Jim Carter wrote:
What should a Cessna / Piper / Commander driver look out for on the original
'47 BE35 (and I don't mean performance wise)? Where are some of the corners
to be avoided? What special attention needs to be paid to the airframe? I'm
looking at the ABS site now, but could use some additional input.

Kyles comments were pretty good. Nearly 60 year old wiring is never good.
Corrosion is always a problem.

The question is how original is it and exactly how early is it? The 35 model
went through a log of changes early on.

Does it have the tube trussed center section (first several hundred
serial numbers)? If so has it been x-rayed recently (as required by AD)?

What condition (corrosion) are the magnesium control surfaces. The ailerons
and (I think) flaps were originall magnesium but reskinning in aluminum
is approved and commonly done. Ruddervators have always been magnesium.
The VERY early ones supposidly had fabric ailerons, but I think any
still flying have probably gone to aluminum skins.

The E series engine is a bit of orphan, although getting a rebuild is
still possible. Oil leaks from around the accessory case are not unusual
(and not usually indictative of a problem either).

The landing gear is pretty stout, but is intolerant of bad maintenance.
Folks who know recommend changing the various rod ends every 4000 hours
or so. Gear motors of this vintage are slow, but tough (replaced my
original just last month after 58 years of service). Be sure to check
your brake lines. The ones under the pilots pedals especially as they
are really hard to change and they tend to get neglected unless they
start leaking.

What prop has it got? The Beech electric prop is a great fit for the
plane, has no ADs, but spare parts (especially pitch change
bearings) are unobtainable. If its a Hartzel conversion, what is its
AD status?

Indeed what is the AD status of the plane in general. There are a
fair number to comply with. Be sure the 'speed restriction' one is
complied with (balancing ruddervators, skin thickness testing several
other items.

All this sounds bad, but a early 35 in good condition is a joy to
fly. Yup, I'm massively biased.

--
Frank Stutzman
Bonanza N494B "Hula Girl" (1949 A-35 S/N D-1514)
Hood River, OR (soon to be Boise, ID)