Ha, well I know I ask alot of questions... That's what ya'll are here for right?
Hopefully someday I can be of assistance to someone too..

Anyways... My NEW question is:

What's the process for putting in a new instrument panel in the airplane.
We want to rearrange the primary six in the standard pattern and add provisions for a "real" radio stack, and a couple other instruments.

I have the means to make a valid panel (waterjet machine) but I don't know the legal side of it. Is it just simply a matter of getting the avionics shop (or A&P) to install it and recalculate W&B?

Matt

No one's going to bite at this one huh?

Matt

It will take a little more than that. AVION Research makes a panel and yoke kit that are STC'd to put the center stack avionics in, although it will cost quite a bit, plus the labor to install and rig the controls again. To do a center stack the "T" bar elevator/aileron control in front of the instrument panel will have to be changed to a "U" style, this will also reguire changing of some control cables and thus the rigging. It also changes the location where the yokes come out of the panel.

You can re-arrange the instruments into the six pack configuration without modifying the panel with a log book entry by your mechanic. If the pitot/static lines are opened up and the airplane is IFR certified, it will require another IFR cert.

If you want to build your own panel, it will require a field approval from the local FAA office. This will approve the materials and processes that are used in the conversion (if you can find an A&P/IA and an FAA Inspector that will approve it, some FAA FSDO's are making it real difficult to get a field approval or not doing them at all). I would recommend not starting any work until you have the field approval in hand.

Rick

I just want to change the sub panel, the part mounted on the shock absorbers.
getting rid on the big AN horizon and DG, and go with the Six pack. My IA said that would be just a log book entry. However If I wanted to change the Fixed panel parts it would require field approval.


I'd run it by your friendly A&P and see what they'd let you get away with..

If you do cut out a new sub panel, cut me out one too.....

A second here for a new sub panel design. I'm definitely going to change the arrangement in 8003T before I start my instument training. I want a new DG and attitude indicator and will re-arrange the layout for a more efficient scan. I've seen those better subpanel layouts everywhere but nobody seems to want to part with the plans or blueprints for how they did it.

I am redoing N6612E's panel somewhat, After a radio failure that turned out to be the com switch between radio 1 and 2 switched to the non-existant radio 2. I have removed the ADF and am adding a used KX-175B and KI-203 indicator. I plan to run my KI-218 indicator off the newer KX-175 and run the KI-203 off my older KX-170B. I purchased a Lowrance airmap 500 which is great, it is going to be sooo nice to have 2 VOR's and an aviation grade GPS for those long cross country flights.



Kris

I currently have my panel gutted (and most of the cockpit) redoing it. I have a new one piece metal panel cut and am putting in C/B's with an avionics master and split buss system, some new avionics, rearranging the flight instruments to a more user friendly configuration, putting in new engine, fuel and electrical gauges. While I am at it I am going to replace the 47+ year old wiring in the airplane.

So far the most difficult parts are:

- Figuring out the final panel design
- Researching all of the "acceptable data" for the field approval
- Finding the parts and equipment that I want to install at a reasonable price
- Finding time to do it all

I found more panel space by going to a new panel structure. The cutouts are done to fit the modern instruments, not the oversized ones from 40+ years ago, and by going to more modern digital gauges for fuel, oil, electrical etc.

I almost have all of the documentation to satisfy my local FAA avionics inspector to get the field approval (luckily I have gotten them from the FSDO before for other projects).

Kris.....You can not mount the avionics any lower than the current opening for avionics in the panel (unless you buy the $$$$$$ Avion Research conversion) with out interfering with the yoke chain and cables.

As soon as I can figure out how to attach a photo I'll post a pic of my new (in-work & empty) panel.

I also have a line on making custom panels (to your design) if anyone is interested.

Rick

58' 175
9456B

A new shock mounted panel should be simple to do. I can probably get you one made for what you want in it at a resonable price. I think I have all of the references for getting a field approval on that panel.

Let me know.

Rick

58 175
9456B

Kris

You may gain some flexibility with your installation by front mounting your instruments. It's not pretty but that's how Boeing and Lockheed do it. Makes removing a single instrument a two minute job, a consideration with today's labour costs.

Regards

Roald

I am not familiar with front mounting. Can you explain a little more?

Kris

Slide the instrument in thru the hole from the front, actually aft side (side facing pilot) instead of mounting it from the back, forward side (side facing firewall). This may not work woth several instruments due to internal mounting nuts or if you use wedge style instrument lights. Like Roald said "It s not pretty", might also require a field approval!!

Rick

You have to attach nuts to the foreward face of the instrument panel to receive the screws which pass through the instrument mounting holes. These are called 'rivnuts', which, as the name implies are nuts with rivets attached to hold them in position.

Roald

Just Thought I'd add that Del-air also makes a panel STC kit to convert to the U style control column, as the avion was mentioned several times in this thread.

My son is an A&P built a new panel in our 175 without doing the mod on the controls and it has freed up alot of space.Click to view attachment This gave us a 8 pack along with updating the 5 fuses and two breakers to 20 breakers. Click to view attachmentClick to view attachment We also removed 100 lbs of left over wires, servos and old stuffClick to view attachment. In the past, for time sake when anyting was upgraded, the shops would just cut the wires off at he old insturment and run new wires and if their was a sending unit somewhere they just left it. One note is that for the paint on the panel we used the black chalk board paint it is a flat black and is easy to clean.

Anyone can contact me about the change and I will get you to my son and he can help you with questions.

Ron Campbell
N7688M

Looks great. What are the instruments lit up with? I put in the nu-lites (wag-aero) but I like your setup better.

I just put in a whole new panel on a 54 C-180 this summer. Much better layout which got me thinking about how I want to rework mine again.

We used the UMA insturment rings with the a LED strip lite under the glare shield, from aircraft spurce. I have the UMA's and the Strip lite on separate dimmers so while in cruise I can dim the UMA's and keep the Red up if needed.

Ron

Nice job, Ron. I'd like to do our instrument panel up like that. This is my first post, and I hope to come back and share information with and learn from people here at the Cessna 175 Skylark Club as time goes by. All the best, Rick

Welcome Rick. Glad to see a new panel job in the works!