Firewall Forward Pics

While the paint was drying I figured I'd get some good pics of the firewall forward stuff. I think at this point everything was installed.

Prop Governor, Fittings, and Other Engine Stuff

Another catch up post.

I installed the prop governor. Pretty straight forward, just followed the instructions supplied with the governor. Although it was simple enough to figure out without them. It is an MT governor that came with the firewall forward kit. My only concern is that this is installed without any kind of locking fasteners, but this seems to be standard so I'll carry on. .....maybe I'll swap them out for some lock washers later. 

Next I removed the magnetos that came with the engine and installed some temporary close out panels made from high tech aerospace grade cardboard. I then installed fittings in the mechanical fuel pump and oil line connections. All per plans kind of stuff on the fittings.

I installed the bracket for the alternator. Easy stuff.

I installed the transducer sender mount. I didn't need to install everything per plans since I won't be using the conventional Hobbs meter, the EFIS system will be handling that. So I just included the fittings needed to install a fuel and oil pressure transducers. Later I found out that Garmin has you use the third opening in the block for the manifold pressure transducer instead of installing it through the firewall like the plans have you do.

A pic looking the other way at all the fittings installed.

Also the fuel divider on top of the engine has a fitting installed that is intended for a mechanical fuel flow meter. Mine will be handled with a transducer somewhere else so the fitting was removed and I installed a plug in its place.

Also, all of the fittings were installed with Permatex Thread Sealant. Just like the brake lines a while back. 

Starting to get caught up....almost there. 

Engine Install

A friend of mine stopped by to help me rivet the oil cooler mount in place on Friday...thanks Kris! I was a little worried it wouldn't be dry before he showed up but no problems. I etched, alodined, and painted the oil cooler mount with some high temp paint. I'm pretty sure I'm going to do this on all of the parts in the engine compartment.

Then, on Saturday morning, the 19th of July, one week after my 31st Birthday, we installed the engine on the airplane!!! A couple of friends/coworkers stopped by to help me out. They made it easy work and that was without an engine leveler. Thanks Chris and Mike!

Dates and Times
Fri 18th -5.75hrs- Worked on prepping for engine install. Built, painted, and installed oil cooler mount.
Sat 19th -1.0hr- Installed engine
Sun 20th -3.5hrs- Sanded and filled window edges

Here is the painted oil cooler mount riveted to the firewall. We just back riveted it on just like you do on the wing skins. Pretty easy job. I still need to finish sealing it in though with the 3M fire sealant.

I then wanted to get the push pull cables in place for the heater vents. Pretty easy with the engine off.

This is the nut you use to attach the Dynafocal mounts onto the engine. I first thought I didn't have the hardware to install the mounts. But then found that they came packaged inside the fuel injector box. But I wanted to note that the nut has a flat "washer" side, note the small boss on the nut. This is the side that should rest against the lock washer. Not a big deal either way, but why not pay attention to the hardware.    

You're supposed to torque the nuts to 360inlbs in accordance with SSP1776 Textron Lycoming Service Table of Limits and Torque Value Recommendtations Table 1 pg 1-37. Not a problem on the front nuts but the back nuts are impossible. So, I used a "calibrated" hand and torqued them as best I could to match the front.

Now it's time to hang the engine!

All done with the engine hanging on the plane. Only took about an hour or so.

Another huge milestone in the build!

The Engine Has Arrived!

Its here! A brand new, straight from Williamsport, Pennsylvania, Lycoming engine! The Lycoming IO-540-D4A5 is a six-cylinder, horizontally opposed, 541.5 cubic inch displacement, normally aspirated, fuel injected, beast of an engine weighing in around 438lbs.

Here it is all crated up and taking up my parking spot in the garage.

All I've done is cut open the top of the box and look inside....and drool a little.

The engine is all sealed up and snug in its nest of foam packing. 

Lycoming started as a sewing machine company back in 1845. Later they diversified to bicycles and typewriters. Then in 1907 the company was restructured into the Lycoming Foundry and Machine Company and started to produce automobile engines. Providing engines to auto manufacturers like Auburn.

Then as aircraft became more prominent and  power hungry, Lycoming entered the aviation field by producing its first aircraft engine, the R-680 Radial nine cylinder engine in 1929. The company had many "science experiments" trying to find its place in the aviation world until it finally settled on general aviation aircraft after World War II.

The engine will stay tucked away in the garage until I'm ready to hang it on the airplane. At which point I'll have an unpacking and moving day of the 438lb beast from the garage to my workshop. Won't be long now!