I'm fitting the upper cowl of my -8A (Skybolt fasteners) and have encountered an issue that's driving me nuts. I can align the cowl horizantally with the horizantal midpoint of the firewall AND SIMULTANEOSLY align the cowl symetrically with the spinner plate AND SIMULTANEOUSLY get a uniform 3/16" clearance between the cowl and spinner plate.
But in doing so, the lower right aft edge of the colw sets about an inch further aft of the firewakk than the left aft lower edge - implying that perhaps something (firewall, engine mount, engine, cowl, cowl aft edge, spiner plate) is misaligned - or in the case of the cowl, manufactured with non symmetrical edges.
However, everything checks out when carefully measured.
Do I continue to search for an alignment glitch - and figure out a God knows what fix - or declare cowl fitting victory and make the cut?
Anyone encountered a similar issue?
But in doing so, the lower right aft edge of the colw sets about an inch further aft of the firewakk than the left aft lower edge - implying that perhaps something (firewall, engine mount, engine, cowl, cowl aft edge, spiner plate) is misaligned - or in the case of the cowl, manufactured with non symmetrical edges.
However, everything checks out when carefully measured.
Do I continue to search for an alignment glitch - and figure out a God knows what fix - or declare cowl fitting victory and make the cut?
Anyone encountered a similar issue?