Dave~What's the plan for FIFI?

[retroaviation]

Unfortunately, I don't know which model of Connie the exhaust supposedly came off of. All I know is "early Connie, with rear facing exhaust." Obviously, it wouldn't be the later Connies with the PRT's.

Gary

[CAPFlyer]

Most likely came off a 649 or 749. I believe they used the same series of engine as well.

[B29B24crewchief]

Sorry about the lack of posts but they have been keeping me pretty busy. I'll post some new info tomorrow with pictures. Stay tuned!

Dave

[B29B24crewchief]

I can say that we have made some progress on the beast! We took on the fuel system and tryed to get it plumbed and ready for fuel. There are 3 fuel tanks underneath the trailer. They were manifolded together with pipes and valves that were old, probably not working and leaky. We took all that out and replaced it with new pipes and valves as in this pic. This is all 1-1/2'' pipes and ball valves. We decided to use hose and hose clamps instead of those big bulky looking unions. No pressure here, just gravity. [img][img]http://i377.photobucket.com/albums/oo219/b2924crewchief/IMG_1409.jpg[/img][/img]

This next shot shows the fuel strainers, there are two that run in parallel for flow purposes. The fuel strainer baskets are out for now till we flush the tanks and make sure they are completely clean. What comes next is not in the pic. The fuel boost pump attaches to a bracket that is hanging there and hooks up from the fuel strainers. It's the same type of boost pump you would find in the fuel tank but what they did was put it into a box that is about 10"x10"x12" and it fills with fuel and is pumped up the lines to the engine. I'll get you a pic of that as soon as I get the pump back from the shop. The line hanging down on the right is the fuel line that will be leaving the pump and heading to the engine. [img][img]http://i377.photobucket.com/albums/oo219/b2924crewchief/IMG_1408.jpg[/img][/img]


This last shot is the fuel line as it comes up from under the trailer and stops at the fire wall shut off valve. Fuel lines in red, oil lines coming down from the oil tanks are yellow.

[engguy]

Boost pump in a box, have the same set up. If those fuel systems are going to set for a long time, is it a good ideal to run perservative oil in them? And what about the carbs, engine fuel pump etc?

[B29B24crewchief]

Boost pump in a box, have the same set up. If those fuel systems are going to set for a long time, is it a good ideal to run perservative oil in them? And what about the carbs, engine fuel pump etc?

I'll keep that in mind.


Here's a shot of 2 -95's in engine cans, leaving Midland enroute North!

[/img]


This was taken last week at Nelson's shop. The induction trunks were fabricated to replace a much larger box that currently sits in the way of stuff. It will just make life a whole lot easier when we're up in there trying to work on stuff!




This last shot is a 3350-26 WD that is just a core that Nelson is using for this mock-up. It's bolted to the nacelle we have on loan from Kermit Weeks, with an engine mount from our B-29.

[engguy]

I was asking not saying it.

[B29B24crewchief]

Oops! Guess it wouldn't hurt too but I doubt we'll need to. I'm sure the fuels not going to sit long in this guy!! I'm not too worried about it causing a problem.

Dave

[Alan Brooks]

Let's see..... um two engine cans with engines, headed north!!!!!!
I wonder where they might be going?????? I heard a rumor, but I can't tell.... mainly 'cause Dave won't let me play with the toys of big iron! Thanks for the update Dave..... Your request is in the mail.... Alan

[B29B24crewchief]

Just a quick update on a few things. We started really looking at the control panel that we will use to run the engines on Testiclese and the whole wiring setup for the controls and indications that we need and want to see. What we found was many things on the control panel that we simply would never use and would just sit there, cluttering up the place. What we decided was to remove all the old wiring and cannon plugs in the control panel and the junction box and run new. I have a basic layout for a new control panel that will incorporate the gauges, switches, indicator lights and circuit breakers we need and want to run the engines and show us the indications we want to see, in one panel!! Best of all I can still use the control panel cabinet that we have!!


This is one of our volunteers, Jim who has been coming out to help. He's having fun disassembling the control panel wiring.





This is my good friend Rich who was out here for a few weeks to help me with this project. He's having fun taking apart the junction box wiring, all the old relay's and vibrators



This was going to be the gauge panel. Won't need it!





This is the old control panel. As you can see, much of the stuff on there, we wouldn't use anyway. Nice thing is, it's big enough for everything!!



This is Rich taking us through the wiring scematics he layed out on the chalk board.





This is Rich thinking FIFI will take him back to Georgia.

[Warbird Kid]

Thanks for the update. When did the lettering on FiFi change to blue?

Keep the work a' comin!

[retroaviation]

Thanks for the update. When did the lettering on FiFi change to blue?

Keep the work a' comin!

The lettering was blue on FIFI from the start (back in 1974). It got screwed up in 1991, when Boeing painted it black (along with the National insignias ). I painted the letters back to their original blue, back in 2006, when I did a little work to the airplane.

Gary

[b29flteng]

So when are you going to paint the national insignia the correct colors?

[retroaviation]

So when are you going to paint the national insignia the correct colors?

How about YOU come down and do it? Sorry, but my crew and I spent 15,000 hours and 19 months of labor replacing structural components on the airplane and getting around to painting the nose section was all I was able to get done, since it had to be repainted anyway. After that, the engines took a dump on us...remember? You were the one at the engineer's station on the last flight. After that, all that's been on my radar screen for the Squadron has been a re-engine projects and some B-24 reconfiguration project that came and went. Painting the insignias the correct color are not in my immediate future. But I promise you that Dave, and the rest of the B-29/B-24 Squadron would love to have you take care of it. Thanks for volunteering to do that for us!

Gary

[retroaviation]

Hmmm, in re-reading my previous post, perhaps it sounded a bit harsh. So let me rephrase it........

So, when are you going to come down and do it? (See? No large letters in "you.") I feel much better now.

Gary