Added 8/27/05 - Updated 10/22/2005 - 900.0 approx. Total hours (805.9 By Me)
The Engine Hanging was a very fun part of the build so far. I was a bit worried because a couple other builders seem to have a problem where the lower bar on their engine mount doesn't provide enough clearance to the oil pan. At first, mine looked like it could be this way too. I started with the top engine mount bolts, an then tried to do the bottom. It was basically a ZERO gap to the lower mount bar. Then I couldn't get the lower ones to line up at all.
*NOTE: 10/16/05 - My engine mount clearance was not enough. Van's requested my engine mount be returned for cutting and rewelding so they can analyze the issue, as I am at least the 3rd or 4th person with too little space below the oil sump. 1/2" approx is required. See my Engine Mount Mod page for an update:
After thinking about it a bit, I decided to try to put the bottom 2 in first. The bottom ones went fine, and then I ended up with a better gap between the pan and the bar. But, now came time for the top ones. The top holes seemed low for the engine mounts to go in properly. My wife and I pulled and pulled and they didn't want to go together. We tried using the leveling bar in different positions on the engine (MAKE SURE you get an engine hoist with an adjustable leveling bar!!!) We tried jacking it higher and lower, and it was very hard to get it to align anywhere where it would seem to fit right. I started to worry about how the mount was made, and if it was accurate or not. It was maybe 1/16 to 1/8" off from what I could tell. Well, then suddenly I hit the right combination of tilt and lift and when I pulled, the engine mount popped into place on one side. I quickly bolted it, and yanked on the other side and popped it in too. So, I maintained that position and snugged down the bolts. Then I grabbed my torque wrench and torqued them to AN7 bolt torque specs.
Aircraft Hardware Info
When all was said and done, the engine mount fit just fine, the Lord mounts look great, and everything is torqued great. The lead shot weights that were on their early on aren't needed anymore, that's for sure. I still built a tail stand as more of a tail protector in case someone climbs in/on the tail, but at this point you can climb in the plane and it won't fall over backwards.
*NOTE: 10/16/05 - My engine mount clearance was not enough. Van's requested my engine mount be returned for cutting and rewelding so they can analyze the issue, as I am at least the 3rd or 4th person with too little space below the oil sump. 1/2" approx is required. See my Engine Mount Mod page for an update:
A quick note about the bolts. I originally thought I was shorted on them, but they are not with the regular hardware. Look for a DYNA BOLT KIT in your FWF Kit and you should find them.
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