Pacer bush plane underway!

[SClow303]

So I finally got my new project home about 3 days ago. The first day was spent just moving the project home and getting things situated in my shop. This plane started life as a Tri Pacer and was converted to a taildragger in 1989 using the Blanton conversion plans. It had the Ford V6 installed and test run and then the project moved through several hands and never really got worked on. The fuselage has been stretched 24 inches, the wings extended 18 inches each with the Ailerons pushed out to the tips and the flaps extended to 87 inches. It has hornier tips. I removed the Ford engine the first day to prepare to offer it up for sale. Yesterday I spent the evening taking all the electrical system out and nicely labeling everything. I took the firewall off leaving everything intact to go along with the motor. Today the airframe was stripped of the old fabric and I am very pleased with the tubing that was underneath! Saturday will be going through the airframe and planning structural changes for the near gear which will be a PA-18 style but wider up top and extended 3 inches. I am very excited about this build!

Wish list is as follows...

- Extended PA 18 style gear.
- 60 inch skylight
- Extended rear windows.
- Catto Prop
- Second smaller baggage door above the stock one for the top baggage area.
- Second light set up in the right wing with LED lighting.
- ACS billet yokes.
- Gullwing patroller doors on both sides.
- Squared off PA-18 sized tail.

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[bushcruiser]

Looks good!!! Similar to the project we finished a few years ago.

[SClow303]

Looks good!!! Similar to the project we finished a few years ago.


I would love to see more info and pics of that build!

[rocket]

SC,

have any pictures of the ford V6 install. Just really curious thats all


Rocket

[SClow303]

I have more pics of it on my home computer. My friends swears by this motor and thought I was nuts for taking it off. It has 1.4 hours test time on it. Has a cool electronic Holley carb with adjustable mixture. I have a ton of paper work for this thing. I am going to try and sell it as a complete FWF. Engine, Gear Drive, Mount, Radiator, Cowling and Prop.


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[andya]

Knew a fellow that had one 20 years ago, only problem he had initially was cooling.
I guess water cooling can get a little complicated with pressure reliefs and such.

[pistoncan]

I have been working on something similar for the last 11 years. I started with wagabond plans and extended the tail 21 1/2 inches for better ground handling and designed my own tandem seating. I have all the Blanton plans etc here and are familiar with them.

Has the plane ever been licensed? If it was you are probably OK. The reason I ask, is that conversions like that were done back in the late 80's and early 90's but since then the FAA has clamped down on that kind of conversion and it may cause you difficulties.

If my mind serves me, the Javelin company (Blanton) that made the belt drive for the ford had some quality control difficulties and there were several lawsuits before they folded. They don't have a very good reputation in the homebuilt arena. I have no idea what one would be worth.

[bushcruiser]

I would love to see more info and pics of that build!
There are several photos in the photo gallery under "bushcruiser"

[SClow303]

Long 100 plus hour work week at my actual job so I did not get much done on the project. Today I carefully removed the floor and toe brake set up. All of the electrical wiring that was left came out also. Tomorrow we determine the course of action for reinforcing the fuselage for the PA 18 gear. I am also looking closely at the tailwheel attachment to determine if we want to beef it up and rework it at all. I am anxious to get the fuselage tubing done so we can start the real fun of building it. The owner before me primed and painted everything with all the pulleys in place. While they are in excellent shape struts ally it looks terrible. Some of the those pulleys are pretty pricey! I am pulling all the cables out to make new ones and will decide how to clean up the pulleys without hurting the phenolic. I will snap some pics tomorrow!

[SClow303]

Finally back on the build some. Helped out with several annuals over the past couple of weeks which lead to some engine work on one and lots of time invested. I had my friend stop by yesterday and take a look at the structural changes needed for the lower fuselage for the PA-18 gear conversion. Has anyone thought of using a 1 1/8 .058 tubing to sleeve the forward cross member from the outside? I easily made a poster board template of the tubes in the cluster and we thought we could run the 1 1/8 tubing through the computerized band saw lengthways. I can then transfer my template to the tubing halves so that I can then sandwich the old tube. It is something that we are considering. I will be making my new gear attachment brackets out of 1.75 square tubing. Not sure what suspension I will be running yet... Keep leaning toward AOSS or the suspension from Super-12.com. Another thing that I am doing this week is starting to mock up the larger rear side windows. I am trying to decide if I can source the window retention channel or just bend some up.

