Firewall

[Flybyjim]

I have received my firewall forward and as I am bolting the fire wall to the fuselage I see the bottom of the firewall tucks under the lower longerons. What holds this piece under there? Do I need to remove the rudder pedal assembly and run the bolts thru the firewall flange that tucks under the fuselage? I'm not sure the bolts are long enough, I am not seeing the instructions for this, they must be there, I just don't see them.

[jiott]

The reason nothing is said in the manual is that it is intended not to have any bolts holding it. I don't have any bolts in mine, but I was concerned so I overbent that piece so when the firewall is installed that bottom piece holds tightly up against the bottom longerons. Has been fine for 600 hours now. I know many others don't trust it and have come up with ways to bolt it up, but I maintain it is not necessary. Just give it enough bend so it doesn't want to hang loose.

[colospace]

I found that the curved lips on the lower ends of the boot cowl appear to capture the firewall sheet.

[jmodguy]

On my series 5 there were 2 pieces about 3” long in the shape of a question mark. These are cut into 3/8” wide pieces and are secured with hysol to the lower tubes. The stainless piece under the fuse is then match drilled and pop-riveted to the tabs of the pieces at final assembly.

[jiott]

The curved lips of the boot cowl do capture that SS piece, but you still need to overbend it (or bolt it) to make it stay tight, otherwise it may rattle or vibrate in the slipstream.

[Flybyjim]

I can see this could be very confusing with help from this site, I appreciate the insight. If it were not tight under this "lip" I can see how this could become a problem with a rattle during flight. Thank you for this information. I will look at it tomorrow and look at bending it in tight.