Here's the information on the plane 1948 415-CD, S/N 4071, 2450 TT, 650 SMOH done in '85, rudder pedal conversion done in '51, bubble canopy, Cleveland brakes, double-fork nose gear, metallized wings, all AD's done, wings treated with zinc chromate primer and Corrosion X in 2003. Last annual was 4/08, less than $200 in parts and labor needed over basic annual. No annual in 2007 because of previous owner's health, good annual in 2006. Two cylinders replaced, one in 2003 and one in 2006. Compressions were 80/70, 80/74, 80/75, 80/75 in 2008. It has been hangered last 12 years. Airplane came from So Cal to Colorado to Texas during its life. As I mentioned, I checked everything I could on the Ercoupe Pre-buy list without pulling inspection covers or running the engine. New nose cowl (bowl) is being installed by the new owner. Prop has about 50 hours on it, metal McCauley pitched between climb and cruise. Light hail damage to wings, cosmetic only (The Cherokee I'm renting has similar damage). It will not be noticeable after the wings are polished up, IMO. The control rod ends show no evidence of corrosion and appear well-lubed. Aileron play within 5/16". No cracked rivets on wings. Gascolator double bracket installed. Inside of cowl looks clean. Could not find the lower exhaust bracket to the engine mentioned in the Pre-buy checklist. Exhaust and muffler look fairly recent. Oil screen looks clean. The panel is very basic. Turn needle on Turn and Bank is inop and needs to be repaired or replaced. Radio Direction Indicator below wet compass is inop (fixed card). The previous owner mentioned another inop gauge, but I don't remember, so that will have to be found in the next annual. Has single flip-flop comm, no transponder (I will need one, I'm just outside the DFW Mode C veil). Old Magellan hand-held GPS on floor. ELT works, good thru 2010.
My biggest concern other than the gauges on the panel is that the tail sits too low, so it needs donuts or spacers. I'm 6'0", and the top of the vertical stab come up to my nose. The mech that did annuals for previous owner said he told him it needed to befixed, but he couldn't afford it after getting sick and the new owner doesn't think it's a problem (even though he owns an Alon and has flown 415's before) so my partner and I will probably have to have it done. We've offered to pay the new owner the $16,000 he has in it (he bought it for $15K and is doing the new $1K nose bowl), plus the cost of the next annual (figure $500-$750), not to exceed $17K. We want to purchase in January 2010, and we would get anothert pre-buy done since the annual would be a few months old by then. Most of the Ercoupe guys I know think it's a great buy. The guy with the Cherokee thinks we're paying too much. What do you folks think? At or under $17 with a fresh annual a pre-buy verifying it is corrosion-free. Deal or No Deal?