[Steve Pierce]

ASOS is an amazing system. No rebound and hardly any maintenance. I wish Burl would put the drop test video back on his website. It was pretty impressive to see the bounces of hydrsorbs vs the settling ASOS. I have flown several Super Cubs and a Husky I converted to Supper Cub gear that had ASOS. It is nice.

[Airwrench]

... Has anyone thought of using a 1 1/8 .058 tubing to sleeve the forward cross member from the outside? I easily made a poster board template of the tubes in the cluster and we thought we could run the 1 1/8 tubing through the computerized band saw lengthways. I can then transfer my template to the tubing halves so that I can then sandwich the old tube. It is something that we are considering. ...

I've done that as a field repair, and feel that that it would be an acceptable reinforcement. - Steve

[SClow303]

I put a large steel, Aluminum and hardware order in yesterday and have the next 6 days off to really tinker on the project. I also sat down here at work yesterday and planned out an upper baggage door frame that will allow access to the hat shelf area from the outside. Biggest thing now is to decide which gear set I am going to order and get them on the way. Finding 1.75 inch square tube to make gear brackets was a little trickier than I thought but I think I have found some at a local race car fab shop. What's the best source for lexan? I want my skylight and rear observer windows to be well tinted.

[Steve Pierce]

Airframes Alaska makes up gear fittings for Eddie's modification.

[SClow303]

Well yesterday was a good day. I took a very detailed picture and video log of all the control cables and carefully removed them all intact. I plan to replace them with all new cables. My pulleys were left in place when the previous owner painted the airframe so I removed them all cleaned the one I want re use. I am going with a pretty open and basic interior so the open pulleys will be changed to Javron aluminum ones.

[SClow303]

Started to make the outer sleeve that will provide the reinforcement for the cross tube between the front gear supports. I made a template then used a rotary file of the same diameter as the tubes in the cluster to make the cuts. The bottom is just a mirror image of the top. I hope to get these tacked in tomorrow.

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[Steve Pierce]

That should keep your fingers warm for a little while. ;)

[SClow303]

Been working away on the little things that needed done. Picked up a lot of Overtime during the holidays so I am about to order my extended gear and get my new gear mounts on. Pall of the little things have been taken apart including all the cables, trim assembly, seat release levers, etc.... Today I worked on coming up with a plan to replace the channel above the door with 5/8 square tubing to support the Gullwing door mounts. Best thing I have done is order the shortwing drawings CD, top notch and a wealth of information. I also got the Northland PA-18 disc for some reference.

[HunterJ]

I used 3/4 to match the existing tube sizes with no issues.
HunterJ

[SClow303]

Without looking at the drawings I take it the little ledges that stick out are a drip ledge of some sort?

[Prosaria]

Been working away on the little things that needed done. Picked up a lot of Overtime during the holidays so I am about to order my extended gear and get my new gear mounts on. Pall of the little things have been taken apart including all the cables, trim assembly, seat release levers, etc.... Today I worked on coming up with a plan to replace the channel above the door with 5/8 square tubing to support the Gullwing door mounts. Best thing I have done is order the shortwing drawings CD, top notch and a wealth of information. I also got the Northland PA-18 disc for some reference.

Don't replace the channel, weld the square tube below it.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[mmoyle]

The lip is there to attach the aluminum wing to fuselage faring. I welded a new chunk of .032" angle (flat sheet bent in a brake past 90 degrees) to the top side of the square tube after I welded it in....my old one had number 8 and 10 screw holes....wanted new metal to attach the wing faring strip.


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[Prosaria]

The lip is there to attach the aluminum wing to fuselage faring. I welded a new chunk of .032" angle (flat sheet bent in a brake past 90 degrees) to the top side of the square tube after I welded it in....my old one had number 8 and 10 screw holes....wanted new metal to attach the wing faring strip.


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That works too, but if you don't remove it you won't have to make another one three times to get it right... [emoji6]


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[mmoyle]

That's funny.... I freely admit to making something more than once or twice... But those strips.... Only once.

