(page 54-01) Firewall stiffening kit

                                                                           
The stiffening kit is optional and cheap, and it would make no sense to not do it at this stage of the build.  It supposedly prevents some sort or rumbling noise experienced by some builders. 

It involves installing the diagonal brace shown here on the firewall and two similar braces inside the side skins adjoining the firewall.  This prompted me to go ahead and begin installing the side skins, which I had been avoiding, fearing the skins would make complying with the landing gear service bulletin more difficult.  The landing gear service bulletin requires drilling holes in the center channel using parts in the finish kit as templates.  Problem is, I don't have the finish kit, and therefore can't drill the holes.  All flying 12s had the SB done with the skins on, so I'm proceeding with it.

The procedure for the stiffening kit called for removing the bowl from the gascolator in order to drill out an existing rivet, which meant removing the safety wire I had carefully installed and am quite proud of (experienced builders would find this humorous).

I avoided this by loosening the fitting from the gascolator through the firewall along with removing the AN3 bolts holding the gascolator to the firewall.  I then could rotate the gascolator counterclockwise enough to drill out the rivet.

Massive progress coming soon. 

I turned in grades today for the two classes I taught in summer school (Thermodynamics and Heat Transfer).  If you'll notice the dates on my posts, I've done nothing for many weeks.  Summer school is the reason.  It essentially removes five weeks from my life, but gives me part of the money required to do things like build airplanes.  The spousal unit (my beautiful and overworked wife, Karen) is leaving for five weeks to lead a hike through the Rocky mountains in Wyoming (grizzly bear country!), so I have no excuses.  I plan to work at least eight hours each day on the airplane.