RV-7- Building on the cheap
I am not finished yet, but so far this is what I got into it, including most of the big parts.
**Engine: O-360A1A (600 hours) with accessories and prop off a wrecked Apache (with 180hp Geronimo Mod). Total $10,000
**(Bought engine for $2,500. Sold off parts not needed or wanted (big starter, prop gov, wet vacuum pump, exhaust system, rubber mounts and prop w/ damaged blade, and rebuilt for $8,000 with help of friend. Considered just using it but the questioned the crank coming off a damaged plane, crank was fine but needed a AD anyway and spared no expense here.))
Used Hartzell C2YK: $2,500, bought from prop shop made with used blades and hub. They go used for $3,500 now, and new ones are not much more, so new might be better. Of course the deal is the fixed pitch Sensenich.
Woodward Governor: $400, Yellow tagged from Prop/accessory shop selling off inventory (trade-A-plane). Older model #210105 which is a good gov but not the latest model (#2107xx), common on early Mooney's and Lakes with 180HP engines.
Ebay:
Garmin 195 GPS $300 (fantastic gps , out of production)
Transponder Collins TDR-950 $300 (small, powerful and available use)
***Exhaust 4 into 1: 4 into 1 $600:
http://www.aircraftexhaust.net/
Starter, New light small PM type: $190
SW oil cooler used/overhauled: $150
Bent whip comm ant: $40 (high end model)
Transponder ant: $18
Artex ELT: $150
Alternator $90 (no need to spend $600 for an alternator)
Whelen solid-state flasher- $20 wig-wag
Aeroflash Strobes and Nav Lights: 3 remote DF strobes/nav lights $350
(You can get much cheaper using emergency vehicle strobes)
SOLD: sold lots of stuff and got top dollar to pay for my RV.
Airshow special:
Dynon D-10, mag module, AOA probe: $2300
EIS4000 Engine monitor w/ FF, amps and everything! $1500
Comm Radio: icom A200 $600
Classicaero Interior: Seats $ 650
Nav Aid Autopilot/smart couple $1,000
http://www.classicaerodesigns.com/Products/SearchResults.asp?ProductCategoryID=5
Misc Electrical/Aircraft systems, controls, tubes, wires, clips, hardware, landing lights: Van's aircraft, internet, airshows, eBay, home-made (landing light, light dimmer), surplus and fee-bees (fuel pump) from friends. $500
RV-7 KIT: (Sun-N-Fun) Initial price (pre price increases) and repeat offender discount, bought whole kit at once for lower shipping. Slow build of course. $14,500
GRAND TOTAL Approx $34,500 (so far) Obviously a RV-7 with a fully rebuilt 180HP, new accessories, custom 4 into 1 exhaust, Hartzell constant speed prop, EFIS digital "glass panel", digital engine monitor, autopilot with lights is not bare bones. I am not done yet, but the above represents the major part of the build. The only thing left to buy is dual electronic ignition (LS or E-mag?) and seat belts. So Est final total is well under $40,000.
Also, this is not my first plane, so I know there are more cost to come and things that some builders don't include like primer, fiberglass supplies etc... As far as tool's, well they are my children and since I have collected them over the last 15-20 years I don't include that in cost. Got a pneumatic squeezer a few years ago, don't know how I lived without it, and yes I got it on sale.
To keep cost down it will be unpainted for some time and a $8,000 custom professional paint job is not in the plan. No I am not that cheep, but you can save lots of money by shopping around, planning a head and buying used, discount, sales. The biggest money to save is in the prop / engine. Your best bet is a flying engine prop combo out of a RV that is upgrading, especially if you get accessories, exhaust, baffles and so on. Other items like Interior can be done cheaply, but my skills and the quality of the off the shelf stuff represents a better value to me. I am not going to make the all time cheap award, but a good RV with nice stuff for under $40,000 is my reward. If there are any deals you got to look. Network with EAA chapters, Ebay, Trade-a-plane, internet sites with aircraft classified ads like barnstormers, etc....
(Ebay, there are tricks and tactics to getting the best deals or selling stuff. Also how you search is important. Sometimes deals are in the wrong category or listed under odd titles. You got to look. When you find them sometimes no else sees it and you can get a great deal. Also don't get in to a bidding war or pay too much. Sometimes others are too willing to overbid, which is great for the seller; don't get sucked in. There will be another one coming along. )
Also on this site there where two very complete RVs not yet flown but close, for sale in the $30's. That is always an option if you are not picky, but why are they selling it? Sometimes it is for financial, health or personal reasons, and other times they are selling because of some kind or building error they made. One guy bought a RV-4 almost complete real cheap, but he later found the wing spar bulkhead was in wrong. It was repairable, but with a lot of "custom" work.
Last resist the urge to put every do-dad into your plane. You don't need a $10,000 EFIS or $8,000 GPS/COM/NAV. Leave room or wires for future upgrade/expansion. My pet peeve is heated pitots on VFR planes because they look better than the bent pitot tube van's supplies. Save $500 and a few pounds of weight and forget it, unless you are a hard core all weather flyer. Even IFR you don't need pitot heat most of the year in many parts of the country. Ice=visible moisture (like in a cloud) plus freezing temps; No freezing temp or moisture (vis< 1 mile) = no ice. Lights? Fly at night a lot? Do you need the latest color GPS? Many lower priced used and new units are available. Don't need an autopilot, nice but ...You can always run wires and add things later. Alternators with internal voltage regulators are fantastic, cheap, light and the likely hood of a wild over voltage condition some claim can happen is like getting hit by lightning, unlikely and rare. Don't get hyped into a $750 alternator and external voltage regulator. Stories of OV are overblown, sketchy, vague and are usually an old story of an old externally regulated alternator system of the past and does not apply to a modern Denso alternator. In the end you will have a lighter RV that climbs faster, handles better, has more useful load and is a little faster.
Happy bargain hunting George
PS Aircraft Exhaust
http://www.aircraftexhaust.net/
***Actual 4 into 1 list price is now approx $1,200. I was lucky to bid on it and get it. They did the Ebay thing to get interest when they first were offering the custom exhaust idea. I got a deal needless to say. I can say the quality is top notch and they now have off the shelf systems, including 4 into 1 ands a cross over system with dual Mufflers/heat muffs. Yes mufflers for that quite ride, which includes and integrated, heat muffs. Very nice. Check them out. I don't work for them or feel I need to advertise but like to share good info with fellow builders as an option. I don't think they are giving it away on Ebay any more
and guess their prices are not going to bargain basement, but you get what you pay for. There are some areas not to go cheap. Cheap exhaust systems are a pain if they crack all the time or can be a real safety hazard.