-Started with the hinges on the upper part of the firewall. -Cut the hinges to length and angled the edges of the eyelets that have to bend the most per the plans - this took forever! -Clamped the hinges in position on the firewall and carefully match drilled using the holes in the skin and firewall flanges -Then I put the top cowl back on and started sanding to get the firewall edge to match up - this was not a quick job and I used 36 grit paper glued to a long 1x1 board. I must have removed that top cowl 50 times. I'm satisfied with the results and I have 3/8 clearance on the spinner (that's the max Vans recommends). -I removed the cowl and layed out and drilled the rivet holes that will go into the hinge I just attached with cleco's to the firewall. -Put the cowl back on and match drilled the hinges using the holes from the previous step -Then I put the bottom hinges on (the two 6" strips between the air outlet). I had to drill out the 12 rivets that I have put in there previously - no biggee just more time. -Match drilled the hinges, deburred, countersunk and riveted onto the firewall -Put the bottom cowl in place and cleco'd at the 6 holes in the nose behind the spinner and taped it up in the back per the plans. Next step is trimming it out to match the top cowl that is fixed at this point. I'm almost 16 hrs into this cowl and I have a lot left to do.
Top hinge drilled
Lots of taking the cowl off and sanding to get the seam as close as possible
