Van's Air Force
The definitive Van's Aircraft support community! Buying, building or flying an RV? Join our exclusive family of mentors and enthusiasts!
Firewall forward kit?
- Thread starter nohoflyer
- Start date
Try in the Vans online store, search for FF-7, results will be list of kits for different engine options, viz-
Search results for: 'ff-7'
I just received my FWF kit (9A). Just a heads up - there will still be things you'll need to get that don't come in the kit. I was expecting the kit to include pretty standardly required things, like firewall pass thru kits and a battery cable, but it didn't. I'm sure that's because of the variability in build, so not a big deal. Just be aware you'll need to do a little shopping in addition to the kit.
My deletions on my kit: cabin heat box (went with the stainless steel version from ACS), exhaust (went with Vetterman), and alternator (changed to B&C). I also deleted a few hoses and cables that weren't the right length for my setup, but that's just because I have a non-standard Titan engine.
My deletions on my kit: cabin heat box (went with the stainless steel version from ACS), exhaust (went with Vetterman), and alternator (changed to B&C). I also deleted a few hoses and cables that weren't the right length for my setup, but that's just because I have a non-standard Titan engine.
Just remember that the credit you'll receive for something like the exhaust isn't the price shown when buying it separately. I deleted the exhaust - listed at around $2900 for my engine. My credit was $1300. It definitely makes it hard to compare pricing, since there is a discount baked into the kit items.
Last edited:
7A, IO-360-M1B
I made the same deletions. I should have deleted all the hoses. Not a single one fit. TS Flightlines made them for me.
I did add the RV10 oil cooler and mounted it to the firewall.
I wish I had deleted the Throttle and Prop Gov controls. They are marginal fit. One inch longer each would be nice.
Turbo heat muff came from ACS. Be custom welded it to my template.
Larry you had an io-360m1b right? None of the hoses fit?
Yes. IO-360-M1B. I firewall mounted a bigger oil cooler so oil lines were wrong. The firewall to fuel pump line was a mile too long. The final hose is maybe 11". I installed the totalizer with the Flightlines mount sk servo to totalizer line was wrong. I think the hose from pump to servo was the right length but I wanted a better one so that got replaced. I may have used the fuel and oil pressure lines. I cut one port off the transducer manifold and mounted it to the firewall. I bought Flightlines MP kit. It works nicely.
Think that's it.
Where did you get the idea to get a bigger oil cooler?
Several threads on VAF. A few builders were seeing elevated oil temps in hot climates. We plan to fly to Texas a lot.
Also wanted to remote mount to avoid cracking baffles.
I can always close the butterfly valve.
Yes be advised, deleting items does not credit full price. I deleted the plane power alternator and was credited 800.00
Same with all the hose deletions. I’ll be getting those from TS flight lines. Had I known the deletion credit was half the cost of kit price, I would have kept it and passed it on to one of the forum users at the discounted price
Same with all the hose deletions. I’ll be getting those from TS flight lines. Had I known the deletion credit was half the cost of kit price, I would have kept it and passed it on to one of the forum users at the discounted price
briand
Well Known Member
The Vans FWF kits are about 20% cheaper than buying the whole list separately.
I have the same engine as yours. I have the standard oil cooler from the FWF kit. On occasions, I flew in the 90-100 degF weather , and with the atmospheric inversion in the SoCal area, it could be in the 90s at over 6000MSL. I don’t have issue with oils cooling but I saw the CHT in the 400 at cruise power at these conditions. My CHTs are more sensitive to ambient temp.
I did a comprehensive analysis of the FF kit for the same motor about 3 years ago. The package discount was 16% compared to the retail sum of all the parts if ordered individually. I deleted a few of the big items too (exhaust, governor, rubber mounts, alternator) and got a discounted rebate from Vans. Only 1 hose went unused so I consider that a win. The FF kit is an easy sell if you take it as is. When you come to the point of substituting half the contents, its starts to make more sense to piece the kit together.
I would have done better piece meal.
I didn't use any of the hoses and no one wants to buy them. I've listed them twice on Classifieds.
I bought the exhaust from Vetterman. Bought the alternator from B&C. Bought the governor from a group buy.
I did use the baffles but made my own plenum. Prop was Vans but came really close to a Whirlwind. Glad I didn't. My W&B came out pretty good.
I didn't use any of the hoses and no one wants to buy them. I've listed them twice on Classifieds.
I bought the exhaust from Vetterman. Bought the alternator from B&C. Bought the governor from a group buy.
I did use the baffles but made my own plenum. Prop was Vans but came really close to a Whirlwind. Glad I didn't. My W&B came out pretty good.
I found if you keep everything bone stock, it all fits together very nicely, and you get full-sized plans included too, which really helped with the firewall penetration holes. That was in 2002, when Vans first introduced their FWF kits for the low introductory price of $2000.
Attachments
