Top Oil Cooler Conversion

[Rynoth]

I wish that oil cooler was one row shorter. I can't get the top hinges together to pin. Looks like I need to clearance the top sheet metal some more.

Have you confirmed where the contact is being made? If it's the piano hinge lugs, you might be able to just clearance that spot, you've got about 1/4" to work with at the top before you get to the first oil passage, even if it means digging into the first row of fins.

[Bryan Cotton]

I appreciate the replies guys. I was just losing my temper and had to walk away. I can't get the bottom hinge pin in, there is room but it is being difficult.

Here is my contact:

Here is about half of what I've done so far:

I have recently replaced the engine mount bolts as my originals were undrilled. I am thinking about tightening down the bottoms a bit to angle the motor down.

[Sonex1517]

Bryan

First, good job walking away. I wish I’d been as smart and done that a few times.

Second, on my original cowling on the AeroVee, I had to pin the bottom hinge with a smaller piano rod. I could never get it to fit with the full size.

Unfortunately, at this point you’re at the stage where you have to keep finicking with it until you find what’s interfering. For me, it wasn’t the oil cooler in the end. It was a couple of nuts that I literally had to move about 30° offset to get it to fit.

Love seeing the progress!

[Bryan Cotton]

Thanks Robbie. It used to go on nicely, but something changed. I'll figure it out later.

[Bryan Cotton]

With a fresh start I found a small interference between a corner of the front baffle and the cowl near the prop exit. I snipped off a small corner and it was good. The rest of my cooler clearancing paid off and I have all my pins in without drama. Time for bodywork and paint!

Thank guys for the moral support.

[Rynoth]

Yay! Cowls/baffles are different for everyone so it's hard to give advice remotely, it's definitely one of the more "custom" parts of the project. You're deep in now, going forward it's less about following the plans as there just isn't much guidance for that last 1% of the project that's different for each airframe.