John's Build

[airlina]

John , I'm beginning to think you are after one of those bronze Lindy's at OSH. Some nice stuff going on in that workshop, keep it up can't wait to see the finished product. Bruce N199CL

[jrevens]

Thank you Bruce! Naw... I just like makin' things. Can't help myself!

[jrevens]

Makin' progress. My engine was estimated to arrive today... arrived in Denver on Friday, but it is now scheduled to arrive tomorrow (Tuesday). Just like Christmas!

Painted access covers & other small pieces a few weeks ago, as well as the flaperons... I agonized a little over keeping paint out of the hinge openings & off the bearings. I wanted a clean job & also wanted to paint the hinge arms (I have seen some older Kitfox ones that have gotten a little rusty in spite of the plating). I did something I'm sure others have done... I shoved foam in the openings, & then made masks out of some silicone rubber material I had (paint doesn't stick to it). Worked good.

[jrevens]

Getting ready for engine... machined a fuel filter mounting bracket out of aluminum (just because I could, & the plastic one from the factory didn't appeal to me).
IMG_1867.jpg

IMG_1868.jpg

I wasn't particularly taken with the steel tee fittings I got in my older cabin heater kit - they require transitioning from 5/8" hose to 1/2" hose going to the heater coil, which means a couple more connections from each tee (the new ones from Kitfox are very nice welded aluminum ones that are 1'x1"x1/2"). It's very hard to find 1" x 1/2" tees for hose, made out of any material. I finally located some beautiful CNC machined aluminum ones made in California... $24 each including shipping.
IMG_1869.JPG

[Av8r_Sed]

Hi John, beautiful work as always. Can you provide the source for the heater T's? I've looked for these previously and came up short.

[jrevens]

I looked just about everywhere before I found out that Kitfox was manufacturing some now... but I had finally found these guys - JTR (Jaguars That Run). I think they started out in the 80's, specializing in engine conversions on Jags to American V-8s.They have brass & aluminum radiator tees in all kinds of sizes.
http://jagsthatrun.com/Pages/Parts_T...rass-Tees.html

Maybe John will consider sourcing these from them. Kitfox makes them in house now, but I got 2 for less than the price of 1 and that included shipping.

[Av8r_Sed]

Thanks John, I'll check out the JTR folks.

[jrevens]

Got my engine, so I've gotta' get busy! If I didn't make so many custom parts & mods I might be flying by now. My friend Stan Specht says I'm building a "John Fox".

Got the firewall & engine mount on, including the aluminum battery box that I built.

[jrevens]

Here's the other side of the firewall, showing cabin heater detail & my ground buss.

[jrevens]

A couple of pictures of the brake system.