3 hrs
Torqued nose gear and main gear through bolts. These are AN5 bolts and take 120-150 inch-pounds of torque. Calibrated the small click type torque wrench I bought a while back using my old beam torque wrench. Made it easy to tighten the bolts properly.

Prewired and install electric fuel pump, then made the fuel line line for pump to gascolator. Can't intall it yet because I want to use a steel elbow at the gascolator.

Installed line from fuel pump to fuel selector.
Bend canopy roll bar for better fit. Went to Home and Aircraft depot and bought a 2 ton come-along. With it I was able to bend the roll bar like a bow. Had to get about 3 3/4" of deflection to get the proper amount of set. Now it's well within the 1/16" that Van's specs. Bending that thing is kind of scary. If something gives there's a lot of potential energy, enough to do serious damage or injury.

Placed the weekly order to Van's, for various hardware bits, FWF hoses, and the baffle kit. If I get stuck on other stuff I can work on the baffle kit.

Also shipped the 605-SEN forward spinner plate back to Van's. I need the standard wooden prop plate for the Catto prop, and I have to ship that and the rest of the spinner parts to Cato when I get it. Catto will do the spinner install for me. I should have that prop by the end of May, well before I can really use it. Need to order a Saber prop extension.

1.2 hrs, 54 rivets
Finished riveting lower cowl attach strips to the firewall and skin. Also did a bit more deburring on the scalloping.
Torqued the smaller bolts holding the main gear weldments to the wing bulkhead.

Now to finish the last bits of bottom forward cabin work and punch the holes for wiring.

1.5 hrs, 22 rivets
Finished riveting 921A to B rivets.
Scalloped lower cowl attach strips.
Started riveting forward skin/firewall/cowl strips.

Spent about 1 hour drilling the holes in the 668 roll bar spacers.
But I think there's a problem.
Despite carefull measurement from the top, the hole the 921B canopy deck is too close to the longerons. If these are drilled out the proper size, the longerons will get nicked. That can't be good. Need to ask Van's about this, and proceed with something else. I may get to do the 668 spacers over again.

Engine delivered

4 hrs
Set nose wheel bracket breakout torque.
Mark cowling attach strips for scalloping.

Attempt to bend canopy roll bar. Failed miserably. Spent about 2 hrs. I don't weigh enough to bend it. Using wood clamps, I can deflect the ends by three inches. But that's not enough to permanently change it.
Started making 668 spacers.

As I was starting to mark the 668's up, Seth arrived. He brought an engine with him!




It's an O-320, modified to 160 HP with 8.7 to 1 pistons. The valve covers are just pretty chrome ECI covers, but there are no other ECI parts involved, although the cylinders were channel chromed by ECI in New Braunfels. The engine has two new mags, with the left impulse-coupled. The Skytec starter and Mark Landall 60Amp alternator are brand new. It has a factory rebuilt carburetor and fuel pump. And a new Vettermann exhaust. Seth also threw in a heat muff.

Wheels On!

5.6 hrs, 26 rivets
Cav is on her own feet now!
Installed the main gear and nose wheel.

Finished up the gascolator attach by enlarging four of the holes to take AN3 bolts. Then riveted the doubler and the bracket to the firewall. Will need to order some 509 structural #10 screws to finish this task. Bolts interfere with the body of the gascolator.
Since I removed all of the electrics to prevent damage during riveting, had to reinstall them.

Then added washers, as per the plans, to the main gear wheel pant bracket bolts to add some space between the bracket and the brake disc. Why they didn't just spec a longer spacer is beyond me. My spacers were a fraction (64th) short, and one standard washer was enough to make the spacing just right. One on each of the three bolts, both sides, that is.

Then slid the engine mount on to the firewall, tightened the nuts by hand, and used the hoist to raise the fuselage. Installed the main gear. This was nerve wracking, since I was afraid something would give and the whole assembly would come crashing down. But it went reasonably smooth. Had to remove the engine mount again to get the nose gear leg installed. But it slid back into place effortlessly.

The main longerons are now 18" higher. All the leaning over to mess with stuff on the floor has been bugging my back. Now I can reach it without bending at all.

Hey, where did that plane go?



Oh, there it is!