Guys - many thanks for the replies on my 150 to 160 hp upgrade questions... I did not realize that two STCs had to be bought (engine + airframe), and the crank AD inspection, but part of having a certified airplane I guess...
Regarding the baggage door mod, I bought the plans from Tom Lansden. His number is 636-561-2452. He mentioned it in a post on Cherokee Pilots Association (10 May 08). His screen name is TOM @LAKE ST LOUIS. He is a great guy and did the mod to his '67 (or '68?) Cherokee 140. Call him for further details and pricing.
I bought the needed parts (to include the 3rd window mod) from Larry at Cherokee Aircraft Salvage. His number is 540-664-2084. You'll need the parts off of a 180 plane. A Warrior may work, but check your parts manual and ask Tom and Larry.
Maybe POS could do a write-up on this install, as I took a lot of photos. Maybe "Cherokee 140 Make-Over Part 1" - as I thought it would help the other "baggage-doorless" 140 owners in case they wanted to do the same thing...
My next endeavor is to install the 'under the baggage floor storage compartment' kit that I bought from Aircrafters. It is STCed and rather pricey ($795.00) but it is a complete kit - down to the required rivets. I am doing this mod this week while I'm on leave.
I'd rather not quote prices for the drawings from Tom or the parts from Larry, you'll need to ask those guys directly - but the Isham's 3rd window STC was $195.00. I bought a 180 hatrack from Larry and when I told him what he quoted before, he replied "I must have been drinking..." ha, ha... The shipping for that and the fuselage section he cut out nearly "killed me" in charges by UPS...
I will say that without interior work, so far I have about 2.2 AMUs ($2,200.00) in both those mods including labor. If you have to pay an a/p to do all the work, you better have a "fat" wallet...
Some of you guys are thinking "he should have sold the 140 and bought a 180/Archer". With what I know now, yes, a 1968 180D or later would have been the ticket, but as my first plane (like our "first love" (first "piece") I bought a nice 140 to begin with. Low time (2400 hrs), field overhaul (34 hours), NDH, IFR certified (Garmin GNC 300 XL), new paint and interior, etc - and I know ever inch of my plane - so, it fits my mission profile, is economical, and is paid off.
Hope this helps regarding the baggage door and window mods and explains my rational in sinking money in a "black hole" (oops, got to call it a "white hole" to be p.c. lately...)
Feel free to call me at 931-698-5980 is any of you guys get serious about doing this. As everyone has been helpful in my questions and querries - it's time to "give back" to other owners...
Note that the parts from a 150 or 160 with 3rd window are identical with the 180 with 3rd window, so they can be used as donors as well. As an aside, the addition of the baggage door together with the 3rd window requires the installation of one extra corner brace. When using a salvage plane for donor parts, there may be a problem matching rivet holes from the donor plane with some of the existing rivets that have to be removed (and then replaced with new rivets going into the old holes) on the receiving plane. On my 150, I rounded the corners of the 3rd windows when I cut them through the fuselage (in order to reduce skin stresses and for cosmetic reasons), and I also put cosmetic corner fillets in the other windows to radius them to more closely resemble the newer PA28's.
Steve, what I was trying to say in my earlier post, is that the 150, 160, and 180 have identical airframes. If you are getting the 3rd window reinforcement from a donor plane (as Mike suggested), you can also use those 150's and 160's that have the optional 3rd windows as potential donor planes. Personally, I bought new parts because of the problems associated with fitting the used donor parts to the existing rivet holes in the receiving plane for that fraction of the rivet holes that have to be reused when the old bracing is removed and the replacement bracing is installed.
Also, for planes that have a baggage door, there is one extra corner brace required when adding the 3rd window, that is not required if adding the 3rd window without a baggage door. My 150 already had the baggage door, so I had to add that extra corner brace when I added the 3rd window.
JimC
