Construction Blog and Builder's Resource
Filter bypass door installed to alternate air inlet. The actual control cable will come later, during panel installation.
Right air ramp cone ready for bending. Naturally, the clecos will come out first.
Right air ramp cone riveted in place. Not as curvy and beautiful as some, but I’ve always preferred the ectomorphs anyway!
Air filter frame cover ready for bending.
Another less-than-curvy piece, but she’s fully functional and will rarely be seen. Onward!
Cowl inlet ramp micro applied.
Cowl inlet ramp micro applied.
Alternate air inlet hole cut in snorkel.
Alternate air inlet test fitting prior to floxing.
Alternate air inlet floxed to the snorkel.
Snorkel marked for initial trimming to air filter frame.
Snorkel marked for initial trimming to air filter frame.
Snorkel marked for initial trimming to fuel servo.
Snorkel being reformed (via heat gun and pressure (I used both the beer bottle and hammer handle)) to clear the Cylinder 2 intake tube.
Air filter frame and snorkel drilled together in final position.
Air filter frame and snorkel floxed together.
Upper cowling interior coated with epoxy resin.
Lower cowling interior coated with epoxy resin.
Empennage fairing interior coated with epoxy resin
Threading one of the four baffle tension rods.
Two done, two to go.
All four ready for installation.
The left side rear nut was challenging to tighten, but a combination of socket, universal joint, and extension sufficed to get it done.
It’s amazing how much the curved, lower portions of the baffles tightened up against the cylinders when the rods achieved tension. Simple, but effective. Very cool.
Ah, the snorkel, at long last. I remember how much of a bear this job was on my last RV. Of course, I had an Airflow Performance fuel injection servo on that plane, which required some modifications and re-glassing to the lower end of the snorkel.
On this airplane, I’m using the stock FI system, but still anticipating some massaging of the snorkel before all is said and done. We shall see…
Initial snorkel fitting. Not great, but not as awful as it could have been. Onward!
Initial snorkel fitting. Not great, but not as awful as it could have been. Onward!
