RV-6A to RV-6 Conversion

[Snowflake]

Originally Posted by Skysailor

You do not need to change the wheels/brakes unless you just want larger wheels. The 6and 6A share the same 500x5 wheels. A friend of mine did this very conversion and kept the same wheels/brakes. Saves a good bit of cash and lighter to boot.

That kind of makes me wonder... If you could somehow just rotate the -6A mains as a set 180 degrees, so they pointed forwards instead of aft, where would that put the main wheels? I suppose replacing the mounting weldments for the wheels would be the hard part... The gear couldn't go through the same hole anyway as it would point back through the spar once it got into the fuselage...

[Mel]

Originally Posted by Snowflake

That kind of makes me wonder... If you could somehow just rotate the -6A mains as a set 180 degrees, so they pointed forwards instead of aft, where would that put the main wheels? I suppose replacing the mounting weldments for the wheels would be the hard part... The gear couldn't go through the same hole anyway as it would point back through the spar once it got into the fuselage...

Designing and building weldments would be a monumental task. It would be an interesting project, but I wouldn't want to try it!

[penguin]

I asked Van's the same question a few months ago. I can't find the email right now but the RV-6 engine mount and cowl are no longer available, RV-7 items must be used. A 6A cowl could be used for a 6 (cut lower corners for the gear) but not the other way. They didn't have a list of parts required. There are a few differences that may not have to be changed, such as position of the brake pipes on the firewall. The must do parts (engine mount, gear, fuselage bulkheads, tail wheel bracket) have already been covered.

The shipping costs to this side of the Atlantic killed the idea, in the end I found a 6 to buy and sold my 6A.

Pete