SonexBuilders.net

Hello Everyone,

Over the years, my vertical split cowling has been cut up and repaired so many times it was really starting to look bad, so I've elected to install one of the factory's new horizontal split cowlings. After looking over the plans, installation seems pretty straight forward but I wanted to post a new thread just to see if anyone has installed theirs before me, and if they have any pointers they could pass along.

At this point I'm probably going to simply fit the bottom, use the original lower cowling hinges to attach the bottom half, and then use screws and nut plates to attach the upper cowling to the lower as well as the upper firewall. Add in a Hartwell latch for the fuel filler door, but I haven't quite decided if I want to add an oil filler door to the front of the cowling or not.

I will be honest; I haven't spent much time checking on fitment yet but i'm hoping to get started soon. Thanks for the help everyone!

I'm doing one right now. I tried to install it too far back so cut too much off the rear edges. I'm adding glass to the rear edges to fix my mistake. I'm putting it on the new Generation 4 Jabiru 3300 so I don't know if that is further forward at the prop hub than the AeroVee, it seems like there is much less removal of material than the old vertical split. One thing I have found right away is it takes two people or three to hold it in place while you measure and mark the fit lines. The hinges will be easier to drill than the vertical split as you can reach in from the top to drill and cleco a few places and then finish drill off the airframe. Instead of nut plates and screws, this time I'm using Skybolt 1/4 turn fasteners. Unlike the Southco these have adjustable receptacles so you don't have to have a bunch of different lengths to find six that will work. The down side is that 18 of the sets cost about $150. I think it will be worth it to not have to spend an hour undoing 18 screws. Any thing else comes up I'll let you know.

I made my vertical split cowl into a horizontal split long before the horizontal split was an option. I fastened my two halves together using piano hinge instead of individual fasteners. I've been extremely happy with it after all these years. It's very, very fast and easy to open. You see all the rivets from outside, but I haven't minded. It's no different than the vertical hinge rivets. The horizontal pin goes in from the rear, just like the vertical hinge pin goes in from the bottom.

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