[SClow303]

I guess that I should update this as I have been working 10-12 hour days on this project! As some may have seen I picked up Charlies Super Exp 17 fuselage earlier this year and decided to rebuild it for my current project. The tail needed reworked which is no all completed and ready to go. I picked up a set of Super Cub gear and did some additions to beef them up some. My wings have been completely gone through and I am headed into the paint booth tomorrow to spray the wings, control surfaces and gear. I am hoping to have it up on gear mid next week. The next step is re routing the aileron cables to exit the rear of the wing instead of up the front strut. I picked up a O-320 with 49 hours on it a couple months ago. Today I ordered almost everything to complete the build minus the baffling and airbox. Still a ton of little things to tackle but with the time I can devote to it I am hopeful to see it fly this fall. I will upload some pics.

[SClow303]

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[Airwrench]

Looks Great ! It should be a lot of fun.

[SClow303]

I am hoping to find a set of PA-18 tail feathers for it.. if not I may order a new set of squared off feathers to give it a little edgier look.

[Steve Pierce]

If you haven't welded the tail post fitting in yet insert a tube inside the tailpost and roset weld through the hole that was for the Tri_pacer tail skid attachment. Lots of pictures of the tailpost cracking there on this website.

http://www.shortwingpipers.org/forum/showthread.php?8792-Found-a-crack-in-tail-post

[SClow303]

Question for you guys that have been there and done that.... This build is the stock length of a Pacer with the wings stretched 18 inches each side. I have a set of stock Pacer horizontals and elevators ready to go to paint. I also have a set of VG's for the Horizontals. My initial thoughts were to purchase PA-18 feathers. So.... I am looking for opinions on the two. It sure would be nice to save the money but safety is the big issue.

[Steve Pierce]

I bet the tail quits flying first. The PA18 stabs and elevators will help the Dakota Cub slotted wing performance

[SClow303]

Hey gang! I took the summer off from my build while I prepared to sell me house and move to a new place... the good thing is that the new place just happens to be a 9000 square foot hanger with a 1300 square foot home attached! It has taken 6 months to work this deal but we finally moved over the past weekend. I have spent the last week tearing down the old tarp wall and moving the shelves that separated the hanger and the shop and preparing to build an actual wall there with a garage door. The shop has its own heat zone, so this will make it nice during the winter. I was able to bring the project over yesterday and started setting up shop. I am super excited to be able to walk out the door and into the hanger at any time and work on the build.

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[Gilbert Pierce]

Wow! That is nice.

[Stephen]

With the added wing I think you will want more tail authority.

I like your landing gear set up, looks strong.

I went back through this post and saw you have an extended fuselage, either tail feathers should work OK. The main difference is that the extra elevator will help...,..some. Since it is experimental and your welding is excellent modifying the tail feathers will save cost and accomplish the same.

I did the Lycon port and polish and enjoyed the boost in HP. I would recomend going to the higher compression pistons. These stretch mods add weight and often end up under powered. Putting in 8.5 pistons is little cost and well worth it. I have heard there are some experimental 0320 high compression with out the banana plates, check out what their experiences.

My Bushmaster project 0320 is capable of putting out 180 HP.

[SClow303]

Been working a lot on the build these past few weeks. Designed all the brackets I needed for the new pulleys that will run the aileron cables to the rear of the wing j stead of up the front strut. It was nice to have a good friend and fellow builder offer to water jet out all the parts for me... saved time and they turned out great. I picked up a new set of Matco wheels with triple puck brakes last weekend. I had a minor set back when I got frauded out of $930 on Barnstormers for a set of 26 inch Goodyear tundra tires. I finally got my money back from my bank and found another set to buy from an actual seller! I also came across a great set of 29 inch Bushwheels that will be switched out for the Goodyears at times. I ended up getting a near new set hydrosorbs and a new set of bungees off a friend and made a new set of extended struts to mate the stock length PA-18 gear with my widened, 44 inch fuselage. I decided to update my panel to something a little more usable for my flying. Trying to decide just how much I want to spend and if I want to add an engine monitor or just keep some separate gauges. My hope is to get the new pulleys in this week and get the fuselage over to the paint booth for repaint to match the new red of the wings. If all goes well the gear will go on for the last time by the end of the month. Once on gear I want to start getting the wings mounted. Tomorrow will be starting to clean up the stock pacer tanks.... there is a lot of sealant on the outlet bungs and around the senders so hopefully I can get them all cleaned up and sealing good after the repaint.

