When Upgrading an Engine Just Isn't Worth It...

So what do you do when you finally realize it’s just not worth it to upgrade a Lycoming 0320 to a 0360 in a 1968 Cessna Cardinal 177? So the last three weeks have been nothing but research and digging into the actual prospect of upgrading this aircraft to a Lycoming 0360. At the end of my three week research project which involved calling dozens of people, talking to dozens of engine shops, getting on the phone spending countless hours online and talking to everyone that I could possibly think of who would have expertise in the subject and I have come up and come down to this final point: It is just not worth it. Although it would seem like a really cool thing to do there are several roadblocks and obstacles right from the start that I didn’t know were there and unless you’re a cardinal owner and an aircraft mechanic you wouldn’t know they’re there either. 1. To do an upgrade like this you have to start with an STC a supplemental type certificate and there are only two of these available and you have to buy them. These documents basically legalize and license the process and they permit the airframe to be upgraded to this engine. However the STC‘s are simply not available 2. The actual benefits that you’re getting from this are not that strong. If you do an upgrade to the larger Lycoming 0360 engine your performance may increase, however your top speed really isn’t going to increase that much your useful load will not increase and you really have to look at the benefits that that will get you for a total investment of around $50,000. 3. The cost . Pricing all this out would be slightly north of $50,000 and that is not worth it to do to this airplane. Everything forward of the firewall needs to be replaced. 4. You have to ask yourself what is the wisest thing to do when in this situation. Whenever you have a difficult decision that’s the first question to ask... The wisest thing for me to do in this was to put a freshly overhaul zero time Lycoming 0320 engine in my 1968 Cessna 177. This would not require any certain supplemental type certificates and I can just overhaul my prop use all the same exhaust fittings the same oil cooler and that would free me up budget wise to put an engine monitor in which will greatly help the management of the new engine. This was I feel the hardest part of this equation was making the decision to stick with a Lycoming 0320 engine. It is the wisest thing to do also it is going to be manageable as far as the actual project there will be fewer surprises my expectations will be manageable and it will be done in a decent timeframe. Yes! I bought an airplane! This program has some initial numbers and breaks down the monthly expenses. Owning an airplane can be affordable... but the upgrades.... That is what will get me. Watch this program to find out what ownership costs. Have you always wanted to learn how to fly but now you are over 50? Get out there and start and learn! There are so many people in there 50's and 60's who are just starting to fly so what are you waiting for?