Hello, I'm in the middle of restoring an early model Decathlon (1973) and I'm needing to replace the lower cowling. I'm trying to decide if it would be worth the expense to upgrade to the later style cowling as used on the 1974 thru present. It looks like the dual exhaust, upper/lower cowling, boot cowling and firewall will need to be replaced if that's the route I take. Curious if anyone of the readers here has done this with their early model Decathlon/Citabria? If so what paper work will be required. Thanks Mark
1973 Decathlon restoration
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Paul Agaliotis
New member
Mark.
We replaced the cowling on an early Citabria with the late model cowl. I would not do it again if I had the early parts. The cost was near $5000 for all the needed items. Its a bigger job than it looks.
Paul
We replaced the cowling on an early Citabria with the late model cowl. I would not do it again if I had the early parts. The cost was near $5000 for all the needed items. Its a bigger job than it looks.
Paul
Paul is correct. Its more than just a shift of one part. If you want to change over, the parts are all available however. You learn very quickly just how much Bellanca changed things in 1974.
On a related note. We are switching over to Epoxy (no longer polyester) bagged cowling right now. The piece that comes out of the mold is much nicer and saves a little weight. I doubt that is enough incentive for the expense. :lol:
On a related note. We are switching over to Epoxy (no longer polyester) bagged cowling right now. The piece that comes out of the mold is much nicer and saves a little weight. I doubt that is enough incentive for the expense. :lol:
Doug Snead
New member
Mark,
I have a 72 Citabria that will need a rebuild in the next 2-3 years and so I have a lot of questions for you about your Decathlon restoration. Do you mind if we trade emails?
doug_snead@yahoo.com
Thanks,
Doug
I have a 72 Citabria that will need a rebuild in the next 2-3 years and so I have a lot of questions for you about your Decathlon restoration. Do you mind if we trade emails?
doug_snead@yahoo.com
Thanks,
Doug
wjwilson2000
New member
I don't know if your plane has the single muffler ,single stack or dual muffler dual stack, but the ones that I have flown with the dual muffler seem to have more power. Now that could just be me but you would think that with less back pressure it would have more power. The dual muffler setup is a little louder sounding flying compaired to the single setup. Just something else to consider!!!
Woodie
N29763
Woodie
N29763
Thats actually pure coincidence.
Elano did HUGE back pressure studies in the 70's when they developed the 100 series muffler. The short tubes actually extend inside the collector a little bit for scavaging purposes. And the Flame Cones have a weird dome inside them for some other flow reason. There is a reason they are expensive, they are complex inside.
Elano did HUGE back pressure studies in the 70's when they developed the 100 series muffler. The short tubes actually extend inside the collector a little bit for scavaging purposes. And the Flame Cones have a weird dome inside them for some other flow reason. There is a reason they are expensive, they are complex inside.