The International Cessna^® 170 Association

Two pilots fighting over a penny!

I have decided to upgrade to an IFR panel and am trying to do it on the cheap - so far so good! Any advice, experiences, or gotchas would be appreciated.

I currently have only a K97A comm, Sigtronics SPA 400 intercom and GTX 320A txdr. I am planning to add a KNS 80 RNAV, a NARCO MK-12D, and a KMA 24 (or equivalent) audio panel. The radios and installation kits have been procured. I am still chasing down leads on a King indicator and audio panel.

The goal is to be able to file RNAV with the bulk of the actual nav work done on a 496 or Anywhere Map (not sure which one yet).

My problem now is that I have 10.5 inches of avionics and only 9 inches of panel space

My ' 53B previously had two short stacks of radios on the lower left panel and that space is ready for the new racks. This leaves one of the short pieces (either the K97A or the Txdr) without a home. I also need space for new CBs, the intercom and panel light swithces/dimmers. These CBs and switches are currently mounted on plates in the unused spaces on the lower left panel.

I see two options: One, get rid of the glove box and install the equipment on the lower right side of the panel. This is not my first choice as I would really like to keep the glove box- I like and use it! For those of you that have avionics installed where the glove box goes, what modifications are required prior to installing the racks?

Second, I can mount the Txdr or the audio panel under the panel on the lower left side. I would also install a sub panel for CBs, intercom and panel light controls. Having this extra equipment hanging below the existing dash is not perfect either but may be the best choice. Has anyone had any experience with mounting radios under the panel?

I am also installing a Selkirk glare shield with Aero Enhancement strip lighting. This came with the plane seven years ago (NIB) and I am finally getting around to installing it. I have played with the lights on the bench and I think it will be nice.

Yes, I know that an IFR GPS installation would be the best navigation wise, but I have gotten great deals on this equipment (most from local folks removing it for upgrades themselves). I'll have less money invested in all the new gear than I would spend on a good used low-end IFR GPS ( and I would still need a ground based nav system). The $$ difference will go towards the hand held GPS with satellite weather. I would rather be VFR equipped and have weather than be IFR equipped without it.

Thanks for any info or insight you have to offer.

Bruce

Do you have any instrument holes empty? You could swap the KY97 for a 2.5" comm. There are a couple of good ones available. This would give you more avionics rack room.

Becker

MicroAir

XCom

Thanks, George. Neat radios but again that copper wire thing. I've got less in the Narco navcomm and the RNAV plus indicators than I would have to spend on these.
Cool stuff though!

After having dug to a depth of 10 feet last year, New York

scientists found traces of copper wire dating back 100 years and came to

the conclusion that their ancestors already had a telephone network more

than 100 years ago.



Not to be outdone by the New Yorkers, in the weeks that followed,

California scientists dug to a depth of 20 feet, and shortly after,

headlines in the LA Times newspaper read: 'California archaeologists

have found traces of 120 year old copper wire and have concluded that

their ancestors already had an advanced high-tech communications

network a generation earlier than the New Yorkers.'


One week later, 'The Morning Advocate', a Looeasyana newspaper

reported the following:

'After digging as deep as 30 feet on the west shore of Toledo Bend near

Zwolle, Ol'Gar, a self-taught archaeologist, reported that he found

absolutely nothing. Ol' Gar has therefore concluded that 300 years ago,

Looeasyana had already gone wireless.'

Bruce,

Hang the transponder under the left stack. I did that with my ADF (many years ago...). I think there's a picture of my installation back in the recent panel lights thread. I think you can also see what I did for an avionics breaker panel.

My philosophy was to choose a radio that you wouldn't have to look at on a regular basis for that out-of-the-way spot below the left stack . I'm considering (ONLY considering, not planning!) what I would do to make room for a panel mount GPS, and I think part of the solution would be to remove the ADF (good-bye, old friend ), move the transponder to below the panel, and move something from the right stack to the space in the left stack.

Miles

Miles, you win the "Post of the Day" award. Thanks! The difference between your panel and mine is that both my stacks are to the left of the engine control/switch panel ('53).

I see you have three pieces in your right stack - 2 thins and one thick. I have not yet tried to physically fit the radios in my panel, but I may have room for everything after all and not need to hang something below.

Just in case, could you please provide details on how you installed the rack for the ADF below the panel? Thanks.

Bruce

4-Shipp wrote:Miles, you win the "Post of the Day" award. Thanks! The difference between your panel and mine is that both my stacks are to the left of the engine control/switch panel ('53).

I see you have three pieces in your right stack - 2 thins and one thick. I have not yet tried to physically fit the radios in my panel, but I may have room for everything after all and not need to hang something below.

Just in case, could you please provide details on how you installed the rack for the ADF below the panel? Thanks.

Bruce

Bruce, Glad to help! In case you want to look up the specs to see how tall the right stack is, it consists of a KMA24 Audio Panel, KN64 DME, and a KX-155. I had about a quarter inch or so of vertical space left over, so I fabricated a flat aluminum bezel to cover the bottom gap and to give the sides a "finished" look.

How did I install the ADF? Hmmm.... that's ancient history, 15+ years ago. As best as I remember, the front of the rack is held by a U-shaped sheet metal bracket the width of outside of the rack. (As I recall, in the 1970's that bracket once held my CB radio under the dashboard of my car. It's an owner specified part... yeah, that's the ticket... ) The bracket is held to the "lip" or lower angle of the fixed instrument panel with screws, and the sides of the rack are supported by screws through the "ears" of the bracket. I hung the rear of the rack with two 3/4 x .063 angles that run all the way to the top of the stack and support all 3 radios in the stack. The top rack is in turn strapped to an angle brace behind the panel. I got lazy and never made a bezel for that stack. Not an overly attractive installation but very functional.

Hope that helps!

Miles