Ed, We think the side cowls were made from stock because they lack the rolled lip on the forward edge that my A&P says should be there. The left one is sort of OK, but the right one has a stop-drilled stress crack and is very difficult to close. Both are using an extra sheet metal screw that the previous owner used to hold them flush at the front lower corner. I agree about using Phillips-head Camlocks, we were looking at that tonight when we were done installing the mags. Mine would fail the "snug at the front and bottom", at least from the aspect of having a uniform fit. I would say they are "bowed out" throughout the cross-section, which may be the problem if they were made from flat stock. They actually do fit better at the back and I usually start fastening the camlocks there and struggle in the middle two, then the front one comes easy after the middle two are in.
Hartmut's appear to fit much better and it didn't seem as if he struggled as much to re-fasten them. Thanks, Dave --- In [email protected], "Ed Burkhead" <e...@...> wrote: > > > Dave, > > Can you further define how your side cowls are "poor-fitting"? > > The fit of Coupe side panels is special. It is snug at the front and bottom > but bellies out in a specific shape at the rear. This is part of the design > to provide low pressure in the lower chamber to improve cooling. > > I always had to start connecting my side panels at the front camloc (we > replaced the dzus very happily), then worked back. Other planes need a > different pattern to most easily connect them. > > If you have dzus fasteners, consider changing to camloc and fitting them > better than what you have now. I don't know if your current fasteners can > be repositioned easily enough for that to be a good solution. And, if you > change fasteners, try to get the Phillips head type to save your side panels > from slipped screwdriver damage. > > If this doesn't apply, then please tell the forum more about your fit > problem so the experts can give the best possible help. (I'm not any kind > of mechanic and am a klutz with screwdrivers. > > Ed >
