Restoration1
Well-Known Member
- Joined
- Feb 1, 2011
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I am a college student in Mechanical Engineering at Clemson. Have my late Granddad's old Piper J-3 cub which has been hanging in the roof of our warehouse since the '60s. I'll be finishing my PPL in February and will restore the Cub this summer (May 8 - Aug 22).
Currently have very vague ideas on where to begin. When my Granddad flew the plane it was never registered with a N-Number and if there were logs, they are lost now. Almost certain the wings are fully aluminum not wood spars.
He removed the fabric covering and the wings, secured them to the side of the fuselage, hoisted the whole package near the 30 foot ceiling of the warehouse and tied it there approx 50 years ago. The warehouse is not climate controlled, but it is steel and does not leak.
The building was rented to a crane company who let a scissor lift up into the leading edge of one of the wings at the 3rd spar from the wingtip. It's difficult to tell from the ground, but if any spars are bent it's 1 maybe 2. The thin aluminum on the leading edge is crumpled in a 1 foot section.
Of course that is seemingly trivial to the mountain of tasks ahead of me. I know I can complete it. The problem is I don't currently have any guidance, know where to begin, or what needs to be new/rebuilt to be airworthy. I've heard the motor needs to be shipped out to be inspected. It is the standard 4 cyl 65hp Continental.
Final exams end May 6th and I'm dedicating the entire summer to getting this completed. Since I am in school and not able to work on it physically I'd like to front-load the project with all the information available and have a good plan of attack to hit the ground running...that info has been hard to find so I'm asking you.
I have re-built cars, tractors, boats, motorcycles. Senior in Mech Engr, skilled in machining and MIG/TIG welding. But Ive heard a plane is very different. There are miles of red-tape, paperwork, signoffs but what are they? Can I start on them now?
The project will be in Georgia, area of Macon/Milledgeville.
As a student I'm trying to save some money by finding an A&P who is interested in seeing this plane come back to life for a nominal payment amount.
Even if your not available for the project but could reply with some knowledgeable advice on the direction I should begin this undertaking, it would be greatly appreciated! Anything from internet links, books, videos, schematics, people in the area, or personal knowledge/suggestions. I'm a sponge. Will post pics in the next week if that will assist.
Currently have very vague ideas on where to begin. When my Granddad flew the plane it was never registered with a N-Number and if there were logs, they are lost now. Almost certain the wings are fully aluminum not wood spars.
He removed the fabric covering and the wings, secured them to the side of the fuselage, hoisted the whole package near the 30 foot ceiling of the warehouse and tied it there approx 50 years ago. The warehouse is not climate controlled, but it is steel and does not leak.
The building was rented to a crane company who let a scissor lift up into the leading edge of one of the wings at the 3rd spar from the wingtip. It's difficult to tell from the ground, but if any spars are bent it's 1 maybe 2. The thin aluminum on the leading edge is crumpled in a 1 foot section.
Of course that is seemingly trivial to the mountain of tasks ahead of me. I know I can complete it. The problem is I don't currently have any guidance, know where to begin, or what needs to be new/rebuilt to be airworthy. I've heard the motor needs to be shipped out to be inspected. It is the standard 4 cyl 65hp Continental.
Final exams end May 6th and I'm dedicating the entire summer to getting this completed. Since I am in school and not able to work on it physically I'd like to front-load the project with all the information available and have a good plan of attack to hit the ground running...that info has been hard to find so I'm asking you.
I have re-built cars, tractors, boats, motorcycles. Senior in Mech Engr, skilled in machining and MIG/TIG welding. But Ive heard a plane is very different. There are miles of red-tape, paperwork, signoffs but what are they? Can I start on them now?
The project will be in Georgia, area of Macon/Milledgeville.
As a student I'm trying to save some money by finding an A&P who is interested in seeing this plane come back to life for a nominal payment amount.
Even if your not available for the project but could reply with some knowledgeable advice on the direction I should begin this undertaking, it would be greatly appreciated! Anything from internet links, books, videos, schematics, people in the area, or personal knowledge/suggestions. I'm a sponge. Will post pics in the next week if that will assist.
