$150 is one heck of a deal! If I were you, I'd buy them right now, that's less than Dawson's price for just the axle nuts!
While the pants aren't right, the hardware might be. And whatever you can't use will be good trading stock down the road.
I'll keep my eyes open for early pants. Are they unique to the 150, or are they also used on the 172 and 170? For that matter, are they the same as on the 140?
If you are looking for a speed improvement with wheel pants, forget it. A cruise or standard pitch prop will be faster than your climb prop. Pants will also cut your useful load. $150 also buys a bunch of fuel. As a '59 owner, I have been down that road. Wheel pants also run up hours spent during an annual.
If you are looking for a speed improvement with wheel pants, forget it. A cruise or standard pitch prop will be faster than your climb prop. Pants will also cut your useful load. $150 also buys a bunch of fuel. As a '59 owner, I have been down that road. Wheel pants also run up hours spent during an annual.
Concur. My bird came with pants, and I'm hanging onto them (and the prop spinner) for my executor to sell with the plane, if and when, but see no reason to carry them around when I fly.
My advice to the OP was geared toward his desire to have wheel pants, not whether they're worth having.
If you are looking for a speed improvement with wheel pants, forget it. Not quite true, with the 100HP 150 the gain may not have been significant, but notable. Definitely notable with the 150/150.
Pants will also cut your useful load. By the book, yes, but if 18 pounds is going to make or break having a safe flight, it would be best just to stay on the ground anyways.
$150 also buys a bunch of fuel. One cross country flight? Otherwise $150 for the pants, $100+ for mounting brackets and probably $100+ for shipping, ($200 to the west coast. )
Wheel pants also run up hours spent during an annual. Remove them before taking your airplane in? On an owner assisted annual it wouldn't make an difference.
I've heard some folks say they see an improvement with the pants on, while others say no help whatsoever.
I'm gonna fall in the "pro pants" camp. Mary Lou has her pants on (I know... it sounds weird...), and I will see at 3000 feet, say 20 C plus or minus... pressure between 29.90 and 30.1 at 2500 rpm 90 to 93 knots.
Back in 2009 I had the wheel pants off. Under similar conditions as above, I saw 87 knots consistently. I am a believer. Of course, others may (probably will) see consistent results independent of having wheel pants installed.
Who knows? But, I am a believer!
[animatedimages.org] Imagine a united world. Join the Popular Front for the Reunification of Gondwanaland.
I wouldn't think the '73 model wheel pants would even look right on a '59 model. That'd look strange.
They'd be worth buying just for that little $400 cover on the nose pant, then resell them 1 piece at a time on ebay, like most items are. Folks tend to buy one tail light at a time on ebay, because they just need the one they broke when they backed into something, not both. They'll command a higher total price by selling them one piece at a time.
Otherwise $150 for the pants, $100+ for mounting brackets and probably $100+ for shipping, ($200 to the west coast. 
![[Linked Image from animatedimages.org]](https://www.animatedimages.org/data/media/218/animated-penguin-image-0137.gif)
![[Linked Image from visitedstatesmap.com]](https://visitedstatesmap.com/image/ALARILINIAKSKYLAMDMIMNMSMONJOHOKPATNTXWVWI4387262092be694508e4e9f014001607468590med.jpg)
