Upgrades

Goodyear, AZ 85395, US

My 1981 Cessna Turbo 182

My Turbo 182; How I was able to buy an airplane for the 1st time

Prices and Specs

The purchase - airplane specs

As bought, this is the airplane I got.

1981 Turbo 182

Engine 1700 hrs, 6 new cylinders installed in 2016 with now 350 hours on them

All compressions above 75/80

Prop with 1700 hours on it

Mags 400/500 hour TBO

Avionics

PMA 8000 BT Audio

Dual Garmin G5s for both Attitude and Directional Gyro

Garmin GNS 530W

Garmin SL30 Com/Nav

Garmin GTX 330ES (ADS-B 2020 Compliant)

Stec 55x Autopilot with Alt preselect

JPI 830

Final Price Paid: $112,000

Post pre-buy inspection - Annual Inspection

Prop replaced with serviceable blades and overhauled - $8000 Now 0/2000TBO

Mags rebuilt - $1000 Now 0/500 TBO

Misc things fixed - $3000

Total Price Paid before I flew it home : $124,000

New toys for the plane

Dual Stratus in panel Chargers - $750 ea installed

Garmin Flight Stream 210. - $2100 installed

Both of these additions are AMAZING.

While it may sound "lazy," the Flight Stream will likely be my favorite add-on I will ever do. It is so simple to load detailed flight plans. Simply open up Foreflight, choose the flight plan, click "send to" - Panel. Then just push the FLTPL button on the 530 and activate it. All the waypoints are there without spinning a knob. In flight changes are just as simple. You can make changes to the route on the iPad in flight, and the 530 will ask if you want to update the plan, and vice versa. Multiple iPads talk to each other, keeping everything in sync. Being able to make complex route changes during IFR flight will be a snap.

Also, having a way to CHARGE an iPad in flight is great. It is a wonderful feeling arriving with the iPad at 100% battery capacity after a 4 hour flight.

The Autopilot Misbehaves

After owning the plane about 4 weeks, the autopilot gives me a "FAIL" indication. From the day I got it, it porpoised a little and required occasional intervention to make it stop. Glendale Aero pulled it out and sent it to KS. Seven weeks later and $1400 gone, it is now PERFECT.

Soon to come changes

Off to Las Cruces New Mexico. The interior upgrade is being done now. I have been quoted $7400. This includes labor, leather interior, and wrapping all the plastics in leather. I also decided to replace all the plastic parts at the same time (+ $2900) from Vantage Plastics to ensure a superior result.. The Before Pics...

Garmin Panel

Here's the new panel and the Costs, done in dec 2020- Aug 2021

It should go without saying that this is specific to my plane and the installer I used, but I found it hard to get a good idea how much this costs when I was dreaming of this. For this set up, I got prices the ranged from $85k to $120k. I chose the company in the middle. Obviously, some of the cost will vary based on the combinations of items you choose. All in, I spent $99316.39. See below for the specifics. I did get $8950 in "credit," as my 530W, extra G5, SL30 radio were sold to other aircraft owners, and brought my cost down. I also spent another $850 or so to have my yokes wrapped in leather. They are gorgeous, and it would have been criminal to not spend that money.

Garmin G3X Touch - Combination 10" + 7" displays + all the needed Accessories - $23870.24

This price includes all the various components required to hook these displays up. This also includes the engine management probes, and sensors necessary for RPM. MP, FF, TIT, Carb Temp, Oil Temp/Pressure, Volts, Amps, 6 probes for CHT, and EHT,

Parts = $17992.79

Labor = $6848

Garmin GFC 500 Autopilot w/ Pitch, roll, and pitch trim - $15619.02

This price includes all the various components required to remove a STEC 55x, and install all the new servos and adjustments for the new digital autopilot.

Parts = $9907.02

Labor = $5712.00

Install Garmin GMA 35c remote audio panel - $4674.05

This works with the G750 or 650 GPS units and G3X, saves space in your panel display.

Parts = $2899

Labor = $2008

Garmin GTX 750Xi - includes Flight stream 510

Parts = $18080.60

Labor = $1936

Garmin GTX 345R remote Transponder

This works with the G750 or 650 GPS units and the G3X, saves space in your panel display.

Parts = $5295

Labor = $1280

GARMIN GNC 355A

If I made a mistake in this install, this is what I would like to do over. This is a fine GPS. However, it is not compatible with the 750. I thought I would save a couple dollars, and passed on the 650. If I could do it again, I would immediately add the extra couple thousand dollars to have it included. The 750, and the 355 do not cross fill one another. So each time you want to make an in flight change, you have to do it twice if you are using them both. However, this is a minor complaint. In reality, the 2nd GPS really is just used for grabbing an ATIS, or looking at traffic or terrain to keep that clutter off the 750.

Parts = $6995

Labor = $1336

CEI Digital Fuel probes

I am so happy I got these. These are digital fuel senders. The provide a VERY accurate readout of fuel remaining in the tank. Nothing like knowing that when the fuel level in the right tank says 7 gallons, it means there is 7 gallons in the tank.

Parts = $870