[walt.buskey]

Just saw your new home -- I don't think we have that much flat ground in one place anywhere in the state of NH!! Where is that?

[SClow303]

I am in Mansfield, Ohio... North Central part of the state. You head west from here and it is as flat as can be!

[Jim Hann]

Nice looking place! Can't wait to see your progress!

[SClow303]

My friend built this hanger in 1986... at the age of 12 I said that I would someday own it or one like it! I am loving it so far. The best thing I have no excuse to not be out there working on my plane everyday!

[andya]

Do you happen to know Larry Strimple, he use to have a hangar at Mansfield.

[SClow303]

Our hangers back up against one another! He has two Super Cubs I drool over every time he opens the hanger door. Of course they are flanking a Mig 21, 310 and I believe a Pitts!

[andya]

thought he got rid of the Mig, he used to have a Baron, gave him some dual in that right after he got it. Please say hello from Andy, we used to fly in the ANG together many moons ago.

[walt.buskey]

Slow, thanks for the reply. PM sent.

Walt

[SClow303]

A really it is a baron now that you mention it! I always love when he cracks his doors open!

[SClow303]

Here are a couple quick pics from the past week. The panel mock up that I am toying with seems to change everyday! I thought it would be nice to lay it out in life size so I can sit in front of it and decide what I like and don't like. You can see in the one pic how the stock struts obviously were coming up short due to the wide fuselage so the new ones are ready to go now. While my engine is near 0 SMOH the intake pipes were looking ratty.... Blasted them and got them painted up yesterday while it was warm out.
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[Pacer15p]

Paint looks great! What was your process? Would love to know! Thanks, Richard

[walt.buskey]

Ditto on the paint, Streeter!

[wyandot jim]

Hey Guys,
Most of the time it is the quality of the painter not the quality of the paint:-)
Anything from a rattle can to high$$$$$$$ polyurethane will work IF you know how to use them.

[SClow303]

Finally getting the new aileron cable routing done this week. Had pulley brackets water jetted out for the lower front and rear brackets and had to make a new standoff for the top brackets. The top brackets do not show the pulley guards installed yet. The hope is to have them done by this weekend and then take the fuselage to the paint booth for repaint to match the wings. If all goes well I am hoping to have it up on gear for the final time by mid next month and start mounting wings. Been working a ton of OT so I can order the Sutton exhaust and a set of RV-6 baffles.

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[SClow303]

Did not have time to send the upper pulley cable guards out for water jet so I made them in house...

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[Gilbert Pierce]

Looking good. Nice work.:icon_smile:

[SClow303]

I got the pleasure of having a special guest from the forum stop by the hanger for a visit... Walt.buskey and his wife stopped by on there way out west in thier RV. Great to meet another forum nember in person!

[Steve Pierce]

I got the pleasure of having a special guest from the forum stop by the hanger for a visit... Walt.buskey and his wife stopped by on there way out west in thier RV. Great to meet another forum nember in person!

They spent a couple of days here and told us about your place. Sounds perfect.

[Old3pacer]

Did they stop by in their roadworthy RV or skyworthy RV?

[SClow303]

They were on the ground!!

[SClow303]

Got all the pulley brackets aligned and tacked into place this evening and started to finish weld them. One more good afternoon of welding and the plane should be ready to go to the booth for repaint.

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[SClow303]

Been a very busy summer!!! I have been chipping away at little projects with the build that would move me further along with assembly this fall. After Oshkosh I came back with a passion to get this thing done. The biggest hurdle I was having was getting the fuselage and small parts painted to match my shiney new red wings. My friend had a large fire which destroyed his paint shop early in the summer. We finally made arrangements to use another both this past weekend and away we went. You don't realize how many little parts you have until you start preping them for paint! It turned out awesome! We decided to hold off on the graphics until we had the cowling completely on. Next step is to star assembly later this week.

