Firewall Forward

Propeller

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Today I installed my beautiful MT propeller! It’s a huge milestone!

I received it last Thursday, and I had to finish a couple other things that needed to be installed behind the starter ring, namely the alternator mounting bracket. I also took this opportunity to pull the starter and grind off the mounting boss that was interfering with the intake snorkel.

Here you can see it after I ground it down. Now the snorkel can fit without and modification.

I then took my time installing the prop. The mounting bolts can only turn a couple turns at a time before having to wiggle the prop and tighten another one.

Once I got them all tighten I torqued it by hand for now, but MT calls for 65ft-lbs if torque on the bolts and then safety wiring them in pairs. I will do that later just in case (I really really hope not) I have to take the prop off again.

It’s just so cool to look at.

I just had to test fit the top cowl, it’s still high by about 3/4 of an inch, it’s sitting on the baffles, which I have yet to modify. Now that the prop is on I can start with the cowl fitting and then continue working on the baffles.

And of course…Happy Mothers Day!

Propeller

Received my prop!

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Today it was Christmas in May! I got my prop delivered by American Propeller out of Redding, CA. I ordered a three blade MT Prop. It’s a composite, constant speed propeller.

Tracy from American Propeller did a great job unloading it from the truck and placing it in the shop.

I had to make some room (still have to clean up a bit) to put the prop on the table. I will install it for the first time this weekend. here’s my hand on the widest part of the blade for comparison. It’s a 72″ diameter prop.

I took the spinner off and man is that some gorgeous machining and fabrication.

I’m thoroughly impressed with MT prop and I’m sure the performance will match.

Received my prop!

Baffle and pushrods

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This weekend I spent a few hours continuing the work on the baffle. This primarily was focused on the baffle fit around the valve cover gaskets. I had the parts on and off several times to remove more material and then check the fit.

I then spent time on the inlet ramps.

Here you can see the left and right inlet ramps. The left ramp (cylinder 2) will also have the intake filter. This piece will get modified to accept the filter as well as the snorkel that routes air down and to the air intake on the engine.

Just to give myself a change of pace, I spent some time making the remaining two pushrods. The elevator pushrods consist of a smaller rod that attaches the control sticks to the elevator bellcrank, and then from the bellcrank back to the elevators.

On a side note, my interior from Classic Aero Desings arrived! I’m going with a full custom interior using the Sportsman2 side panels and Aviator seats. They are absolutely perfect and look SO good!

I’m not quite ready to install them just yet, but here’s a sneak peak at one of the seats.

Baffle and pushrods

More baffle work

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The metal work on the baffle is one of the most complex parts of the plane. I started out tonight by continuing on the right aft baffle.

I prepped and riveted all the doubler plates.

Here are the doubler plates riveted to the #3 cylinder baffle. I also riveted on the heat muff air intake and screen. The stock intake from vans is quite flimsy. I might replace it with something stronger.

I’m waiting to rivet the side and aft baffle parts together before final fitting on the engine.

I then riveted the doublers on to the #1 and #2 cylinder baffles and test fitted them onto the engine.

It’s starting to come together. I then began fitting the forward intake ramps and reinforcements.

I’m using a custom prop oil line from TS flightlines so the hole for the oil line will have to be slightly larger.

Here you can see a test fit. I’ll have to crest a custom gasket to go around the hose to ensure no relative movement. There’s a small amount of roof around the hose, but I’ll have to open it up a little bit.

More baffle work

Engine baffle

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Today I spent about five hours working on the engine baffle. It’s a very complex set of parts that connect and wrap around the engine.

I started by using the oil cooler doubler (fat right) to cut a hole in the aft baffle. You can see the part with the hole and the rivet holes match-drilled. I then clecoed the parts together to ensure everything was aligned.

I also installed the mounting screw doublers and the reinforcing rib.

Here’s the back of the baffle. The oil cooler doubler and oil cooler mount here. I then test fit the baffle section to the engine. Everything lines up nicely. I also mounted the oil cooler to ensure everything can fit. The two oil hoses will attach to the inside of the oil cooler.

Here’s the inside of the baffle where air will pass through the oil cooler. I mounted the cooler high enough to ensure the most air flow. If I need to restrict it because it’s running cool, I can also cover part of the cooler.

Here’s the oil cooler mounted to the baffle. The oil hoses are then attached to 90deg fittings into the cooler.

Engine baffle

Baffle and rudder pedals

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Tonight I finished deburring all the baffle parts. It’s tedious because of all the unusual shapes and bends. I will go over it once more with a scotchbrite pad before final assembly.

I’m ordering my interior from Classic Aero Design and I needed to provide the distance from the firewall to the approximate location of my heels will be. This required installing the rudder pedals (which nothing is preventing me from installing permanently) and then sitting in the plane and measuring to my heels.

With the pedals installed, placed some cushions that were the correct thickness, and then sat in the plane. The distance from the firewall to my heels was approximately 10″. I hope this is the correct measurement. The seating position felt pretty natural, except I might need to boost myself up with some extra cushions.

Baffle and rudder pedals

Engine baffle

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Tonight I got started on the engine baffle. I had my friend Mike over to help out and it’s a good project to jump in on. We went through the inventory and confirmed everything was there. Then he got started on deburring everything while I spent some time cleaning up the shop.

We got started kind of late but spent a solid 2 hours on it. Having help is always a great thing so I’m sure you’ll see more of him as the project goes on.

Feels good to get back into the shop after a while.

Engine baffle

Wire organization

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Today I spent a couple hours finishing up the sensor connectors and wire routing for the ignition wires, and sensor wires.

Here’s the left side of the engine with the wires secured and routed somewhat correctly. I will probably need to adjust it when I install the oil cooler.

I used some adel clamps and zip ties to space the ignition wires correctly and securely.

The routing behind the engine will need to be cleaned up and secured once I finalize everything.

Wire organization

Engine temp probes

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Yesterday I spent about an hour measuring and trimming the engine monitor temp sensors to their correct lengths. I then crimped on the blade style connectors that will hook to the EGT and CHT sensors. I still have to fabricate the fuel flow sensor wires and a few other probes in the engine bay before sealing off the wiring forward of the firewall.

Engine temp probes

Exhaust

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I received my exhaust on Friday. It’s a special 4 pipe exhaust from Vetterman Exhaust. The standard RV 7 exhaust won’t work with the Superior Cold Air sump I have on my engine. I spent a couple hours prepping and then fitting the exhaust on the engine.

(Ignore the boxes) one thing I need to do is still rivet the lower portion of the firewall where the exhaust exits the cowl. I will remove the lower half of the pipes at the slip joint.

I didn’t take a picture of it, but I also installed the 4 EGT sensors. I measured down 2″ from the flange. I wanted to keep it on the straight section before the first elbow so that I can ensure identical distances on each cylinder.

I’ll line up the ball joints on all 4 pipes and then fabricate the support bracket and install the heat muff. Then exhaust complete.

Exhaust