T-6 gets an engine

Mon Jan 30, 2006 10:34 pm

Last edited by bdk on Mon Jan 30, 2006 11:16 pm, edited 3 times in total.

Mon Jan 30, 2006 10:53 pm

Looking good, Brandon!

Mon Jan 30, 2006 11:33 pm

I'm guessing not anytime soon. I want to get all the stuff back on the firewall and in the wheel wells. Then I'll take the stress doors off (one at a time) and check out the fuel tanks and do the attach angle AD. I need to do wiring and then work on the cockpit and re-do the instrument panels and canopies. I'd rather not run the engine until I'm ready to start operating it regularly (as in flying) so I can break it in properly.

Getting that engine on is a big milestone for sure. Certainly the biggest capital expenditure of the restoration. It is nice to be working with clean parts and bolt them on. No busted knuckles trying to get rusty hardware apart. The remainder of the greasy stuff I can clean up and refinish a little at a time. I just looked at the pictures showing the firewall during disassembly. I can't believe how ratty it used to look! It is encouraging to see such a big difference.

Mon Jan 30, 2006 11:40 pm

Real tidy job Brandon, she looks great. Was the stuff back to the firewall refurbished by the guys who did the engine or have you kept it all in-house?

Cheers

Andy

Tue Jan 31, 2006 12:10 am

Andy in West Oz wrote:Real tidy job Brandon, she looks great. Was the stuff back to the firewall refurbished by the guys who did the engine or have you kept it all in-house?

Thanks Andy!

The engine, engine accessories and prop were sent out. Everything else for the most part was or will be done in house from the fabric and paint work to the polishing and hydraulics.

My buddy Bill volunteered to polish and detail the firewall (thankfully!). I think he had about 40 hours into it... He is also stripping a lot of the paint off of the smaller parts. Tim Romero (Agent86 on the board) has helped with a lot of the clean-up and paint work, although he made me do the spraying myself. My friend Ken did the fabric work with his (late) wife and is now getting all the controls and cables rigged, while my IA John has put new seals in all of the hydraulic components and figured out the hydraulic system.

Lots of work done, but lots more to do! Always looking for volunteers if you don't have more promising plans for your summer vacation... :wink:

Tue Jan 31, 2006 12:20 am

Looks like you've got a team of artists!

Tue Jan 31, 2006 2:57 am

Looks great Brandon!

It's always nice to get over that "hump" where they're
going back together instead of still coming apart....

Bela P. Havasreti

Tue Jan 31, 2006 5:22 am

Great looking airplane!

Tue Jan 31, 2006 8:59 am

Looking very nice there Brandon!

Tue Jan 31, 2006 9:30 am

That is impressive! Thanks for posting.

Mike

Tue Jan 31, 2006 12:08 pm

Thanks for the encouragement everyone!

Tue Jan 31, 2006 12:41 pm

Ditto, Brandon--she's beautiful.

Make sure your friend Bill gets a nice birthday gift this year--that firewall is amazing.

Tue Jan 31, 2006 5:49 pm

Congratulations Brandon... that's a remarkable achievement. You must be feeling quite proud considering how much work (and expense!) was involved. Well done indeed!

Cheers,
Richard

Tue Jan 31, 2006 5:59 pm

Fantastic! Nice workmanship.

Wed Feb 01, 2006 10:41 am

HI ITS GREAT TO SEE OTHER PROJECTS,ITS LOOKING GOOD!!ITS ALWAYS A SPECIAL DAY WHEN THE BIG PARTS GO ON.

IT TAKES A MILLION LITTLE PARTS TO MAKE OR INSTALL THAT BIG PART :shock:

BUT ITS WELL WORTH IT IN THE END.KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK :wink:

THANKS MIKE

T-6 gets an engine

T-6 gets an engine

T6