Tasks before attaching Cabin and Upper Forward Fuselage?

[rocketman1988]

You may leave that upper forward fuselage off but realize that once the engine mount and engine are mounted, riveting that section on will become quite a bit more difficult...

[lr172]

Originally Posted by rocketman1988

You may leave that upper forward fuselage off but realize that once the engine mount and engine are mounted, riveting that section on will become quite a bit more difficult...

To be clear to the OP, I wasn't necessarilly suggesting to mount the engine mount before the top skin. I rivetted that top skin on before the engine mount and never noticed the interference. I would heed Bob's advise here, as I suspect he encountered that issue or noticed that it would be an issue.

I found it to be convenient to do all wiring and panel work before putting the fuse on it's gear and that skin should be rivetted on before proceeding with panel wiring IMO.

Larry

[rocketman1988]

Yeah, there were a few of those "difficult" rivets...

Also, be aware that ANYTHING you mount between the sub panel and firewall will be very challenging to access once that upper fuselage assembly is riveted on...

Kind of like the fuel selector in early C172s...they installed the valve and then proceeded to build the aircraft around it. Heaven help you if that valve were to need service or replacement!

[UnPossible]

Originally Posted by rocketman1988

You may leave that upper forward fuselage off but realize that once the engine mount and engine are mounted, riveting that section on will become quite a bit more difficult...

That's the exact "chicken or the egg" issue I am wondering about. I get it's easier to wire with it removable, but at what point does it get to be next to impossible to rivet it to the fuselage with all the wiring, etc in the way!

[steve murray]

Couple of items I would recommend

- Install parking brake valve if desired prior

- Put in nutplates for GPS antennae bracket on firewall if you plan to have GPS under cowl

- Install nutplates for anything else you may want to attach to firewall

- I put forest of tabs on both sides of firewall, wish I had picked bit easier location to allow easy access

- If using Dynon, (I am not sure of Garmin) think about spot to mount MAP sensors on interior of firewall if you want them there

- Put several ADEL clamps along left to right surfaces to allow routing of cabling. Much easier to install these standing up vs laying on your back under a panel.

- Figure out where you want to put cabin heater controls

- I put layer of ceramic insulator and thin stainless steel fire barrier (sandwich of original Van's firewall - ceramic insulator - Stainless steel barrier) on prior to attaching fuselage top

[UnPossible]

Originally Posted by steve murray

Couple of items I would recommend

- I put forest of tabs on both sides of firewall, wish I had picked bit easier location to allow easy access

If you were doing it over, where would you place the forest of tabs?

[rocketman1988]

I mounted my forest of tabs on the sub panel...

[leok]

For the cabin top, I found no access issues with it attached. So, go ahead and attach as soon as it makes sense.

For the rear upper fuselage skin. Needs t be in place for the cabin top, so get everything installed and sorted before the cabin top goes in. It is much easier to do that before the gear goes on with the fuselage down low.

I found the top forward skin to be the big, big access change and waited until the very last steps to rivet in place. That was after the instruments and engine and cowling were installed. Everything I installed forward of the IP was with the need for riveting access in mind. Also everything I installed was done with access through the PFD/MFD holes or access from below for service. Riveting just before windshield install was not a problem. I had preserved access to the inside of the rivet lines with my tungsten bucking bar all along.

I have accessed many of the connectors and components since I completed the build and started flying to correct minor issues. The space immediately behind the firewall and forward of the intermediate bulkhead is challenging, but can be done with patience and effort. I have the VPX-pro and CDI2 boxes in that bay. Two screws accessed from the bottom and they swing down on a hinge for access. If they have to come out, I pull the hinge pin. Access to the rear side (between the IP and intermediate bulkhead) of the intermediate bulkhead is easy through the PFD/MFD holes.