Firewall flange repair, not AD 57-22-01 related

[Jim Hann]

I couldn’t find anything on this so I’m launching a new thread, Steve feel free to move it if needed. I need to clean up my lower firewall flanges that hold the boot cowl and cowling. This is the bad one, but they both need repair. My IA doesn’t have a shrinker available so trying to fab one up is difficult (but not impossible). I figured I would ask here, any repair pieces out there? I am hoping to do a repair and not have to pull the entire firewall off.

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Thanks!

[Wag-builder]

Check with Clyde Smith and see if he will make you a couple short pieces.

[Pacerfgoe]

I feel your pain Jim, mine is cracked in several places around the perimeter and needs to be replaced. I was thinking about buying a shrinker/stretcher set from Princess auto (The Canadian Harbor Freight) and having a go at replacing it, it doesn't look too hard to do.

[walt.buskey]

Looks like we had a bad screw-hole for the cowl at some point in the past, but mine has a small repair piece on the starboard side. Could something like that be done with yours?

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[Jim Hann]

Forrest, I LOVE buying tools! What is the worst that happens? I have some new tools and still have to find parts someplace else after trashing a bunch of aluminum! Walt, I have a repair on the side like that but those bottom curved corners need to conform, and it has been repaired before, ugh.

Thanks everybody for the input!

[Steve Pierce]

I would break an angle out of .032" 3003 aluminum and shrink it to fit the flange. Shrinkers aren't that expensive and it isn't hard. Might make a little scrap but you will learn a new craft.

[Jim Hann]

I would break an angle out of .032" 3003 aluminum and shrink it to fit the flange. Shrinkers aren't that expensive and it isn't hard. Might make a little scrap but you will learn a new craft.

That's the info I needed Steve, I hadn't looked in the drawings yet. I also have a 16 year old daughter interested in stuff like this so I'll try to recruit her as a co-learner (as long as Mom doesn't find out!) Thank you!

And not that expensive either! https://www.harborfreight.com/metal-...set-68897.html

[Steve Pierce]

Reminds me of spring many years ago when I showed my daughter how to draw and cut out a circle with the shear and then make a bowl with the English wheel and shrinker. Lee like to pound dents in it so I would have to work them back out.
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[Jim Hann]

Sounds like great learning and practice! I think my wife would have an aneurysm if I came home with an English wheel.

[Pacerfgoe]

Sounds like great learning and practice! I think my wife would have an aneurysm if I came home with an English wheel.

Hi, my name is Forrest and I'm a tool Whore.....
I snuck one of the mini English wheels into my shop without Christine's (my wife) knowledge. I knew that I'd never use it much, but did learn a little when I used it to make a patch for the front oil cooler when I moved it to the back. Cool little tool.