When I bought N131JF from Jesse in 2000, the plane had reliable and effective, but mostly old instrumentation. It is a classic "steam guages" plane.
Over the last 10 years, the only improvements I made in the avionics were a newer GPS (which is now itself obsolete), and the fitting of a JP Instruments FuelScan fuel flow meter.
The radio and transponder are antiques, old, heavy and (in the case of the transponder) apparently at the end of their useful lives. I have direct read fuel and oil pressure guages, which complicates the wiring and plumbing in the plane. I need a newer GPS.
I have therefore been stockpiling new avionics over the last 2 months to replace the radio, transponder, GPS and oil/fuel pressure guages.
Additionally, I will install a Wright nose lift and Strong pitch trim to reduce inflight movements and make it easier to get Mary into the plane. Although the Wright nose lift weighs 9 pounds, the existing radio is ludicrously heavy, as is the transponder, so I expect that the weight in the nose of the plane will be less after the upgrades are complete.
In a couple of weeks, N131JF will be taken offline for the upgrades. At the same time, the unfinished baggage pod project may also be finally completed. Jesse is going to perform a lot of the work for me (for a fee) since I am working silly hours on my current assignment (isn't that always the case?).
The goal is to get N131JF back in the air in time for the Telluride Jazz Festival.