Exhausting work

Tonight I decided to try and figure out the exhaust system.  There were a lot of tubes bent in different directions....sort of like a puzzle.  Of course, none of them were marked as the part number on the tag was for the whole system.  After a few different trials, it came into place.  The only other hard part was reaching where the inside nuts go on the number 2 and 3 cylinders.

Tonight I also trimmed the carb heat box and painted it.  Last night I installed the voltage regulator and a fuse block on the firewall.  So, we are making steady progress.

The trimmed the carb box.

The paint is still wet.

Right side exhaust system in

A view of the left side

Last night I installed the voltage

 regulator and a fuse block

More engine parts installed

Mark Wiebe came over this morning and installed several items, including the alternator, carburetor, and the magnetos.

Mark installing the carburetor

The new Plane Power alternator

The left magneto

The right magneto; also the vacuum pump

This is the carb heat box and I think they welded this

 bracket on 90 degrees off, as it doesn't fit!  If I can get 

the amount trimmed off as indicated, all should work. 

It will have the same edge margin as the sides have.

Bright Shiny Objects

I dropped off my new spinner last fall along with some sad looking inlets to the front cowl at a local firm which does aluminum polishing.  They were finally ready for pick up today.  Guess I should not have told them "no rush."  However, I am very happy with the results, especially the spinner.

In other news, I have been doing a few things each night on the engine.  I have the oil coolers installed now, and tachometer and oil pressure gauge line connected.

The final result

This is what the grills looked 

like before polishing

Right oil cooler attached to engine mount

Left oil cooler attached to back of aft baffle

Engine Mounted to Airframe

My friends Jim and John came over tonight and helped me attach the engine to the airframe.  It was pretty straight forward and only took about 15 minutes.  We had to grind down one of my cheaper wrenches in order to clear the push rod tube and backside of the bolt on the upper left fitting.  Rubber Lord mounts are supplied with the STC kit to minimize vibration from the engine.  Now, to get everything connected!

John (red sweatshirt) and Jim putting in upper bolts

Jim grinding down wrench

Result....just enough to slip off the bolt

Torquing in the hangar...not quite how

Miley Cyrus does it!

15 minutes after starting we posed for a picture

with the completed project

Not quite enough airfoil on this propeller

Side view

Engine home

Mark Wiebe dropped off my engine earlier this afternoon.  It looks pretty neat!  I need to get some larger bolts for the engine mounts, the instructions in the STC were wrong.  So, I will get those Monday and then go from there.

Looks like a work of art

Overhaul Day 2

I had so much fun yesterday I took another day of vacation....beats working!  Progress continued on the engine, though we found 7 of 8 push rods were the wrong part and too short.  So, we had those overnight-ed for Friday.  Otherwise, got a lot of stuff done.  Mark will finish on Friday and deliver it to me this coming weekend!  YAY!

Gears that drive accessories, 

like the magnetos

Back cover on

Valve guides installed

Engine Overhaul Starts!

Mark Wiebe started the major overhaul of my Lycoming 180 HP engine on Wednesday.  I decided to take a day of vacation and watch, since I didn't know much about the insides of an airplane engine other than what I have read in books.  It was very educational!

All the parts laid out

The crankshaft all overhauled 

and ready to go

Silk thread is laid on one side of the 

case before joining to act as a gasket

You can see the thread better here

Engine half with crank shaft and

 cam shaft installed

Both half's of the engine case joined together

Engine mounted to stand

Connecting rods installed

All new cylinders, pistons, valves, and rings

from Superior

All 4 cylinders installed.  Done for day 1.