I’ve been away for the last two weeks (in CA and Moab, UT) but have a few things to report. I’ve started riveting the cockpit floor and trim on the DS. Before starting the riveting I attached all of the Al in place using Cleckos to make sure that everything could be properly and highly fit. Because some of the panels need to be attached in a particular sequence (i.e., due to overlapping), I unattached all of the panels to then reattach them permanently with rivets.
and some of the rear cockpit panels:
I’m jumping around quite a bit in the build, mixing up different tasks. I finished the access cover to the master cylinders on the DS footbox. I decided to use rivnuts and machine screws to hold the cover in place. Self-tapping screws work just as well since the cover is likely to be only rarely removed but I wanted to get the experience of attaching a cover in this way and I like to look. I’ll most likely do the same for the access hatches for the fuel pump and fuel level sender in the trunk floor.
And the cover attached:
Although the firewall is a panel that is suggested to be installed early on, I’ve only now gotten around to it, largely because I was undecided about the coating for the aluminum panels. However, I decided to use Rustoleum ‘Hammered’ Silver and have proceeded with the firewall attachment.
I’m using the 0.04” Al firewall supplied by F5; some builders have replaced it with a thicker panel and it does seems a bit thin. However, I purchased a firewall strengthening bracket from Replicaparts and it substantially helped.
The device attached to the ‘H’ panel is a master cutoff switch made by Cole Hersee and purchased though Breeze Automotive:
My plan, at this point, for the ignition sequence is:
Master switch on
Key to ‘on’ (a simple on / off switch)
Fuel pump on
Push button start
Our fire trucks have this sequence, minus the separate fuel pump switch, and I’ve always like it as it feels like I’m activating something rather than just turning a switch.