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I confirmed last night that my firewall is indeed aluminum (probably 0.032)
(i.e. not magnetic and easily 'test filed".
Ken's email below suggests "early" kits were aluminum, but mine is
#786....hardly an 'early' production number. Should I even bother asking
MAM for the requisite stainless plate? If I have to order this myself, how
thick must this piece of stainless be?

Fortunately, only the witches-hats are riveted on the firewall, and I was
planning on removing them anyway for Wayne's prescribed firewall
reinforcements....so retrofitting the stainless plate is probably the
easiest thing I've had to do on the plane in a long while. How
refreshing.

I dread cutting the stainless though.....it's going to totally dull my
favorite Lennox metal bandsaw blade....sniff.

Rob
Rebel 786



On 8/4/2010 4:28 AM, klehman@albedo.net wrote to rebel-builders:

-> Curtis
->
-> Some of us riveted a thin flat sheet of stainless on the forward side of
-> the aluminum. Actually makes for a stronger firewall with a little less
-> risk of damage I'm told.
->
-> I understand that fibrefrax cloth also meets the requirement. It and the
-> glue is available from Spruce. I did not use it because I figured it had
-> to be covered with something else anyway to keep it from eventually
-> becoming saturated with oil.
->
-> I don't know why MAM considered aluminum acceptable for early kits.
->
-> Ken
->
->
-> Curtis Langholz wrote:
-> > Rob, Great topic for sure.... I purchased kit # 175r that had been in
-> > storage for a long time. When I purchased it I bought the upgraded
-> > manuals from MAM and got a tour of the factory plus talked to Daryl
-> > about my engine choice. He recomended the 3" shortening of the boot
-> > cowl which I did as well as the fload stiffeners and motor mount
-> > doublers. I was feeling really good now that it was complete.... I
-> > check the MAM bulletins regurlarly as well and there has not been any
-> > mention of the firewall being aluminum or stainless. It is very
-> > frustrating to have all this time putting it together to find out MAM
-> > was so cheap to use an aluminum firewall that is a safety hazard. Can
-> > anyone give me a suggestion of what I should do with it at this
-> > point? Although it is a setback in the building process, it does
-> > need to be addressed. Thanks for bringing up the question about the
-> > firewall material.
-> >
-> > Curtis
-> >
-> >