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Firewall Installation
1/2/09- To make my
firewall, I drew the 4 fuselage tubes at station 0-0 onto some
masonite.
1/2/09- I nailed 2
blocks at the mid side and bottom tangents and a 3rd block at the
longeron, spaced about 3/32" from the corner of the top longerons
and about 1/64" from the corner of the bottom longerons. The
top sheet metal will have to clear the 1/16" cabane reinforcement
that wraps around the top longerons. Finally, I used 1/16"
welding rod to make my curves and carefully drew the lines on the
outside of the welding rod.
1/2/09- I added top
and side blocks to help locate the template in the proper position
on the front of the fuse.
1/2/09- With
the template now clamped in place, I can mark the engine mount holes
with a 7/16" center finder.
1/2/09- That's
my tank height jig sitting on top checking for firewall clearance.
1/12/09- From the
pattern I cut out the .018" stainless using hand snips.
1/12/09- I used
3/4 x 3/4 x .064 alum angle for the firewall flange.
1/12/09- Using
my cheapie Harbor Freight metal shrinker, it took me about 10 hrs.
to form the alum angle around the firewall. You just can't
rush this process or you end up over shrinking and then stretching
your mistakes out .
1/12/09- The formers
from the firewall back.
1/12/09- the formers
should blend and be fair with the firewall.
1/12/09- Exhaust
stack tunnel.
1/12/09- At the
center top, I spliced in another piece of the same angle.
1/17/09- I spaced all
the #30 rivet holes at 3/4".
1/17/09- Riveting the
channel on the firewall.
1/17/09- All done.
The angle really stiffens up the firewall.
