Firewall & Engine Cowl

[Mike Magnani]

I'm looking for pictures of of firewalls and cowlings. I'm installing my new stainless steel firewall and I'm trying to get a sense of where the various systems pass through it. I'm also looking for as many pictures as possible of the sheet metal structure that the various cowl pieces mount to. Please don't worry about sending me too many pictures.
Mike Magnani
N4094

[Keith Mackey]

Mike:

You didn't say what model airplane you have, but I took several hundred detailed photos during disassemble of my airplane as I thought this might be the only Mite that was still as it was when it left the factory. I don't want to clutter up the site with too many photos, but I'll be glad to provide you with any you may need.

Attached are three "before" photos of the firewall on my M-18C 55. I believe the firewalls on all M-18C's are the same. This airplane had been in storage since the '60's and had never been rebuilt. The other two photos are taken after the restoration had begun. The original firewall was galvanized steel. It is in three pieces. You will note the cutout in the before photos that is removed and replaced with a pan as in the after photos when a generator is installed. My airplane originally had no electrical system. When a generator is installed, the wires run through the circular hole in the middle firewall panel which originally had an asbestos boot on the cockpit side of the firewall.



Keith

[Mike Magnani]

Thanks Keith, this is just what I'm looking for. I have serial number 271, which is an M18-C with the -12 engine. So my firewall is configured the same as yours after the addition of the electrical system. If you would send me as many photos as convenient for you, I would be very grateful. If you want to send them in groups over several days, that would be fine, too. The more the better.
Kind regards,
Mike Magnani
N4094

[Keith Mackey]

Mike: Your firewall is probably identical to mine. I have plenty of pictures taken during the disassembly process. I put "post it" notes on some to identify things such as rivit type to be used on reassembly that I might otherwise forget. If you'll provide an email address, and a better description of exactly where your are in the process, and what you need to see, I'll send more pictures. I just don't want to overload your mailbox. Pictures uploaded to this forum are limited to 97.7k, so all of the pictures posted here have to be "dumbed down" in resolution to be uploaded. I've included a few more shots. Let me know which ones are most helpful.

Keith

[Glenn]

Mike:

I know you probably already thought of this, but when I did my firewall I installed bulkhead fittings for the fuel and oil lines. Much cleaner.

glenn

[Joelj]

Mike - I was was admiring some of the owners pics on the website the other nite and happened upon this pic of N491M. This Mite has what appears to be a 2pc cowling - a single top & side piece and another bottom & side piece. If I were starting from scratch to build a new cowl, I think I'd look closely at how this one was done and try to emulate the simplicity of two pieces. I'll try to attached the pic here - but this is my first shot at doing it in this forum, so if I don't succeed - look for N491M in the owner's list and find the pic there.
Joel