or a ...
https://www.barnstormers.com/classified ... IRDOG.html

You’re right; a 180/185 is overkill for the OP, and so is a 180hp 170. Typical BT: “I need buying advice on a pencil.”
“Get a Mont Blanc fountain pen.”

But if you’re flying a 185 and not calling it “fun,” you’re not doing it right!

By the time you modify your C170 with a 180 hp engine and other mod, you will have more in it and not anywere near the useful load of an earlier C180.
I said earlier model as the OP says under $75k.

What about the stinsons? Seem like a lot of plane for the money ... eg I don’t yet understand their shortcomings

I personally would shy away from a Franklin engine.
Mostly for parts and quality people to repair/overhaul them.
If it has a good version of a Continental or a Lycombing conversion then I‘d consider a Stinson to be in the running.

Murray

Van's RV 6 or 8. If you can find it I highly recommend a Harmon Rocket II. The rocket is by far the best bang for the buck!

BS

I've owned two of them and flown several others. It's a sweet flying old airplane, far nicer than at C180, has more interior room than a C170 while being a true 4 place airplane. The Franklin is a smooth running fine old engine but you have to learn it's quirks, kind of like an E series Continental.

Please don't disparage a fine old design unless you have real experience with it to relate.

BS

I've owned two of them and flown several others. It's a sweet flying old airplane, far nicer than at C180, has more interior room than a C170 while being a true 4 place airplane. The Franklin is a smooth running fine old engine but you have to learn it's quirks, kind of like an E series Continental.

Please don't disparage a fine old design unless you have real experience with it to relate.

If it was me and your budget (no DC3) I would not get anything without a stick.

Sorry, but i’ll Stand by my own experience. A Stinson 108 is not a stol plane by any stretch and if you think you are going to get out of the same places that a c180 or a 150hp pacer can depart from, you are going to trim some trees.

There's a 108 on a little field near me with a Lyc O- 540 in it...it goes pretty well!

Nonsense. First of all I assume you have first hand experience with all three types. I do. limited in a 180 but quite a lot in a Pacer, TriPacer and over 300 hours in Stinsons. The 180 will haul more load but has 60 hp more than the Stinson so the fact it can outperform it isn't surprising . You can't buy a decent one for the OP's budget but for half his budget you can buy a really clean Stinson. Now if you find one with an o470 in it, like a 180, the Stinson will far outperform the Pacer and in almost any category equal the 180 while being a much nicer airplane to fly. But the OP wants a playing with airplane, not one to work so I don't think the 180 is a candidate. As for the Pacer unless you have one with modified wings there's no way it's more capable at hauling a load or short/soft fields than a 108 series Stinson. It is faster, has a Lycoming engine, and you can buy a nice one for the OP's budget so I'd say it's a good candidate but for flying qualities, 2 front doors, and load carrying capabilities it's not in the same category as the Stinson.

Hi Barton,

I didn't mean to kick your puppy so apologies if it came off that way. I only meant to say that some people think anything with a tailwheel is a bush plane. I was just trying to point out that having the little wheel on the correct end does not mean that it's a carbon cub. No offense intended.

Don’t need a stol hauler. Doing the above mission off 2000’ of unobstructed grass at sea level and 90F would be the max.

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Don’t need a stol hauler. Doing the above mission off 2000’ of unobstructed grass at sea level and 90F would be the max.