[SClow303]

Made some longer safety cables this ast week and started to lay out all the parts and hardware for the assembly.
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[Steve Pierce]

Nice, that nose bowl looks like glass.

[SClow303]

Had to mock it up with the tailwheel. We are waiting to spray a couple more parts this Friday then hope to have it up on gear early neck week officially. Still trying to decide on graphics. I have a friend that owns a vinyl shop and I thought about using vinyl to make some striping.
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[SClow303]

Yes... I know some will notice I still have the hole in my tail section and did not slide a tubing up inside that post while I had it apart. I am kicking myself in the butt over it. I am planning to run a T3 suspension for my tail set up so that will help with some of the shock back there.

[Stephen]

Beautiful work, thanks for sharing.

[PACERGUY]

The good thing is you have good access to the tail post if you ever need to fix it. With cub tail feathers you will be able to blow/hold the tail up pretty easy to protect it also.
DENNY

[SClow303]

Been a slow week for the build. We had an RAF / Ohio Bush Planes fly in over the 4 day weekend so that took up some time. Today I am mounting the Matco dual master cylinders for the dual toe brakes. Waiting to get back into the paint booth to spray a few pats then she will go up on gear!

[SClow303]

i needed something to do while I was working a 24 hour shift this week so I took the tanks with me to work to start cleaning. They had gooped sealant all over these things and I understood why as I took them apart. There was not one seal used and the senders had basic screws holding them in place. I cleaned everything up and ordered all the correct screws and seals. I need to multi netter the senders and make sure they are fu slctuoning now that I am back home.

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[SClow303]

It was a good 10 plus hour day on the build. Got the brakes all mounted down to where they will connect at the gear. I also got the entire fuel system from the tanks down to the sumps, through the fuel valve and out to the gasolator done. I used an Allen fuel valve that we machined to allow for left, right, both and off. Tomorrow i need to fly over the Greenville PA to pick up another set of PA-18 gear I bought but may stay home and concentrate on getting the last few things ready for paint midweek. The overall goal is to have the plane on its gear by this weekend.

[SClow303]

Today was spent refurbing a new, old stock set of Cleveland wheels and brakes. These things have been sitting in a hanger for about 25 years. They will see some good use here very soon! Also took a break and laid the first coat of white tire paint on my GoodYear logos.

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[Steve Pierce]

Did you paint your brake discs?

[SClow303]

No sir!!! They are taped up!

[Steve Pierce]

Ah, I wondered and thought maybe you had some method. makes sense, the other part does get rusty.

[SClow303]

Here is a close se up and a pic of the ones I just did for my 172... although that paint might have given a little extra grip for stopping power!

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[SClow303]

Big day today. All the paint is now finished for the gear to be assembled. I wanted to switch out the bungees on the hydrosorbs before assembling everything tomorrow so I hope to fly over to Greenville, PA to use Elbow Street Aviation's bungee tool. If I cant get over there tomorrow I will do the final mounting of the gear legs, Cabene Vee and lower struts in preparation. Having it up on gear officially will be a big deal for me. I will post some pics as I move along over the next few days.

[SClow303]

Gear is all on and awaiting new bungees for the hydrosorbs. Almost up on wheels!

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[SClow303]

Big day for the build!! Gear is finally on and ready to go.
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[Stephen]

Love It! I can hear you making engine sounds. Good color too.

[SClow303]

Thanks!!! The accent graphics will be black, silver and white. I am pumped after today. Saturday I hope to finish the fuel line from the valve to the gascolator then it’s probably the final brake line connections. Panel is about ready to go in and all the wiring is ran and in place. It actually feels like it is coming together!

[Steve Pierce]

Looking good.

[SClow303]

Mounted the gascolator mount and gascolator today. Ordered all the parts to make stainless braided brake lines from the master cylinders down to the calipers. Started to put the panel together today. I will put it together basic for now and later this winter we will water just put a more advanced panel. Also started to get everything in order to start mounting the motor. I will be presenting the Vans RV6 baffle kit soon.

