Jun 30, 2021     Heater cable installation - (3 hours)       Category: Firewall

I had made a mistake on the heat cable bracket, at least on the pilot side, by drilling both holes out to #30 instead of just the top one. So it flopped off when I riveted it. A new bracket was procurred from Van's and In riveted it in place. Then I ran the cable, which was a pain in the neck because I had to squeeze in under the soon to be instrument panel.

I only had one cotter pin, which was installed on the pilot side so I have to order one -- nickel and diming yself.

I also need to tighten the set screw on the passenger side.

Eric Rushing at Van's, meanwhile, clarified where the oil temperature sensor wire is, which is mentioned in the instructions for routing the hose from the overflow bottle to the expansion tank. So I was able to secure that hose in two places.

The clamps order came in so that hose was clamped to the expansion tank.

  Jun 20, 2021     Heater vent assembly and installation - (3 hours)       Category: Firewall

This task really took far too long to (almost) complete and I had to waive completion because of the need to get home for a nice Father's Day lunch at home with the kids. I assembled the parts -- the drilling through stainless steel was its usual pain in the neck self -- and riveted as necessary, creating a vent flap assembly and a vent assembly. The problem was the two brackets that go on the inside of the firewall. Basically, the Cherry rivets do not hold it tightly and one of the rivets goes through both the door assembly, the flap assembly, and the firewall into the bracket. So you have to rivet on the bottom part (that only goes through the firewall and then put the assembly on and try to hold the bracket in place to get the rivet through all the components.

This would be easier with a second person, of course. But I was fresh out of second people.

I got the passenger side on OK, but the one on the pilot's side was just flapping around and at one point, just came off. So now I have to drill out the SS rivet. Fun times.

Then I went home and had fun times.

  Jun 19, 2021     Vent hinges - (.5 hour)       Category: Firewall

I had a little bit of time while waiting for the camper rental return so dug out the parts for the vents on the firewall. My bandsaw blade is pretty dull from cutting rubber tubing so I ordered a new one. Was able to get the hinge cut with the old blade but will wait on the pin and assembly until next week. Running out of parts to put together.