BeechTalk - BT - Potential 1954 E 35 Owner Requesting Input

Username Protected · **Posted:** 10 Dec 2012, 08:33

All,

My name is Kyle and I currently live in GA. I have been looking at buying a V tail for several years and a opportunity has come up. I was approached by gentlemen with an 1954 E-35 who would like to trade straight across for my 82 starduster too SA300 (Nice Bird). I have a pretty good feeling about this but would like to hear from you guys. The E has a 225-8 engine with 230 SMOH and has the hartzell MV prop with 800 SMOH. The owner is an A&P IA and has owned the plane for over 20 years (has several). This aircraft is injected. All photos reveal no interal corrosion in the tail section. Everything is shiny and she has never been fogged. Panel is old. Interior is good. Paint is 7 or 8 and has not been painted since 78. Gear was rebushed 800 hrs ago and the airplane has flown around 230 hrs in the last 15 years. Alway hangar kept in AZ. The engine has the 727 heads and heavier walled cylinder bored 10 over. Pistons are a 4 ring type. Glass is great and has never been replaced (real clear). Guy is 75 and says he just wants a biplane (reason for selling). The seller says no corrosion to be found. I need some input. I have decided not to hire anyone to do a prebuy because he wants 2k. Please provide some guidance/opinions. I will take someone knowledgeable in aircraft to help me look it over.

THanks,

KG

Username Protected · **Posted:** 10 Dec 2012, 08:45

I'm pretty new here, but I'll be the first to mention Lew Gage when it comes to vintage Bos. Search for his posts and start reading. Good Luck and keep us posted!

Username Protected · **Posted:** 10 Dec 2012, 10:04

Username Protected wrote:

All,

My name is Kyle and I currently live in GA. I have been looking at buying a V tail for several years and a opportunity has come up. I was approached by gentlemen with an 1954 E-35 who would like to trade straight across for my 82 starduster too SA300 (Nice Bird). I have a pretty good feeling about this but would like to hear from you guys. The E has a 225-8 engine with 230 SMOH and has the hartzell MV prop with 800 SMOH. The owner is an A&P IA and has owned the plane for over 20 years (has several). This aircraft is injected. All photos reveal no interal corrosion in the tail section. Everything is shiny and she has never been fogged. Panel is old. Interior is good. Paint is 7 or 8 and has not been painted since 78. Gear was rebushed 800 hrs ago and the airplane has flown around 230 hrs in the last 15 years. Alway hangar kept in AZ. The engine has the 727 heads and heavier walled cylinder bored 10 over. Pistons are a 4 ring type. Glass is great and has never been replaced (real clear). Guy is 75 and says he just wants a biplane (reason for selling). The seller says no corrosion to be found. I need some input. I have decided not to hire anyone to do a prebuy because he wants 2k. Please provide some guidance/opinions. I will take someone knowledgeable in aircraft to help me look it over.

THanks,

KG

Shouldn't cost anywhere near $2000 to do a prebuy. More like $500.

Username Protected · **Posted:** 10 Dec 2012, 10:22

Username Protected wrote:

All,

My name is Kyle and I currently live in GA. I have been looking at buying a V tail for several years and a opportunity has come up. I was approached by gentlemen with an 1954 E-35 who would like to trade straight across for my 82 starduster too SA300 (Nice Bird). I have a pretty good feeling about this but would like to hear from you guys. The E has a 225-8 engine with 230 SMOH and has the hartzell MV prop with 800 SMOH. The owner is an A&P IA and has owned the plane for over 20 years (has several). This aircraft is injected. All photos reveal no interal corrosion in the tail section. Everything is shiny and she has never been fogged. Panel is old. Interior is good. Paint is 7 or 8 and has not been painted since 78. Gear was rebushed 800 hrs ago and the airplane has flown around 230 hrs in the last 15 years. Alway hangar kept in AZ. The engine has the 727 heads and heavier walled cylinder bored 10 over. Pistons are a 4 ring type. Glass is great and has never been replaced (real clear). Guy is 75 and says he just wants a biplane (reason for selling). The seller says no corrosion to be found. I need some input. I have decided not to hire anyone to do a prebuy because he wants 2k. Please provide some guidance/opinions. I will take someone knowledgeable in aircraft to help me look it over.

THanks,

KG

We own a similar plane in Ga. I could look at it for you if it is here.

Username Protected · **Posted:** 10 Dec 2012, 10:36

[/quote]Shouldn't cost anywhere near $2000 to do a prebuy. More like $500.[/quote]

+1

I know of several good Bonanza mechanics in the South Atlanta area that would be $500 or less, but, assuming the aircraft is in AZ, that would not help much.
Although,.... some of them do have pass privileges. P.M. Me if you need contact info.
There is no doubt you could easily spend 2k to do one if you want to annual it, oil analasys, pull up floorboards, gear swings, etc.
If you just want to make sure it is a safe plane with no corrosion problems, or big surprises on your next annual, a trained eye could do a reasonable pre buy in a couple of hours.
I get the feeling you just want to make sure you are not giving away your bird for a money pit.

It does sound like a nice airplane but it never hurts to have an experienced second opinion. Every mechanic has their emphasis items, and sometimes their errors and omissions.

Best of luck,
John

Username Protected · **Posted:** 10 Dec 2012, 16:15

At the very least, make sure that the ADs are current. The cost of a quality prebuy is peanuts compared with the cost of deferred maintenance.