[SClow303]

It’s funny how you can put 8-10 hour days in the shop on a build yet when you go to write a post about up it seems that you have not gotten much done! This past week saw the completion of the fuel system from the birdcage all the way to the gascolator as well as completion of the brake system. I went with the Aeroquip stainless steel braided lines. I left some extra under the floor board in case I had any issues with the routing I chose. While working on the brakes I decided to take care of a weak tab that held down the left side of the peddle assembly. I decided the best was to do it correctly was to remove the left side boot cowl so I could get in with the Tig torch. After the fix I repainted that section and buttoned it back up. I mocked the panel up with all the instruments and started to figure out the routing for the wires and pitot static tubing. Today I have a sick 8 year old hanging out with me so she is watching TV as I piddle around with the panel. I was hoping to get the panel in this week but still need to get my matching Becker transponder here and wired up.

[PACERGUY]

If you stick a 45 degree fitting into the top of the brake caliper and adjust the brake line (might need to shorten it a bit) you will get rid of that arch in the line begging for a air bubble to hold. Not a huge deal just something to consider.
DENNY

[SClow303]

Thank Denny! I will do that. That’s exactly why I left some extra line so I could change things up if needed. I have plenty of space to tuck a few actors inches under the floor till I get it all dialed in then cut it perfect. I thought about going to the bottom of the caliper but was worried about the higher potential of the lone snagging something.

[Stephen]

I redid my panel a couple of years ago and opted for a lower profile PA 16 panelnor I should say it alis actually a PA 22 with minor modification. Anyway, I had several mock ups, wittled it down to one. Layed it out, cut the holes, then threw it away and started again.

I like it so far.

[PACERGUY]

I would not go to the bottom of the caliper for a few reasons. ( skis, snagging, and air issues) Keep it just like you have it just try to get the loop out. Sometimes sounds simple but issues arise. Do you have welded tabs on the leg that hold the cable low?
DENNY

[tnowak]

I had the same issue on my Vagabond. Two rudder pedal tabs (port and middle) had cracked welds.
My welder added weld "stitches" under the tab to improve strength og teh welded joint.
TonyN

[SClow303]

I finally got the 45 degree brake fittings installed and they worked way better. My motor mount bushings were back ordered until Dec 4th so that slowed me up mounting the motor. Spent a lot of time cleaning my hangar up for the local aviation club’s Christmas dinner this Friday evening. Ordering the Vans baffle kit with rear oil cooler mount tomorrow. Last thing to do for the panel is to order and install the circuit breakers and switches. I am hoping to pick up a Becker transponder this week to match my radio that I bought. Getting closer each day. Still have to hit the paint booth to finish up some small parts.... Atlee Dodge long steps, and touch up on the cowling where we got the paint a little lite.

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[Stephen]

I finally got the 45 degree brake fittings installed and they worked way better. My motor mount bushings were back ordered until Dec 4th so that slowed me up mounting the motor. Spent a lot of time cleaning my hangar up for the local aviation club’s Christmas dinner this Friday evening. Ordering the Vans baffle kit with rear oil cooler mount tomorrow. Last thing to do for the panel is to order and install the circuit breakers and switches. I am hoping to pick up a Becker transponder this week to match my radio that I bought. Getting closer each day. Still have to hit the paint booth to finish up some small parts.... Atlee Dodge long steps, and touch up on the cowling where we got the paint a little lite.

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I am installing the Vans engine baffle kit currently on my 0320. I also put my oil cooler on the left rear . I made my own support brackets. The project is a puzzle, I am not impressed with the instructions but, I like puzzles. It is an improvement over my original engine baffles.

[CamTom12]

Probably more appropriate for a new thread, but Stephen you should show me some pics of how your oil cooler mounts on the rear baffles in relation to its cylinder neighbor. I have a pretty strong theory for why my oil cooling is less than ideal.

[Stephen]

Probably more appropriate for a new thread, but Stephen you should show me some pics of how your oil cooler mounts on the rear baffles in relation to its cylinder neighbor. I have a pretty strong theory for why my oil cooling is less than ideal.

Since my plane is a Bushmaster, I feel OK to post on this thread. I'll try to remember to get some pictures tomorrow. I have had my oil cooler up against the rear cylinder for a few years and have not had oil cooling issues. The new Van's baffle is lower in the rear so the cooler will set a bit lower. I wonder if that will effect the cooling.

