Skymaster Forum - Why a GOOD pre purchace is always needed...

Guess we all know why a pre purchace is always needed.... At the shop where my annual is under way there is an early 182, a 60's vintage. The gent is having some new radios installed and he decided to have the annual done at the same time. Well they pick up on the fire wall, its missing some V like bracing that goes from the nose wheel attach area to the upper engine mounts. This serial no. it is suppose to have them. Cessna tried to eliminate them at some point however decided they are necessary... Looking a little closer they find wrinkles in the fire wall. Looking more closer there is damage to the structure inside the cabin. The FAA came by today and looked at it. The fire wall may have to come off... The log books way back when the ship was 1 or 2 years old say massive damage... This is going to be interesting, the owners first airplane and has owned it I believe less than a year. Guy, old72driver....