May 11, 2008 - Front Baffles

After examining the left front baffle, it seemed to me that if I trimmed the bottom edge, it would fit closer to the engine.  So I did a couple iterations of trimming until it fit fairly close. 
 
I ended up having to trim off quite a bit.  But now I'm happy with the fit.  I had to drill a new hole where it gets bolted to the right front baffle and the engine bracket. 
 
I'm able to attach the bottom cowl quite easily by myself using the old fuselage stand and the foam block that came in the prop box.  Then of course I have the Camlocs.
 
Per the instructions, I needed to bend the forward baffles so that the forward edge was even with the cowl nostril.  I marked on the floor baffle where the front baffle needed to be.
 
Same with the right side.
 
Looks like the gusset matches the contour of the bottom cowl fairly well.
 
Right side needs some work.
 
Just for grins I put on the top cowl.  I've still got a long way to go on the baffles before the top cowl will fit snuggly with the bottom again.
 
 
OK, I bent the left front baffle so the side is where I want it to be. 
 
Notice the cardboard templates on the floor baffle.  There is a fairly big gap there so I'm making little aluminum extensions to cover the gap between floor baffle and engine.  I'll rivet them on.
 
Bending the front baffle.  No need to use the rivet gun here -- I just pushed down on the end with a 2x4 block. 
 
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