Thanks for the comment and for watching my video. They really produce a great interior. It has been a couple of years since I did this and I an not at all disappointed. Couple words of advice before you start... don't be afraid to start (realizing that your plane will be down for a period of time) and always have someone to draw from if you have questions. I used my A&P and You Tube.
I’m just beginning the process and found a multi tool with scraping blade works well for removing most of foam in baggage compartment. After that some adhesive remover and a stiff nylon brush. Finally paint stripper for the zinc chromate. I’m planning on aluminum prep 33 and alodine then zinc chromate.
Looks great! I’m currently looking to purchase my first plane, preferably a Cherokee 180. Most I’ve seen could use an interior update. This video helps put me at ease with that decision. Thanks for sharing!
Thanks Rich. Dont let the interiors steer you away from a good plane. Replacing them is not that hard. Take your time and the results will show it. Thanks again for the comment, glad the video was helpful!
Great video ! Excellent commentary throughout. Thanks for sharing. Love that vintage Cherokee and as beautiful as the new, up to date interior is, there was something kind of cool about the old style, red & white interiors, used back in the 60's. Thanks for sharing !
Randy Porter thanks for the comments.... I agree that the red and white was awesome and it lasted almost 50 years! But it was tired and had to go. This took allot of TLC to get done but hopefully it'll last 50 more
Blake Walcker thanks for the note. Make sure that you post pictures of your updates! Don't be afraid to start...leave enough time to make it right and have fun doing it!
Hello Flying SeaBee. I am about to install an AirTex interior in my Cherokee 140. Would you be interested in offering some advice? You did a great job by the way!
Anything you need - just ask. I'll will tell you to take your time, don't get frustrated and never be afraid to ask questions and you'll do an amazing job too! Couple of tricks... be really careful with the adhesive foam insulation... it is seriously sticky. Fit it 3 times then peel the backing when it is in place. Read all of the directions on the glue and start in the luggage area so any mistakes while you learn is "hidden".
Thank you for the share and another great video.Your instrument panel caught my eye kind of curious to what you have there .My father and i are looking at a 140 to have some fun with.
Thanks for the comment Scott - I have a JPI 900, Aspen PFD and MFD, Garmin 530W, Lynx 9000, Garmin GNC255, Garmin 696 (mostly for XM Radio), and audio panel. All of the interior light controls and light systems came out of a TBM parts book and for space I installed a small Cessna vacuum gauge. Finally I had a custom fit panel for the install that was powder coated to what I wanted. I'd love to see what you so with your 140!
Well based on info you provided that would not be hard since the plane is going to be kept between the elkhart In. area and Middletown Oh.I learned to fly not far from the dayton Ohio area at a small grass strip (40I Red Stewart Airfield) in a J3 Cub
I have a 64 Cherokee 235 that I just picked up a couple months ago. I am looking to figure out how to get a custom panel done. Did you find a local shop that makes custom panels, or was it a national company that could ship a new panel to you? I'm not even sure how to begin looking for a shop that might make panels for my plane!
My shop designed it, got the FAA approval and custom fit it. I went through Steven's Aviation in Dayton Ohio but they have several locations. Best advice I can give you based on my experience is to go to your local shop and talk to them. Most of the good shops have a panel design software package and will show you what it will look like. Those shops that may not have the capability will talk to you about how to make it fit into the panel that you have. I must have talked to 5 different shops before making a decision... the key is ask questions.
My father and his best friend are machinist for me this would not be hard to fabricate. Check with your local EAA you will find a wealth of knowledge there i am trying to think of the web site that had a panel builder on it. Its been a long will comment more over the weekend.
How did you install the rear seats? When I got my plane, the rear seats were out so I didn’t go through that process I noticed the side panels were both ripped. I have the complete interior from Airtex but before refinishing the seat, I’ve been trying to figure out how to put on the seats and can’t find the correct angles to get the backrest. Any help?
It's a feel thing.... I ripped my old side panels taking the seat out so I learned that I needed to put the seat in at an angle, square it up and then slide it back into the final position. Be careful of the studs and brackets on the seat back and take your time. My tip would be to practice a time or two before you install the new side panels. Most importantly if there is any resistance stop and check it. Don't force anything
Awesome job! Just starting to get all the glue out of mine. One question if I might? I see that you primed the floors, but did you prime the side panels? I am priming the floors, but I am hesitant to do the sides with the cables, etc running through that area.
Hi Jessica, no I did not prime the sides. I asked the same question and was told that it wasn't necessary. Good luck with yours and enjoy it! I learned a ton doing mine
Hello , I Just bought a 66 Cherokee and the first item on the list is a new Interior, spoke with Vicky at Airtex and have samples coming. I like your colors, did you use standard or premium seat material and what were the colors ? Good video.
Thanks for the comment and good luck on your interior. Take your time and I'm sure it will come out great! My material was Base:DL-3 Taupe Trim: DT-78-A Elk Wall panels to match with Sand carpet. My order number was 111289 if you want them to look up all the details.
