Editor's note: This is the first in a series of two articles on engine upgrades. The second story will appear next month. While both stories are about Bonanzas, the route taken by the respective owners was different enough to warrant two articles on how the process of an engine upgrade can be done. The current story is particularly interesting since the owner upgraded an engine not once, but to an IO-470, then 10-520, and finally an IO-550-all with used engines. Also noteworthy are the costs involved in such a process, showing it doesn't have to be prohibitively expensive. I bought my 1959 K35 Bonanza, in 1985. Like many owners of older Bo-nanzas, I continue to enjoy flying it. I As a result, I continue to improve my airplane. Some years there were minimal modifications, such as new Camloc fasteners for the engine compartment eyebrow access panels. At other times, the improvements/ modifications have been more substantial. The extent of an improvement was dependent upon availability of money and the need. Please realize, if I could have afforded to purchase a newer Bonanza equipped as I would like, I would have done so. However, I wanted to be able to own and fly my own Bonanza. I did not want to have partners in an airplane. I also did not want to have to do a lease-back or other such thing in order to afford my airplane.
展开▼