[SClow303]

I look forward to any info and pics that you can provide about the baffle Installation!!

[Old3pacer]

I would love to see those baffles too

[Stephen]

I would love to see those baffles too

I started a new thread "Installing RV engine baffles" so people could look it up easier at a later date.

[CamTom12]

Since my plane is a Bushmaster, I feel OK to post on this thread. I'll try to remember to get some pictures tomorrow. I have had my oil cooler up against the rear cylinder for a few years and have not had oil cooling issues. The new Van's baffle is lower in the rear so the cooler will set a bit lower. I wonder if that will effect the cooling.

That’s basically what my theory is. The lower the cooler is mounted in relation to the cylinder, the less air I believe will pass through the cooler vice the cylinder fins. I saw your pics in the other thread, nice craftsmanship!

[SClow303]

While I am waiting on some back ordered engine mount bushings I decided to clean up and paint my engine. It is a very low time engine, less then 50 hours, that has been in storage. It has been inspected and is ready to go but just did not look as good as the rest of my new plane. Today I scrubbed the engine down and then taped everything off. I sprayed it with Lycoming gray and did all the small parts in a satin black. I am trying to decide between red or black for the valve covers. It took a long 10 hour day from start to finish but I am glad that I did it.

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[SClow303]

Had a good weekend. Got all the engine paint finished up and actually got to mate the engine up to the airframe. I am hoping to have everything bolted together tomorrow and want to start mounting the Vans baffles by the end of the week. If al goes well today I will be picking up efrench’s Sutton exhaust. Getting closer!

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[SClow303]

Engine all mounted... had to throw the Catto prop just for looks!

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[andya]

Appreciate the pics, really looks nice. How do you keep your hangar so clean, , mine appears like an inside enclosed salvage yard.

[Old3pacer]

Andy articulated my thought as I looked at your pic.
I would be embarrassed to post a pic of the hangar -not clean and shiny and well lit [bright] like yours. Yours appears to be a showroom. Mine is a dark, cluttered, corrugated tin with stained asphalt floor. Nevermind that your painted engine and plane look much "show-ier" than mine! By all means, keep those pics coming!
Cheers
AL

[SClow303]

Ok.... so although I have not posted a lot I have been working on the project quite a bit. I am at the point where I need to get the panel finalized and ready to put in. I have the original panel and was going to go with a very basic set up utilizing the current layout. That being said I have now took inventory of what all I have laying around and I am thinking about going a little different the original plan. One of the biggest things is that I now have a GRT EIS-4000 engine monitor to use. This would obviously do the Tach, Oil Pressure/Temp, CHT’s, EGT’s, OAT, fuel guantity/flow/duration, Volt/Amps, etc. Using the engine monitor really opens up a lot of space. I also bought a 2 1/4 inch airspeed indicator, Becker radio and matching transponder with encoder. I also have a PS Engineering intercom. I was going to use the Becker’s. Holt on intercom but was not happy with all the functions. I would like to run a Garmin 496 for XM weather and radio. I also have to throw a remote for the ELT next to the intercom placement. Keep in mind we have our 172 as our daily driver but this plane will hopefully be flown all over, VFR only of course. It is nice to have opinions from others who have been there and done that! The one thing I would like to keep is my glove box placement. It is huge and follows the frame tubing for support. I hate to lose it or make it smaller. I though about flush mounting the 496 in the glove box door. I appreciate any thoughts!!! I also would like to move the slip indicator up to the top center of the panel. Compass will be a SIRS windshield mounted. ..... oh! I also have several EXP Bus power panels with the annunciation panels. That does away with the circuit breakers. The panel also gives you a cockpit light dimmer. I plan to put the switches below the panel on the ledge and put the controls more centered, Caen heat, throttle, mixture, etc.

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[Stephen]

I like your approach. You could get a small slip indicator that fits under the AS. I made a small slip indicator a few years ago that worked well. Now I use an electric turn coordinator that has the slip gauge.

I also used the PA 16 instrument panel because my panel is minimalist.

[walt.buskey]

Looking good, Streeter! Yes, your hangar/house still looks great.

