Firewall Forward is like a puzzle!

[captain_john]

So now I am deep into the mechanics of it all. I had to pull the oil filter to install the 45 degree nipple that feeds the oil cooler. I installed the vacuum hose and worked on the baffles.

I trimmed, fitted and fiddled with gizmos and gadgets. There is just a ton of stuff to fiddle with at this point!

I wouldn't say that it is overwhelming but there is A LOT going on in there! It is lots of fun and this is the part I have really been waiting for.

I had some fun fitting the oil cooler and beefing up the surrounding structure!




It is a process! Back to work tomorrow to make some more airplane money!!!

CJ

[dpansier]

CJ,
You want to consider adding a aluminum spacer and steel washers between the oil cooler mounting ears, seems to be a lot of cracked ears without the tube spacers.

[captain_john]

Don, YES!

I am familiar with that. The cooler is only mocked up there in place for now while I clock the nipples on the engine and fit the hoses. As you can see I am also short one bolt on the other side and the one that IS THERE is also loose.

I am going to try and do less "mocking up" and more "installing" for two reasons.

1) Less work
2) Not as likely to forget to tighten something

It is hard to say what to mock up but I am choosing to leave the oil cooler off for now so it will be easier to reach other items deep inside the crevasse of FWF fun-ness!.

CJ

[bullojm1]

Lookin' good CJ! One thing you might want to think about is adding some sort of variable air blocker to the outlet/inlet of the oil cooler. In the summer my oil cooler works perfectly and keeps my oil temps right around 185 degrees. In the fall my oil temps go down quickly as the OAT drops. The other day my oil temps were only 155. I do have a blocker plate I put on, but it's a PITA and its never perfect. On cold days I need to totally block it.

Anyone know if there is any electronically controller (via a servo) oil cooler blocker? Most of the blockers I've seen are for the RV-10 and require a round inlet adapter for the oil cooler.

[Spike]

How about thermostat or some such controlling a bypass line with some type of manual backup valve?

John

[captain_john]

Ya know guys, I have the oil door shutter and can slide it right in between the cooler and the baffle on the very same mounting bolts. (I designed it that way.)

I plan on running it initially without the shutter in place. Reason being... Maximum cooling in an unknown set of parameters.

I do plan on doing trips from here to say, Florida in the winter. Having a shutter for trips like that would likely be a benefit.

Now, OTOH... a purist would say, "That is what the vernatherm is for and you should set your plane up better", or something like that.

This might be true but there are LOTS of winterization plates on spam cans out there!

Sooooo I guess my answer is, "Stay tuned!"

I was thinking of simply installing a summer/winter cable near my dipstick tube but locating something on the panel would be much more elegant.

Dunnoooo...

CJ

[BSwayze]

So now I am deep into the mechanics of it all. I had to pull the oil filter to install the 45 degree nipple that feeds the oil cooler.

Hey CJ,

I'm just a little ways behind you, buddy! Trying to get everything on the firewall that goes there so I can hang this engine! Do you have a picture of this 45° gizmo for the oil cooler hose? I was just looking into the parts I might need for an oil filter and adapter, and I don't know anything about this. As I understand it, there are a few things you should put on the engine first, before you hang it, and this is one of them. Right?

You're right about this phase... it leaves your head swimming, but it's lots of fun, too!

[captain_john]

Here is a pic of the shutter installed:



Makes me go, "hmmmmm..."

Bruce, do you have the 90 degree oil filter adapter like this one?



If so, you can put in the 45 degree fittings like I did and it looks like the standard Vans hoses are just right. Here is the bottom fitting:



Coat them with Permatex #2.

Here is the top one:



Clock them a bit shy and that will allow you to fine tune them later. I really wouldn't call it necessary to install them now but sure!!! It can't hurt at all.

ALSO... a friend has this same eci engine. His oil dipstick tube weeps a tad. I went and made a gasket for the base where it screws into the case.



Here it is installed:



Looks like it grew there, huh!?!

CJ

[BSwayze]

CJ,

Thanks for posting the pics! No, I don't have the 90° filter adapter. The sticker shock on the price tag scared me away. Yikes!!! I asked around a number of friends, and most of them are not using it, so I'll save my money. At least for now.

I really like the gasket on the oil dipstick tube! I'm going to check mine and see what's on there.