I received the -13 bolts that I ordered from Aircraft Spruce today. I started the day by fitting washers into the holes of the gear mounts that were missing corresponding rivets in the center section. I will be using bolts in these holes since the factory missed setting rivets here. The washers will provide extra support for the bolts. Once this was done, I fit the left landing gear mount in place and 'worked' the bolts through the mount and F704 center section. What a job getting them all in! I used Boelub, tried different bolts in the holes that were extremely tight, wiggled things around, etc until I finally got them all in. Then it was a chore getting the lower washers and nuts started on each bolt and finally tightened. I had to improvise with my tools for this. I used a crowsfoot wrench on a breaker bar and duct taped the washers/nuts to the crowsfoot. Then I slipped the contraption between the center section spars and used a mirror to align the washer/nut with the bolt. Then I turned the bolts from the front side. Once everything was loosely tightened I could do the final torqueing with the crowsfoot on the nuts. What a pain! Once all of the bolts along the top and bottom of the F704 center section were in and torqued, I match-drilled the lower bolt/screw holes along the outer left side of the fuselage. The bolts and screws were then installed and torqued. Whew, what a day and what a job this was!
Washers installed in holes that were missing rivets; will be bolt
Left gear mount drilled and bolted to center section/longeron
Left gear mount drilled and bolted/screwed to lower longeron
