pants I think, are pretty much for looks only ... and, why not?! Regards, Lee

[GAHorn]

Wheel pants are VERY good at preventing stone-nicks/dings on the horiz. stab. and in keeping mud/dirt/water from being slung up onto the tail and lower wing surfaces. I operate primarily on turf/dirt with my originals and 600 X 6 tires and intend to keep on doing it.

[Lee]

I agree George ... I may have been a little too light hearted ... sorry! I keep the bird at Millington (NQA) which is the former NAS ... long hard surface runways. (We use it as a FedEx alternate as well) I think I have had the airplane on grass twice since I have owned it ... not too many places like that around here that are public ... regrettably. At any rate, when I was installing the BAS tail pull and the F&M filter, I decided to pull the wheel pants and found that whoever had installed the Cleveland brakes did not relieve enough material around the wheel pant support bracket and there was signifiacnt rubbing between the caliper and the bracket. We also found that one of the support brackets had cracked along the bottom edge. Long story but, I am going back to the 6.00 x 6 tires and will install original wheel pants or something that is close and legal. I am also replacing the support brackets/plates. We did pull the wheels and repacked the bearings ... turns out there was about a 1/4"+ of play (in and out) with each wheel. The wheel pants that came with the airplane look like they came off of a later model Cessna and fit the 7.00 x 6 tires currently installed ... funky looking! Fun 'n games. Regards, Lee