Brief Description: instrument panel to glare shield install
In a previous post I discussed my selection of where to locate the GPS antennas. I decided to install the small GPS antenna on the glare shield, and will later install the XM antenna in the cabin superstructure above the pilots head. The GPS antenna is held on the glare shield with two small, fine-thread screws. I routed the antenna wire to the back of the instrument panel via the right cross-tube hole in the glare shield.
I also installed the attach system for the LED panel light strip that mounts under the lip of the glare shield. The light strip has to be removable to allow the glare shield to pass the two cross-tubes. I am using velco to hold the LED strip in place.
Next step is to fasten the instrument panel to the glare shield. With the riv-nuts in place and carefully aligned I anticipated that this would be an easy task. The first 5 screws threaded right into place with no problems. As I inserted the fifth one the riv-nut failed. Remove panel, Check failed riv-nut. Replace failed riv-nut (which is now difficult due to the glare shield being fastened to the boot cowl). Reinstall the panel and thread the screws.
This time the third riv-nut stripped out. I am now suspicious of the riv-nuts and have decided to replace them with some other fastener. After some searching I came up with a slip-on style nut-plate. I drilled out all the riv-nuts then installed the nut-plate and did a trial fitting and screw test. Everything worked as planned. Now I need additional nut-plate for all of the screw positions.
