JANUARY 31, 2004
This morning I attached the "z" brackets to the spar after I drilled the center hole in the bracket. The holes are 1/16 inch closer to the web except on the inboard bracket where it is 1/16 inch farther away from the web to give clearance to use a socket on the bolt head. The inner bracket has the platenuts on the back of the spar and the bolt heads are next to the web on the bracket.
I used this tool ( a left over from my days as a Porsche Mechanic) and some 10/32 nuts and bolts left over from a 40% model to attach the "Z" brackets. Using the pneumatic tool saved a fair amount of time.
Platenuts installed on a "Z" bracket
"Z" bracket installed using 2 10/32 bolts
Tank installed and the inner "Z" bracket drilled from on top using a 12 inch # 30 drill.
Leading edge removed and the outer "Z" bracket drilled. You need to use the clamps after centering the tank on the spar as it moves as you remove the leading edge.
You can see the center line in the hole.
All of the "Z" brackets are drilled now.
After removing the baffle I noticed that the holes are right through the center line!!
I put it all back together and then drilled the tank skin to the joint plate. The # 30 clecoes are in those holes.
Next I drilled the drain to the lower skin. If you look closely you can see that I missed, I'm a little low and to the left. No big deal if I need to I will drill out the hole just till it matches.
All back together. The baffle holes are counter sunk. The only thing I did not get to today was the filler cap neck. I'll do that tomorrow.