Lindy
3/28/2009
After spending all morning working on my car...painting the wheels, I spent the rest of the day working on the airplane. First things first though...I got a special delivery today from the mailman! My Sam James wheel pants showed up today!
I was afraid to open the box to begin with because people say these things are awful right out of the box. I must say though, that unless I'm missing something, these things are sweet! The bond lines will have to be sanded obviously, and the joint has some minor work needed, but I'm pretty impressed with these!
Okay, I started today by installing the auxiliary fuel pump. I have no idea why I waited to install this until now (had it since the Fall of '07 or so), but anyway, it's in now. I still have to fab the line from the pump to the gascolator.
Another one of those 'why did I wait on this' items...the manual elevator trim is now installed for good.
How 'bout this! I didn't like the idea of an ugly manual primer pump sticking out of the panel, so I've been looking for other places to put it. This idea came to me no sooner than today! I think this is a neat location for it...out of the way, out of sight, and it fits along with the fuel selector. Also, no fuel lines running up behind the panel this way. Sweet!
Then I decided to hook up the diode and main buss power. Yes, that main power wire is a "recycled" wire from something at work...I think it came out of a Cessna Cardinal...nothing wrong with it, just some discoloration in the outer layer.
Next I installed the panel for good. It's really surprising how sturdy the panel is once installed with all screws in place and snugged down.
The transponder tray...This was the simplest, and lightest way to support the tray...very solid now!
The two openings behind the tray for the harness and the antenna. The plastic tubing is RTV'd in place on the front side of the sub-panel.
Since I decided to commit to putting the fresh air vents in main panel, I filled these holes with rivets to nowhere.
See...nowhere... ;o)
And finally, I secured the cabin heat cable in three places as it winds it's way from the engine control panel down to the lower left of the firewall.
Since Brit isn't home, I could've kept on working well in to the night tonight, but I'm getting tired, and I have to get up for breakfast with some RV/Chapter buddies tomorrow morning. What fun day in the garage though!
5.5 hours