After following this thread a bit, I should further clarify (the main reason) I am looking to "upgrade" my heads to SS valves, etc. Last year I was seriously considering selling my S2 due to the PIC seat arrangement and geometry caused my lower back injury to hurt something fierce when flying for any extended length of time. Also...I don't actually fly often enough to keep the darn rust from forming on the valves and seats, thereby causing compression loss and hard, and/or no-start episodes when I DID find the time time and 'gumption' to drive to the airfield and 'fly it'. Now I find out the fold feature in the wings/fuse was (apparently) removed when (someone) did the L bracket S-mod to the wings. The plane was built in 1982 and has the 9 rib A-wing. Using a flashlight and mirror, the mod looks a bit (to me) sloppy, from a former professional A&P perspective. So...with the final decision now made (to keep my bird) I have many things still left to address and improve upon, to get it where (I) think and know it should be...according to my training and 30+years experience as an aviation mech. I will admit that this is my first aircraft ownership experience, and prior to this S2 and a few 'yearly condition inspections' on experimental ABs at the varied FBOs (mostly commercial/corp. Turbine) I have worked for...this one has been quite an eye-opener for me and has had more than a few unpleasant revelations (far beyond the standard pre-buy insp.) when I REALLY got down to looking into her guts with professional scrutiny and a very bright flashlight and a clean mirror. It is what it is...I was excited ...trusting/assuming... and truly paid too-much for this plane as it was. We live & learn. She has come a long way as some of my gallery pics will attest...but I still have a ways' to go, to make it; ALL THE BIRD IT CAN BE. So...the 'laundry-list' as follows (today...LOL!) is : SS valves or new heads...A better and more low back friendly seat...a full castering tail wheel with rudder pedal mounted toe brakes...A WING FOLDING MECHANISM!.. and quite possibly, a complete do-over or clean-up job of the L-bracket wing mod...not happy or looking forward to THAT-ONE at all! Actually kinda-pissed at what I see and at the ('hack') that 'performed' it. Of course there is no entry to be found in the "new" log books that came with this plane.
"Oh yeah...the guy that had it before me said they got burned up in a house fire years ago...so I had start all over with these new books."
I should have walked away right then. I could clearly see she was gonna be a bit of a 'fixer-upper'...but ****! Oh well...we live and learn.
She's still a 'good-bird' and I will make her even better.
Thanks guys! I will listen to any and all advice, and tales of woe or success as we move forward together as Sonerai pilots & owners.
"I am in-it to win-it!"