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How to Delete RAM Air on Mooney

The Mooney M20 is the most successful model produced by the Texas-based manufacturer of single-engine, low-wing sport planes. The M20E, introduced in 1964, was the first high-performance variant, offering an optional ram air system called the Mooney Power Boost. The Power Boost consisted of a cockpit control that opened a small door in the front cowling. Air passing through this door bypassed the air filter and was ram injected directly into the induction system, resulting in a gain of approximately 10 horsepower. This "poor man's turbocharger," as it became known, could be employed only at altitudes in clean, dust-free air or else risk engine damage from the intake of unfiltered air. The modest horsepower gain and the restrictions on its use made the Power Boost a short-lived option. Many Mooney owners subsequently desired to uninstall the Power Boost system. In 1992, the company issued a kit and procedure to accomplish this at the owner's discretion.

Things You'll Need

Screwdriver
Power drill and bits
Combination wrenches
White RTV silicone sealant
Rivet gun and rivets

Instructions

- 1
  Consult the service and maintenance manual and remove the upper and lower cowling from the engine.
- 2
  Identify the air induction assembly and the ram air housing assembly.
- 3
  Remove the ram air control cable assembly from the lower butterfly arm of the ram air housing.
- 4
  Drill out the 12 rivets securing the ram air housing and the air induction assembly. Remove the housing and assembly and the gasket sealing the housing to the lower cowling.
- 5
  Detach the ram air control cable assembly from the lower arm of the ram air housing assembly. Take the control cable out of the three attachment points along its length.
- 6
  Remove the ram air warning light components from the control cable assembly. Cap the ends of the warning light electrical wires and tie the wires in an area where they will not interfere with control cable operations.
- 7
  Remove the attachment nuts from the cable assembly at the front and rear of the ram air console in the cockpit and at the bulkhead fitting where the cable passes through the firewall. Pull the control cable out through its holes in the firewall and the console assembly. Work the bulkhead fitting nuts off the end of the control cable as it passes through the firewall.
- 8
  Peel or scrape the Ram Air identifying decal off the console assembly in the cockpit.
- 9
  Screw the AN3-3A bolt and washer into the hole in the bottom of the air induction assembly to plug the hole.
- 10
  Plug the cable hole in the firewall with the large bolt, nut and washer supplied with the kit. Plug the cable hole in the console with the Heyco 2633 plug supplied with the kit.
- 11
  Mount the cover supplied in the kit to the air induction assembly with nine MS20470AD3 rivets. After installation, seal the cover with RTV white silicone.
- 12
  Seal the ram air inlet hole in the lower cowling with AC43-13 approved standard procedures for fiberglass repair. Paint the repaired area of the cowling.

Aviation