Instrument Lines, Engine Controls, Fuel Tank Install

Things are shaping up quite well to start covering the fuselage soon.  Most all of the engine controls and instrument lines are installed.  Here's how everything came together...

One of the first things I did was install the fuel tank.  No big surprises here as I made it identical to the original.

The shut-off is interesting:  a rod with a couple universal joints that runs from the rear cockpit up to the tank.  The control knob is a faucet knob - cracks me up!

Fuel shut-off valve with finger strainer

Original shut-off valve prior to restoration

I like having a finger strainer on the valve, so I made one up.  Pretty easy to do, just take some brass screen, roll into a tube shape and solder together.

Shut-off valve and control mounted on tank

Fuel shut-off control knob

Next, I installed the instrument panel so I could run lines for oil pressure, water temp, tach cable, etc.

It's been a while since I did the instruments.  If you haven't read that far back, these instruments are the exact same ones that came from this aircraft when new.  Although I had to restore/overhaul them, it's quite remarkable!

Pretty spartan - no airspeed, no compass, but a clock!  This is what's installed:

Altimeter, water temp., clock, oil pressure, mag switch, tach.

Tach cable, mag wire, oil pressure line

Here are a bunch of misc. pictures of the various lines, controls, etc...




The tach cable, believe it or not, is original!  It required a good cleaning and re-lube, but this saved a lot of time and trouble not having to get a new one made.

The upper diagonal cable is a push-pull control to advance/retard the magneto for propping.

Water expansion tank with water temp bulb installed

Choke control

Push-pull control for choke (upper) and water temp line

Fire extinguisher

Radiator shutter control all hooked up

Seat belts installed

This is the water expansion tank temporarily installed to determine where to run the bulb end of the water temp gauge line.















































I actually have the original fire extinguisher and bracket, but it was in very poor condition.  I had this one, an NOS unit that was still in the original box.  It was installed now too, much easier now than after the fuselage is covered.










































So what's next?  Well, I still have to run the fuel line from the tank to the engine.  This involves mounting a gascolator and running the hoses.  I need to finish up attaching some rudder pedal cables and then install the rest of the interior upholstery.  That will be a little time consuming as it has to lace in so I have to make sure all the grommet holes line up correctly.  I'm thinking cardboard patterns will be a necessity!

Wishing all a nice Memorial Day Weekend.  An especially good one for us, as our son is out of the Army after 6 years, and home with us!