Very nice upgrade. I didn't notice, did you replace the zinc chromate in the back? It looks like on the floor under the front seats it was partially done, but I'm not sure. Overall, it really bring the interior of your Cherokee up to date, and the panel is gorgeous. Never saw that when I was flying a 180, that's for sure!
Hi Gary - Thanks for the comments. Yes the interior was coated front and back. I just didn't add the right pictures to show it completely. There is one frame at 4:05 that shows it but you have to be fast to catch it.
Thanks for the video. How much was the sound dampening and was it worth it? Also what are the benefits of chromiting the interior before the carpet? I didn’t see a video on your panel upgrade but did notice that it was nicely done.
Very awesome video! So, did the more modern insulation help at all? I can only think/hope so. Also, I would like to add, that it is my humble opinion, that your friends and family, would feel far more safe flying in a GA A/C with a more modern look and feel, than the dated. Thanks for sharing!
AERO-MAGNUM thanks for the comment. Yes it did help... the interior is much more quiet than it was before and warmer in the winter. The new interior and instruments does make it more "comfortable" for passengers but I found that it is intimidating for my pilot buddies that are used to steam gauges. Overall I couldn't be any more happy with the results. Thanks for watching!
Did you reuse the 1/8" plyboard/aluminum floorboard panels underneath the front seats? I believe those are to reinforce the bottom skin from foot pressure etc. Mine came up and exposed a big mess of glue & yuk around the seat rails. How did you get that glue out? Nasty!
No I did not reuse the boards.Mine were almost destroyed when i removed them. I thought that they were support too, and maybe they did provide some support, but they are mostly sound deadner. When you install the new carpet, there should be some thinner more dense foam insulation to put under the carpet. That is all that you need. I was skeptical when I first read that and used to step softly into the plane but I can reassure you... it's perfectly fine. The structure does not need that board. To get all the glue out, I used a gel type paint stripper. I needed two applications but it takes all the gunk off. Best of luck with your install! If you have any other questions send me a note
@@TheFlyingSeaBee the other function of that thin board is to flush up the floor surface w/ the seat rail flanges. I know it's ugly but I'm gonna try to reuse and get it to level out. I think there's a reason for the top sheet of aluminum and that's for impact/load spread/reinforcement. My carpet just has a thin foam backing that is soft so I'm not gonna trust it. The old carpet glue is resistant to common methylene chloride paint stripper. It softens but won't release from the aluminum surface. Can't use a wire brush either. I need to find the heavy artillery to get this crap off! Do you remember the brand?
I used Klean Strip Strip-X Stripper and it worked great. I know what you mean about the foam on the back of the carpet.... there is another PC of self-adhesive type dense foam that replaced the boards that is installed before the carpet and leveled the carpet to the rails. It's fast but 4:41 on my video shows the foam in place before the carpet.
I have a question, what was the thickness of the insulation you put on the walls. I am in the middle of my 1923 Cherokee 140 restauration and looking for something similar. Greetings from Poland. Tom
I believe that it was 0.25" foam self adhesive insulation. Airtex provided it with my kit when I ordered it. I can tell you... it is very sticky... cut it and lay it up several times and only stick a corner when installing it. Then slowly remove the backing when it is in place. Some people will tell you to spray water on the side walls before but I didn't want to trap moisture and create a corrosion problem. Hope that helps answer your question.
John Stark the design, inspecrion, and approval was handled by Stevens Aviation.... took a while but I was not made aware of any problems in the process other than the inspectors schedule. I believe the switches are common to the TBM. If you are interested in which ones they are let me know and I'll look in the logs and send you a note
We are involved in doing replacement wall panels on an identical 1969 Cherokee 180D. Same color too! I don't see a place to send you an e-mail or call you. Can you help out there?
I flew with broken 170's and an old Lorance for years in this plane - when I decided that I was going to keep her, I saved my pennies and got the panel I always wanted. I'll never get my money out of this panel so I'll fly off the value ;-)
Am thinking about updating my 1976 PA28 151. Can you tell me what it cost for your airtex interior? What did you use for your new panel and how much did it cost installed? Thanks
Hi Rocketman90251 - Thanks for watching my video. My interior was around $4k but I had other "incidental's" that was probably another $1k (door seals, decals, scrapers, paint, trim parts etc.). The panel on the other hand was a custom installation for my plane... Let's just say that it was EXPENSIVE but it's exactly what I wanted. If you have something like mine quoted for your plane I would expect somewhere between $50k - $70k depending on the shop, your current panel, wiring, and fuel sender configuration. Hope this helps!
$50-$70? "EXPENSIVE" is definitely the right word for it. I wonder, with all the upgrades, what is the value of your plane now? I know you're probably never going to sell it, but just curious. Also, I wonder how much difference in weight the new interior/panel made.
The Flying SeaBee awesome, thank you. Around the November time frame I’m planning on purchasing a 140, or 180. I’ve been looking a lot and it’s apparent I’ll have to modernize the interior. I won’t spend the 10-15 k a shop will charge. Great work, thanks for the reply.
pa226pable when you buy one... get one with the best avionics package that you can and then fly it for a year before you do anything. That's what I did... and I'm glad. I changed my mind 4 or 5 times before doing what I did.
