Feb 15, 2024     Rear Seat Air Vent       Category: Interior Finish

Some people seal the Rear Seat Air Vent, some don't... As of now I plan to use it. I purchased the Rear Seat Vent from SFSA but their air box is too small and didn't fit inside as described in the instructions. I decided to fabricate the air box to allow a better fit. I made a template out of some heavy stock paper and then cut the parts from some scrap aluminum. When it's finished it should look very nice. A fairly simple project which was kind of fun.

  Apr 01, 2023     Center Console       Category: Interior Finish

I worked on the aft section of the center console. I fabricated a plate for the rear seat headphone and mic jacks as well as a USB outlet. I then painted a "texture coat" on the console before applying the final color coat. I also installed some cup holder inserts into the molded cup holders. I feel that will give them more stability.

  Mar 28, 2023     Overhead Console Wiring       Category: Interior Finish

Wanted to do some of the Overhead Console wiring today. Fortunately, the overhead console is pre-wired by SFSA. I added a speaker. and installed the vents and eyeball lights. I have the wiring schematic and plan to eliminate the forward overhead dome light, as I want to install the exterior light switches on the overhead. I just bypassed the forward dome light and changed the molex connector. Like the lower center consoles, I painted the overhead console with a texture coat then the final color coat.

  Dec 19, 2022     Another Try...       Category: Interior Finish

So, with a little help from YouTube, I decided to try and use a steamer to help smooth and stretch out the wrinkles around the shoulder area. It really did seem to help. I brought them inside my home office as the garage is a bit on the cool side today and it's raining and didn't want to drive up to the hangar. I'm much more happy with the results and feel that I'm getting closer. If they need a little more persuasion, I can do it again.

  Dec 09, 2022     Front Seat Uppholstry       Category: Interior Finish

I finished putting the front seat back covers on. The video instructions were fairly good. I feel they were better than the "storyboard" instructions. Start by measuring from the top edge of the seat back portion. Down 15cm and another 10cm. From the center 7cm and another 5cm each side of center. This will be for the tuft ties will go. Position and glue the foam seat back, head rest and lumbar support into position on the seat frame using 3M 1357 Contact Adhesive. Then cut into the seat back foam along the horizontal lines. With that, drill holes in the seat back to allow zip ties to pass through being careful not to drill the seat frame along the top. Two holes must be cut in the press board seat back to allow access to pull the zip ties. I added 1" edge foam as suggested in the video instructions to make it more full looking. Then it's time to "dress" the covers over the foam and frame. This is where I ran into some issues... I found the sewing not quite square to the frame. This caused a twist from the headrest to the seat back area. Eventually I got it fairly square. I may try stretch the leather or use a heat gun to help smooth the wrinkles. The right seat is more obvious than the left seat.

  Nov 24, 2022     Front Seat Uppholstry       Category: Interior Finish

Short rainy day project I could do at home in the garage... I wanted to put the leather seat covers on the bottom portion of the front seats. The "Story Board" that SFSA provided was kind of lacking. However, SFSA does provide a link to an installation video that stars Eliane. She does a very good job of explaining the installation and makes it look easy. First you mark a line 20cm from the aft edge of the foam. Find the center and mark a line each side of center at 7cm and 12cm. Then, using a "needle" (I used a short piece of stainless pin, bent over to form a eye) thread the two strings through the inner 7cm line to the bottom of the cushion and tie if off using a small piece of leather as a backing. Then paint a light coat of 3M 1357 Contact Adhesive along the bottom aft seam lines. After that, tuck all the foam in and zip it up. They say that you can use a heat gun to help smooth out some of the wrinkles but I think mine turned out fine. I'm looking forward to doing the seat backs now.

  Sep 18, 2022     Front Seat Installation pt. 3       Category: Interior Finish

Also finished installing the AeroSport Seat Levers. Very straight forward installation and a nice addition. One hole needed to be drilled in the side of the seat frame for the pivot bolt. 12 1/2” from the front of the seat frame and 1 7/16” up from the bottom of the seat frame. Had to hammer out the pin to remove the "T" handle. The pivot bolt is a 1/4” AN4-6 bolt and two washers. Then replaced the OEM handle with a 3/4” 5-40 fastener through the stock handle and the seat lever and fastened with washers and a lock nut.

  Sep 18, 2022     Front Seat Installation pt. 2       Category: Interior Finish

Today was finishing up installing the Mid Seat Rail Support. I used some stubby wrenches including a stubby flex head ratcheting wrench which was probably the most useful. I elected to install the bolts from the bottom as trying to start a nut and washer on the bottom would be most difficult. I even used a Popsicle stick with some two-sided tape to help position the bolts from the bottom. With the stubby wrenches it all went very smoothly.

  Sep 12, 2022     Front Seat Installation       Category: Interior Finish

I wanted to finish adjusting the rudder pedals. This required the front seats to be installed. Part of this included installing the Mid Seat Rail Support which is located under the front seat pan decks and is attached to the main gear support. These Mid Seat Rail Supports should really be installed prior to the main gear support being installed. The hardest part of this task by far is tightening the bolts. These brackets are in a very awkward location and it's difficult to get tools into the correct position. I got two out of the 4 bolts installed on one seat. I'm working on the other two... I'll need to get back to them with a fresh attitude. It looks like it requires stubby wrenches, box ends ground down in thickness. I also purchased the Aerosport Seat Lever which enhances the Seat Adjustment "T" handle. This is a very nice addition and a simple installation.