Brief Description: Drill & cleco aft part of top cowling
I sanded the aft part of the front cowl until I had a close even fit with the boot cowl skin. I am closer than the 1/16” paint gap, but my main goal was to get a ¼” clearance between the front and the spinner. I measured from the centerline of the cowl side hinge back 2” and drew a line on the boot cowl—then fit the top cowl back into position. I taped the aft end to the boot cowl in several places to stabilize it. Then, I measured back from the line on the boot cowl and drew a line on the cowling. I also drew lines extending across this line from the corresponding rivets on the top skin. I drilled #40 thru the cowl and the hinge near the center of the cowling—then stopped to check the fit once again. Then, I drilled and clecoed all the previously marked areas. I put a light inside the cowl the make sure I was staying in the center of the hinge when drilling. I will still need to sand a bit more to get the final gap at the aft end.