Success!
Here is the trick to removing the wing bolts from an RV-7 or RV-9 (Tail draggers only).
First off, I hope none of you ever have to go through this!
The solution is all about the sequence of bolt removal.
Here are the steps:
1. Disconnect the battery & disable the ignition. (You will be bumping switches during the removal process and a hot mag/starter could get ugly.)
2. Drain the wing tanks.
3. Remove the interior panels, wing root panels, etc.
4. Mark and disconnect the aileron push tubes at the control sticks.
5. Disconnect the aileron push tubes at the aileron bell crank and pull the push tube into the wing.
6. Remove wing tips, if possible. (This is not required but makes handling the wings easier.)
7. Mark and remove/disconnect all wires, pitot lines, etc.
8. Remove the nuts from all eight wing spar bolts.
9. Remove the two bolts from the mid web.
10. Remove the castle nut holding the aft spar.
11. Using a 3x or larger rivet gun with a flush rivet set, push smaller AN4 bolts out.
12. Here is where I had problems. The taildragger -7 & -9’s use a small triangular part to tie the side of the fuselage to the spar. These are held in by five or six AN3 bolts that go through the side of the fuselage and the four bottom spar bolts, two large and two small. Using the rivet gun, push all four bottom bolts flush with the triangular piece. (I don’t have my manual so I can’t tell you the part number but the gear leg towers provide this function on the "deluxe" gear models.) Unbolt the triangular piece and remove it. Using the rivet gun, push the AN4 bolts back until they are flush with the spar. Then put the triangular piece back in place and push the two big bolts back in place so the protruding threads hold that thing in place. Holding a drift pin of some type (hardware store 1/4" bolts with the threads ground off will work) with a pair of pliers, put the end of the drift pin the 1/4" hole of the bracket and drive out the AN4 bolts with the rivet gun.
13. Once all the AN4 bolts are removed, using your large “pins”, drive the big bolts out. Just don’t forget to oil them.
14. Two pins, top and bottom is all it takes to hold the wing.
15. Remove the bolts on the other wing before removing the wing.
16. Clean up your work area so no one will trip over tools, air hoses, etc.
17. With the wing pinned in place, get three helpers; one on the wing tip, one on the leading edge, and one on the trailing edge, you in the plane.
18. Remove the aft spar bolt.
19. Drive out the remaining two pins.
20. Set the wing in the cradle.
21. Remove the other wing.
The airplane will not roll over with only one wing on but I wouldn’t want to be pounding on those wing bolts with it out of balance.
One tip, two rolls of fiberglass insulation, stacked on top of one another, work great for supporting the wing. Once the wings are removed, that insulation can be used to wrap and protect them for transit.
Now to load it up and bring 'er home. That should happen this weekend, if not sooner.
Thanks everyone for the tips!