New switch and circuit breaker labels

We added a circuit breaker, switch, and moved a few things around….so I needed to re-do a few labels.  I also needed to have the word “field” added to a few locations that just said alternator.  I dropped the old ones off with modification instructions last Friday at Superior Rubber Stamp in Wichita to be made and got the call around lunch today they were ready.  I got them glued in late this afternoon.  I have a little glue to clean up as well as some paint to touch up, but looking good.

Top and third row redone

Magneto and boost switch label redone

Lower switch label redone

Before installation 

Little items

Wade has made a small platform that contains the shunt for the amp meter, the alternator controller, and the manifold pressure transducer.  He also has the booster coil mounted just above this panel.  I cleaned up the pipe that goes through the aft fuselage for ground handling this big brute and painted it fluorescent red so it would not get missed being removed before flight.

Pipe to ground maneuver the airplane by hand

Shunt, alternator controller, and manifold pressure transducer.
Black item above is the booster coil.

A few visitors

I had a few repeat visitors this afternoon to see the V-77 progress.  Always fun to show folks what has been going on.

Mark, Ed, and Steve (L to R)

Engine work continues

Wade has been busy getting various wires ran for the engine and other related tasks.  He is also starting to install engine sensors, like the one for oil temperature.  

Oil temperature sensor

Primer fuel line at distribution point

Primer fuel line coming through the firewall

Wade moved the alternator circuit breaker over one position,
and now has it wired up

Alternator wiring at firewall plug

Other side of the alternator wiring plug

Alternator ground wire connected to ground stud

Magneto switches wired

Wade was over this afternoon and wired up the magneto and ignition boost switches.  Looks like a little wire routing to avoid a control cable is needed.  These wires route to a connector in the firewall.  So, half way to the engine now!

Wade working inside the cabin on the switches 

The backside of the instrument panel

The right center are 3 wires into the firewall connector

Other side of the firewall connector

The bigger picture

One of my friends who was over last night suggested I should post a few pictures occasionally of the entire airplane.  This would remind everyone what the big picture is without having to search through the archives.  So, today I am showing several general view pictures.  Wade got the new tailwheel on today.  He also mounted the circuit breaker for the alternator, drilled a hole for the engine boost switch, and installed the carburetor heat control.  All of the engine controls will be replaced with new ones of the appropriate length.  These all seem way too long.

50 amp alternator circuit breaker added

Carb heat control temporarily installed plus
a new hole underneath for the boost switch

Friends drop by

A number of friends from Seattle are in town to meet with the FAA tomorrow.  We did dinner at the Stearman Cafe and then came down to see the Gullwing.  I think they were equally impressed…lol.

Todd, Mark, Grant, Kyle, and Bob (L to R)

Tailwheel tire arrived

I got the tailwheel tire late this afternoon.  Now to have Wade install the tube and mount it to the V-77.

Engine work

Wade was over this afternoon working on getting various things ready to connect to the engine.  He has the engine monitor wiring through the firewall.  He is also starting to route the controls and has the old throttle and mixture controls in the cockpit.  Since the instrument panel is different than the original, we need to determine the proper lengths of the controls.  

Engine monitor wiring

A vacuum line

Throttle and mixture controls

Ready to install

I registered my GNX375 the other day and then had access to the various Garmin manuals.  I downloaded everything and then went to the FedEx store to print the installation manual.  I picked that up late yesterday.  Today the new tailwheel tube arrived.  The tailwheel tire is supposed to be here next Tuesday. 

GNX375 install manual and new tailwheel tube

Early Christmas present

The Garmin GNX375 arrived today.  It is a GPS moving map and ADS-B compliant transponder.  It will also connect to the I-Pad via Bluetooth.  Now to get the installation manual and have at it.  Wade was also over and got the tailwheel boot installed.  Now I just need to get the new tire and tube to finish that installation.  

All of the GNX375 parts

The radio itself

Tailwheel boot on

Wade doing the boot installation 

Birds eye view

I had to go into the attic today to find a leak in the roof….which I found.  While up on the ladder, I got a shot of the V-77.

Parts arrive

Wade was over today and put shorter bolts in the engine mount as the others were too long, even though that was what the parts manual specified.  He also installed the brain box for the engine monitoring system on the back of the firewall and added hydraulic fluid to the tailwheel strut.  I recently ordered a Garmin GNX 375 for the airplane.  It is a GPS moving map and an ADS-B compliant transponder.  I got the antenna and altitude encoder today.  The radio shows up Tuesday.  Merry Christmas to me!

The encoder is the small item, antenna the larger 

Brain box