FYI here’s the data I have on the Horton STOL mod:
https://www.flickr.com/gp/125356136@N02/A207Be

Jason,
Lots of good 182 info in this thread if you haven't already seen it:

viewtopic.php?f=49&t=157786&start=75

I have a 1968 M model with the Sportsman kit and I recently installed the Micro Aero Dynamics VG's. I absolutely love my 182.

Dave

I also have a 1972 C182P. Absolutely love it. Have the Texas Skyways O-550 and Hartzel 3-blade Scimatar. 142KTAS 12.6 g/hr 8-10K feet. No wheel pants.

While I am happy to use 1200' foot fields when light and at low DA and fully clear approaches, I am not a serious short-field sort of pilot.

For my mission I have loved
1) Autopilot with altitude hold (I have an Stec 30, but I gather there is newer technology now.)
2) Flint inboard tip fuel tanks. The extra 23 gal usable gives me 102 usable. And so, wonderfully long legs as I can fly at 8.5 gal per hour fast enough for the Stec to reliably control. At like 17,500 feet (I have Mountain High bottled O2) this is 110 KTAS, so going east in the winter can be amazing. Being able to roundtrip to a grass field with no services three hours away is great.
3) TKS. As I am an east coast pilot now (was based in Colorado), and fly through the winter, the TKS makes flying possible. It is not known ice, but for the endless light ice that one gets four months of the year, the TKS takes the pucker out of the situation. Keeps plane and windshield clear. And gives me time to get through the layer or divert as needed.
4) Traffic--both ADS-B and Active (That Garmin integrates into a single display). My wife just loves being able to see on the GTN the planes that ATC is telling us about. Happy wife.

Absolutely amazing plane. Excellent dispatch reliability. You are going to love it too.

Be sure to let us know your decisions along the way.

-Bill

I just closed on the plane, so this will be fun.

I have the extended baggage modification and the wheel pants where removed and not re-installed during my pre-purchase annual.

It's going in for avionics work near the end of the year and will have the following avionics installed:

G3X Touch with EI
GFC500 (with trim)
GNC255 Com
GTX 345
GTN750
G5 backup

That should eliminate all analog gauges from the panel and leave it pretty clean.

Depending upon finding a good MX shop in and around the SLC area (any recommendations are appreciated) I think I will go with the airglas fork, either stick my 26 tires on the mains, or go with 8.5s, Sportmans STOL with gap seals, and possible double puck brakes - kind of depends on what wheels I have and if I need to change them.

I appreciate all the comments. I think at this time I am going to wait on VGs. I have them on the citabria and they make cleaning the wing a pain.

-Jason

Great plan Jason, please post some photos when you can.

After flying a lot of more complicated planes, I found the 182 a lot of fun.

KJ

Jason, are you talking the aileron gap seals that are part of the sportsmans kit, or flap gap seals? Flap seals will kill your stol capabilities, but improve cruise speed.

aileron gap seals.

What do you attest this comment to? Flap seals do neither. They improve climb and there is little evidence of speed enhancement but they provide a cleaner wing for STOL capability.

What do you attest this comment to? Flap seals do neither. They improve climb and there is little evidence of speed enhancement but they provide a cleaner wing for STOL capability.

The gap in the flaps help the laminar flow remain further back on the flap. Laminar flow means lift. Take the gap away and the airflow breaks off further forward.

If I recall correctly Larry Larrabure discovered the same thing and removed the flap gap seals on his 182.

Dave

182s have fowler flaps. The gap and the radius of the flap is important for them to operate as designed. They look like little airfoils on a 182.

Take away the gap and the radius with gap seals and you have split flaps. Not optimal for lift in dirty configuration.

Flap gap seals are fine for clean configuration, nullifies effectiveness in dirty config.

A few pictures....

Looking for a good recommendation on a maintenance shop in and around the SLC/PVU area that can do airframe work and is reasonable.

I had VGs on my 182 and it flew the same speeds as my buddy’s with the Horton STOL, but mine was much more controllable in the stall due to the VGs on the tail. I would skip the Horton and Sportsman if you need more slow speed flight characteristics. The VGs didn’t seem to slow the airplane either.

Nice looking 182. Great platform to build what you plan.

Mine has been a ton of fun. I think that after flying for years for business, I forgot to look around and enjoy the view. The high wing and slower cruise definitely brings that back.

KJ