I have the Garmin396, fit into a "Gizmo" mount... but it appears you'd have to have it way to the right, which might not be the best location. The glove box, however, is nice so I can see why you'd want to keep it.

Making progress on 57A; left wing largely repaired/reassembled now. Right wing should go faster.

Walt

[SClow303]

Hey Walt, I keep waiting for your plane to come taxing in to the ramp here!

[walt.buskey]

PM sent, didn't want to hijack thread... But yes, I'm still alive and kicking! (same for 57A!)

Walt

[SClow303]

Been slacking on my updates! Before I started to mount and trim my baffles I needed to have my cowling all done. I put an extra layer of fiberglass around the inside perimeter of the wag aero nose bowl I bought to give it some extra strength for attaching machine screw plates to it. I got it all drilled and the machine plates riveted in. Once the cowling was all set I set out to make poster board templates of the baffles that I could use to cut down a little at a time. note in the pics of my cowling this was before everything was centered up and set in stone. I figured once I got them the way I wanted them I could offer to trace out the templates for anyone hoping to use the Vans baffles in the future. I also mounted the tail surfaces this past week. I am using the pacer feathers until I can rebuild a set of PA-18 feathers. I had some pretty warn parts in my tail wire set up so I bought some new adjuster barrels and the square washers I needed as well as the special fitted washers for the top brace. I had a little issue with my elevator travel. I was only getting 10 degrees up deflection while I was getting about 22 degrees down. I realized that for one thing I was using the lower elevator horn attachment plate from my original pacer project and that on the Shortwing CD it was a different part number as the vagabonds plate. This of course doubles as the up elevator stop plate. Mine was 1/2 inch too long. Iinstead of just cutting 1/2 inch off I am setting the elevator at the correct deflection and then measuring and slowly taking the extra off the back of the plate. I am sitting at the computer with the disc trying to figure out of the clipper controls which I am using have a downward deflection stop somewhere that I am missing or not utilizing correctly. I am hoping that by the end of the weekend I will have the baffling all done and the tail all figured out and done also. She is coming together slowly but surely! I also took a breake from the hard work and installed a set of Atlee Dodge long steps so I don't have to use a step stool to climb into the cockpit to make airplane noises!

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[SClow303]

It has been a long month of even longer days on the build. Baffles are all done minus the blast tubes being made this week. I picked up a set of mags, so once they are mounted I will fab up the tubes. Started wiring all of the engine compartment for the EIS 4000. We designed a new panel to be water jetted and are just waiting for it to come back. I had extra help one day and we were held up finishing up the FWF so I took the opportunity to mount the wings. The tail has been pretty much buttoned up except I am very disappointed in the arch of the Univair tail spring... it will be replaced this next week. I still don’t like how my up elevator stop hits the fuselage so I am redesigning a better stop plate today. Every little detail just takes a lot of time to do correctly but I am happy with the progress!

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[walt.buskey]

Hey, Streeter, I think I saw a speck of dirt on the floor there... you better get after it!

Seriously, your bush plane's looking great! Question-- when you make up your blast tubes, any possibility you could make up a third one I could buy? My O-320 is missing one....

Walt

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[pacerman1262]

you do some nice work! see ya soon.

[charlieaileron]

It's been four months! Any Update?

[SClow303]

It is true when they say that when your 90 percent done that you still have 50 percent of the work to do! The little details seem to take a lot of time. The panel is all done now and about ready for paint. I have to mount some machine screw plates that will hold the engine monitor panel in tomorrow then it will be ready for paint. All the controls are now on and all new cables have been made and installed. Next will be rigging it up correctly and tensioning the cables. The only real wiring I have to do right now is to make a harness that goes from the PS Engineering intercom to the Becker radio. I had a very slow summer just due to long work hours, kiddos and traveling! I am pretty much back in the build mode now and hope to make some good progress these next few months.

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[Stephen]

Are you installing the 3 inch extended gear?

[SClow303]

Right now it has stock length gear on it. I have considered upgrading to plus 3 gear and a TKS suspension.

[mshankle]

Did this build make it into the air?

[SClow303]

Almost! Last thing left to do is wire the radio and intercom up. I got held up buying a 310Q and a Cessna 140 and now a 76 Super cub! I am back on this build though!