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Matt Dralle's RV-8 Project
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Date: 4-19-2009
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Number of Hours: 8.00
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Manual Reference:
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Brief Description: Custom Fuel Pump Cover - Part 1
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In a perfect example of how a "quick little something extra" can turn into a huge project, I submit for your examination - The Custom Fuel Pump Enclosure. On the stock RV-8 setup, the electric fuel pump and, in my case, the fuel flow transducers, are located just to the left of the left-hand rudder peddle. As you can see from the pictures, all of the tubing and wiring are kind of just laying there exposed just asking to be kicked or otherwise disturbed. Additionally, it posed a difficult situation as far as a carpet pattern was concerned since it seemed unclear exactly where there carpet should end given the location of the pump.
I've been thinking for a couple of weeks now just how I was going to fabricate a custom enclosure around the fuel pump. I wanted it to be completely removable for servicing the pump, but I wanted it strong enough to take the abuse of being right there in the foot well. Also, it seemed like it might make a good place to mount some piece of equipment down the road since there is convenient access to all the wiring just under the cover. I spent most of Sunday drawing up the paper doll patterns for the various metal pieces. I wanted the fit to be good around all the angles and edges, but I also wanted the pieces to be relatively easy to remove even after the top skin was riveted on. The design came out pretty solid and removal is fairly straightforward.
I had to rivet a couple of angles to the left gear leg tower and another to the firewall. Amazingly, the riveting came out pretty good considering the tough time I had holding the rivet gun and bucking bar at the same time way down in the inside of the fuselage. No skin dents that I'll admit to...
All-in-all, the enclosure came out very nice and I'm pleased. Van's would probably say, "It weighs too much," but sometimes you've just got to do what you've got to do. Was it worth the *14 hour* project deviation? Well, yeah, probably...
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Fuel Pump Enclosure Pieces
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Stock Fuel Pump Installation
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Angles & Side Piece Added
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Copyright © 2008-2024 Matt Dralle. All Rights Reserved.
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