I marked and drilled the instrument panel and firewall rivet line. Spring clamps are removed as cleco line progresses. Hole spacing is 32mm except for the edges on the firewall, which is dictated by the ridges on the firewall. Custom support braces were done last. Two 1/16" angle brackets added between instrument panel and cabin frame for additional structure. Purchased a 15-ton hydraulic knock-out on ebay for $200 today, will use that to make the steel cabin brace holes. I also plan to make a 2" dimple die on my lathe to fit the hydraulic knock-out to make a nice flange. I may also add several access holes using the knock-out. The panel has a 12 degree tilt angle. I am 6'1" tall and wanted the panel perpendicular to my line of slight when I glance down at the panel. I could have added nylon spacers and made the panel more vertical, but chose to do it this way instead. Some instruments require a specific angle such as 0 or 5 degrees on the panel, but it doesn't matter with the ones I will be using. Most of the digital stuff using 3-axis accelerometers and gyroscopes, which makes it irrelevant what the angle is.
