When to rivet the fwd fuselage floor?

[Rynoth]

I'm currently on plans page WIX-F11 (fuselage box assembly), I'm not sure what the equivalent Sonex page is, but it's where the fuselage side panels and floor are first attached, and riveted, to the aft fuselage.

If I follow the plans exactly, upon completion of this page I'll have the fwd fuselage floor riveted in place, and the fwd and aft fuselages riveted together at the sides. I'd really prefer to do neither of these things at this time. Any comments/concerns for leaving the floor either clecoed and/or off while moving forward up the building tree? Obviously there are many more details on the floor of the fwd fuselage (rear spar carry through, seat belt attach points, seat, etc), but will clecoes in the floor suffice until most everything is done?

[fastj22]

I would leave it off or clecoed until right before your inspection.
The install of the tank, rigging the wings and any wiring would have been so much easier without having to hang upside down over the spar tunnel.

[MichaelFarley56]

I'll second that. Leave it cleco'd in place until you need it riveted on. When I was building, I left my aft tailcone bottom skin off until I was literally ready for the inspection. I got a lot of laughs by taxiing my airplane around with cleco's sticking out the bottom! It made life a lot easier though. The front bottom skin was riveted on, but if I had to do it over, I would seriously consider leaving it off until the fuel tank and wiring is done.

The more access you have, the better!

[sonex892]

I would leave it off or clecoed until right before your inspection.
The install of the tank, rigging the wings and any wiring would have been so much easier without having to hang upside down over the spar tunnel.

My floor was ready to rivet but left off until the day before the final inspection for all the above reasons. Just re cleco it in place when needed.
Would also suggest not riveting the control brackets that fix to the rear section of floor till after wing rigging, and not rivetting the floor forward centre support tube until wiring, plumbing and rudder pedal etc are completed.

Steve
Sonex 892

[Gibbsfamily1]

I put the forward floor in per plans but I left the rear floor off until last. Helps with wing rigging and other things.