![\"F-696](\"https:\/\/mightyrv.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/05\/IMG_8481.jpg\")
<\/a>The F-695 gussets tie together the longerons, upper firewall weldments and firewall stiffener, so they have to fit against three surfaces *and* also maintain proper 2D edge distance on the firewall and longeron rivets. \u00a0As delivered the gusset doesn’t fit flush against the firewall, which would compromise edge distance on the forward rivets in the firewall stiffener. \u00a0So after consulting with Vans I removed a very small amount of the gusset’s forward edge to make it fit flush.<\/p>\nI pilot-drilled the holes to #40, clamped the gussets in place, then enlarged the holes to #30.<\/p>\n The only downside to all this effort is that I made a big freakin’ mess in the forward floor…<\/p>\n I’ve pretty much committed to installing Garmin’s G3X EFIS system<\/a> as my primary flight instrumentation. \u00a0Trying to get ahead of the avionics installation game, I bought a mounting bracket for the G3X magnetometer – basically an electronic compass – so I could install the bracket on the aft deck before riveting it in place. \u00a0Garmin makes this bracket specifically for the RV-7\/9 and has excellent instructions for aligning and installing it.<\/p>\n “There’s nothing to it but to do it”…that’s what my good friend Captain John says whenever he’s confronted with a seemingly difficult task on his RV-7 project. \u00a0I don’t have any really difficult tasks brewing right now, but there are … Continue reading <\/a>I also had to put a slight upward bend in the forward edge (the bottom edge in this picture) to get it to lay flush on the firewall stiffener. \u00a0I also laid out the rivet holes not quite per the plans; because the gusset is a few 32nds shorter, the fore-aft rivet spacing had to be adjusted a little.<\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a>And they’re done, nothing left but to debur, prime and rivet. \u00a0 See what I mean about the overanalyzing comment?<\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a>The bracket is easy to install – only six rivets – but it’s important to get it aligned closely with the aircraft centerline, otherwise the compass will have a built-in heading error. \u00a0So I laid out a very precise centerline on the aft deck, clamped the mounting bracket in place against the forward flange, and match-drilled it…very easy.<\/p>\n<\/a>There’s nothing left to do but debur, prime and rivet all the bits-and-pieces parts I’ve fitted over the last couple of weeks. \u00a0I hope the Boston weather cooperates with priming…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"