BL-65 upgradability?

[samwise]

Looking at a BL-65 that has a C-65 in it (serial 1936). How easy or difficult are upgrades on this airframe? Specifically, C-85 or 90, extended baggage, and wing tanks.

[woodmw]

Re: BL-65 upgradability?

Check out Chuck's thread on his C-85 install.

http://vb.taylorcraft.org/showthread.php?9154-C85-Engine-up-grade-on-n26658

[NC36061]

Re: BL-65 upgradability?

That particular airplane is an early B and would have been built with 13 ribs per wing and GW of 1150 lbs. You need to have later 15 rib wings to do any GW increase whatsoever, not sure if that would be true to just install a C-85 or -90, but not much point if you can't increase GW. Count your wing ribs and consult with Terry Bowden here on the forum as he's got the STC's for many of the engine and GW increase mods.

[cvavon]

Re: BL-65 upgradability?

My plane is a flying data tag as far as being original it has 15 rib pre war wings and two wing tanks it is ser# 2000 and was a bl/t 50 when new no breaks tail skid one door the fuselage is a 1946 post war now my wing struts were bought in 1980 from the ferris witch make them f19 struts and a C85-12 with a starter and alternator on a short mount with Luscombe exhaust.Grove disk breaks ans AK Bush tires and tail wheel and a tall stack of paper work.

[bugg]

Re: BL-65 upgradability?

we just removed a c-65 and installed c-85 and one wing tank in my 1940 t-craft s.n.2103.
I did not do the weight increase. my wings are 13 rib. aircraft weight went from 705# to 720#
I weigh 150# so I can still haul 170# of passenger or cargo.
I empty wing tank to stay legal if my passenger weighs 200#
my cross countries are always alone, leaving me with ample space for 170# of gear.
better performance is what I wanted and achieved.
I purchased my stc from terry Bowden.
he answered a lot of my questions before I purchased stc from him.
he's a great guy to work with.
Larry B

[Howard Wilson]

Re: BL-65 upgradability?

There may have been fuselage tubing changes (diagonals in the first bay or two) for the later 'higher horsepower' engines....? h