Just flew my new-to-me PA-32-260 home yesterday

[Nukemzzz]

Hello,

I'm coming from a 1966 Mooney M-20E (soon to be for sale) and Mooneyspace.com. I did a ton of work and upgrades on my Mooney with the help of that forum and here I find myself embarking on an even bigger project with this Six and I hope that I can find an equally supportive community here!

This is what I have to work with:

• N123MF
• 1968 PA-32-260
• SN: 32-1069
• Great newer paint
• Low time engine
• ~8000hrs airframe
• Steam gages only
• One partially working radio (full time static but reads and recieves)
• Mixture cable is extremely hard to move (and it's just push-pull type...not vernier)
• The throttle is nice and new but doesn't have a lock
• Rudder trim knob broke on the way here (replacement already ordered)
• Struts don't hold nitrogen. Squats low low in the back, even after service last week.
• The interior, carpet, and seats are end of life
• It's still 7 seat and all are facing forward. I'll not change to club. My passengers will want to see where we are going or I won't let them come. lol

My situation

• Coming with 450hrs time in my Mooney (I trained and got my Pilot's License in it after refurbishing it)
• I'm a mechanical engineer (25years) and ex auto/diesel mechanic.
• I have a very supportive and top notch repair shop and IA two hangars from me that allows/encourages some owner assist work.
• I'm not the type of owner that drops my plane off at a shop, waits months for things to get done entirely by someone else, and then pays out the nose for it to be done.

My plans (with your hive mind advice and guidance along the way I hope)

• Mixture replace with Vernier (once I figure out what to buy and what is needed to change it out I'll order that)
• Gut the panel (pretty much everything going). Full Garmin suite. G3X or GI275 with Autopilot. I'm about to order the parts and harness.
• Strip the interior... all but the headliner and ceiling bits which are in great shape.
  • Airtex self install.
    • Seats, Carpet.
  • Repair and repaint all plastics.
  • Add center armrests to the front seats (can this be done?)
• Put wheel pants back on it
  • Its 15MPH slower than my Mooney at the moment... with only 2 people on board and no luggage and burning 14gal/hr. I want to close that gap some. lol
• Fix the strut gas leaks
• Look for speed mods
• Maybe... just maybe add a turbo at some point. The climb performance is bad.... and see my comments on speed desires above.

Starting questions for the group:

• I see that the parts manual calls out SN 32-1 to 32-1110 as it's own group (Launch group). This plane is part of that first group. Are there things I should know about this group?
• Any idea what mixture cable I should buy from Aircraft spruce? The PN in the parts manual pulls up nothing and the number it lists is unique for the early SN. Spruce doesn't list anything for this early SN group...only the second and later groups.
• What cruise performance should I expect? Based on my first trip it seems like the POH values are fully made up marking stuff. lol
• Is this the best forum (closest to Mooneyspace but for Piper?)

Thanks!