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STC to install 540 in a Comanche 180
I've been looking at lots of Comanche's for sale online. I want a six cylinder. But, I've noticed that there are some nice 180's advertised right now for very cheap. Many for $20K less than a similar condition 250 goes for. There was a local guy here who tried to sell a 180 a couple years ago. He finally parted it out. He said he even lowered the price to $12K and nobody wanted it. A shame, really.
Since Piper used the same prototype for testing behind both the O-360 and the O-540, and everything I've read said that the 180 and 250 are basically identical except for firewall forward, there realistically shouldn't be any major headaches with doing a swap like this.
Has anyone other than the factory installed a 540 in a 180? Is there an STC for it?
Was just curious. Physically, it shouldn't be a big deal at all. Legally, it might just not be worth it. I already ran into that with my new design for the stabilator parts. FAA and the DER said it would cost over $100K for the STC. Easier to just buy the Aussie horn.
But at any rate, I was wondering about the engine swap.
Cheers,
Jim
- Jim Golden
- Posts: 18
- Joined: Wed Nov 26, 2014 3:39 am
Re: STC to install 540 in a Comanche 180
Clarence
- Clarence Beintema
- ICS member
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- Joined: Tue May 11, 2010 11:41 pm
Re: STC to install 540 in a Comanche 180
A 180 Comanche flown at economical power settings can fly a long way on 60 gallons. (I know of a 180 that has flown around the world - probably the perfect plane for such an endeavour.) But to convert a 180 to a 250 AND to make use of the extra power one will always wish one had also upped the fuel capacity. And that will cost big bucks.
Don Ostergard, ICS 3263
c-flhv@magtech.ca
- Don Ostergard
- ICS BOD member
- Posts: 63
- Joined: Sat Nov 20, 2004 6:59 pm
Re: STC to install 540 in a Comanche 180
I am no expert, but I think Zach Grant has addressed this before. I am sure you can find his earlier replies using the search function.
IIRC though, he indicated no STC was needed but could be done with a 337 since the Type Data Certificate (TDC) listed the different engines. To make the switch, you would need to take the TDC and change ALL components marked as 180 and change them to the part required for the 250/260. I think it was pointed out that it is cheaper to just buy a 250/260.
Michael
- Michael Bryant
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- Joined: Sun Oct 16, 2011 7:59 pm
Re: STC to install 540 in a Comanche 180
Of note, I did speak to David Johnston of Johnston Aircraft Service on Friday for nearly an hour. What an awesome guy! He knows about everything about these birds. Well, he laughingly told me that there "is" an STC out there to do just what I'd proposed: However, what he had done was to install a 180 in a 250 and go the other way for a customer that just had to have it. But, somehow, the FAA got it messed up and wrote up some paperwork that they'd gone from the 4 to the 6 banger. Anyway, there is apparently some kind of "ghost" STC in paper only...but it wasn't done.
On the other hand, he told me of a few cleanup tricks he's done to his own 260 and it'll cruise at 205-207. Now that's enough to make the Beech guys jealous
Jim
- Jim Golden
- Posts: 18
- Joined: Wed Nov 26, 2014 3:39 am