Firewall FWD Harness

I installed the right panel and mapbox, attaching the GPS 20A to the top of the mapbox.

I then started the Firewall forward wiring harness. This required a few wires to be put through the holes in the bottom of the panel. A little tricky with the transponder installed, but doable. Wires were then placed through grommet in firewall. The pitot tube pieces were then joined with a short piece of tubing and also placed through the firewall.

Battery, master relay, and manifold pressure sensor were then installed. The plans called for installed a starter relay, but I could not locate it. Later in doing some reading on vansairforce it was stated that it is with the engine. I will have to look for it next time.

Time: 2.5 hrs

Mapbox installed

Right panel installed

Battery

Master relay, and Manifold pressure sensor

Battery wire

Firewall FWD harness

Wires nicely tie wrapped

ELT, Panel Paint, wiring

My center panel arrived today so first thing was  to mark and cut the location for the GMC 307 autopilot. Holes were countersunk as per plans. The map box was then riveted to the right panel. The panels were then primed and painted with Rustoleum Hammered Black.

Then work continued with the ELT. The instructions required soldering of some wires to the connector for the ELT. Not being experience in this I had to revert to youtube for a bit of instruction. After a little trial and error I was successful in getting 4 wires soldered to the small pins in the connector. One wire was placed for testing in future if required. I also attached a ground wire and bolted it to the ELT bracket. The ELT and antenna was then installed.

Having read through some of the following sections I decided now would be a good time to place nutplates for the voltage regulator. There is the option of placing bolts and nuts or nutplates. The nutplates will allow for easier replacement in the future if needed.

I then finished up with the wiring in the tailcone. The following were completed: Aft pitot line, Static line, OAT, CPC connector magnetometer, D-sub connection, connections to ADAHRS.


Time: 5.25 hrs

Cutout for GMC307 Autopilot controller

Panels ready for paint

ELT antenna bracket

ELT connector wiring diagram

2 wires soldered

Wires soldered to connector

Wires soldered to connector

Wires soldered to connector

RTV sealant placed

Connector done

ELT mounted

Ground wire

Nutplates for Voltage regulator

Pitot static line attached to ADAHRS

Connection for magnetometer

Wiring in tailcone

Wiring in tailcone

Wiring to ADAHRS and Roll Servo

Roll bar baggage bulkhead riveted

Spent an hour this morning riveting the roll bar, and baggage bulkhead.  I also riveted the map box.  At this point I am pretty much at a stand still until I pick up the finish kit in December.  I guess I should have ordered it a little earlier, but I didn't think I would make it this far by this point.  I am waiting on installing the tail section until later in the build.

Time: 1 hr.

Roll bar riveted to base

Roll bar brace

Roll bar brace

Baggage bulkead

Map box

Panel base / upper FWD fuselage skin

Got a good few hours put in today working on the panel base and panel.  B and N helped me for a bit.  The panel base and canopy ribs were riveted. The oil tank bracket was riveted. Fuel sealant was placed over each rivet of the firewall and at the base of the canopy ribs as per plans.

We then worked on the upper FWD panel skin. The holes were dimpled and permatex sealant was placed on the firewall doubler along the boelube on the skin and then the skin was screwed to the doubler and canopy ribs. I sure hope enough boelube was placed. We will see when we have to remove the skin.

Nutplates were riveted to the panel attach strips and the strips were installed. The panel pieces were then screw in place.  I did have an issue with a couple screws breaking.  It seemed that some of the screws were a little difficult to get in place.  I think when we place the final panels I may need to run a screw in each nutplate beforehand to make sure that go in smoothly.

I am now waiting on the return of my repaired rivet gun (cost a little money to get fixed).  Hopefully it will be here next week and we can work on the side skins.

Time: 4.25 hrs.

Panel base and canopy ribs installed

Oil tank bracket

Oil tank bracket

Fuel sealant at base of left canopy rib

Fuel tank sealant at base of right canopy rib

Upper FWD Fuselage skin dimpled

Installing panel attach strips

Upper FWD skin installed

Panel attach strips installed

Panel installed (this are not the final ones as the final ones will come with avionics kit)

Panel base

Worked some more on the upper fwd fuselage. Canopy ribs and panel base were prepared and ready to install once fuel line testing is completed.  I spent some time covering the rivets on the firewall with fuel sealant as per plans.  The clip was then prepared as per plans.



Time: 2 hrs.

Canopy Ribs

Panel base

Rivets covered with fuel sealant

Clip

Upper firewall / misc.

Worked on several different areas today.  Picked up some tubing to attached the fuel lines for pressure testing.  I prepared the side stiffeners and clecoed them in place.  The map box interior was then painted with Rustoleum Black hammered.

Then it was fuel sealant time. I placed some fuel sealant in the opening of the step. With the help of N and T we sealed and riveted the upper firewall.  Fuel sealant was then placed around the perimeter of the firewall as per plans.

Time: 3.25 hrs.

Hose line connecting fuel lines for pressure test

Side stiffeners

Spray paint map box interior

Upper Firewall

Sealed steps

Cowl hing

Sealed upper firewall

Sealed perimeter upper firewall

Sealed perimeter lower firewall

Sealed perimeter lower firewall