Today was spent dealing with some of the engine related punch list items. The first three items were small oil leaks at NPT joints. There was either something wrong with the Aviation Form-A Gasket that I used on the NPT fittings, or I didn’t allow the material to cure enough before assembly. In two cases, the sealant was partially pushed out of the joint allowing a small leak. In all three cases, I disassembled and thoroughly cleaned the mating threads, then applied Teflon tape, keeping it away from the first thread.
While attempting to time the engine, I found that the upper alternator bracket limited the visual access to the timing marks on the engine and damper. So, I removed the upper alternator bracket and cut a one-inch diameter hole with a step drill over the timing marks, repainted it, then reinstalled it. The visual access appears to be much better.
