RV-8 Rear Floorboard Removal - ARGH

[74-07]

One trip down the rivet path made a believer out of me. I wasn't the builder but if I ever built, I would take the time to really think about getting those floorboards up and do whatever it took to make it easier in the future. Something as small as a cold solder joint on a single PTT switch connector has already cost a full day's work and now, I get to put it all back together!

[scsmith]

Originally Posted by 74-07

One trip down the rivet path made a believer out of me. I wasn't the builder but if I ever built, I would take the time to really think about getting those floorboards up and do whatever it took to make it easier in the future. Something as small as a cold solder joint on a single PTT switch connector has already cost a full day's work and now, I get to put it all back together!

Its never too late.
And, there is something to be said for putting your mark on your new airplane, doing some building/modifications can make you feel more connected.

Aside from the tedium of installing hundreds of plate nuts, the only tricky part is creating some under support pieces where the control column channel and flap drive pivot blocks bolt down. I might have relieved a few corner spots a tiny bit to make the panels easier to get into position, too.
I wish I had bought one of those hole-drilling guides for the plate nuts. I developed a pretty good system on my own, but I think that would have been faster.

[rv8ch]

Originally Posted by scsmith

In general, I used every other rivet hole for a screw, plus any key points that needed screws.

Originally Posted by scsmith

I wish I had bought one of those hole-drilling guides for the plate nuts. I developed a pretty good system on my own, but I think that would have been faster.

Both excellent tips. I used a screw in every rivet point, and that was severe overkill.

[Richard Connell]

This brings back many memories!
Although mine was a 7, I also made all my baggage and seat floors removable.
I think I actually wore out a nutplate jig in the process. I never regretted doing it.
In 9y I never needed to pull the floors or seatpans. Oh well.
On my partially built 10 I have riveted all the seat pans and baggage floors in place per plans and I already regret it!
I can?t win

[74-07]

Nope, not going to happen. It would certainly be a lot of work to put nutplates in when building while the airplane was open and more easily accessible but to do it now would be dang near impossible for this old fat guy. So, I'll fix the PTT issue and move the connection out of that area. I've vacuumed and cleaned the area (it was surprisingly clean) and make sure all else is in order then, I'm going to pop rivet it back down and smile knowing that somewhere, sometime, someone is going to say, "Why the **** didn't he put nutplates in these floorboards?"

[wilddog]

I have not had to remove the floor and mine are pop riveted in place. I have removed these rivets in other places and they are very easy to remove. Easier than unscrewing a screw and far easier than drilling out a screw with a stripped head. A 90* drill is needed for access to some areas.