Finally  it is time to install the engine mount for good.

Since it was painted, the mount had developed a few scratches but as yet no rust had formed. I thought about respraying it but sanity took over and I just touched up a few spots with a brush. The paint should come off easily so that if it develops any cracks over time they will be easy to spot. A super hard paint job with baked on colour is just going to make early detection difficult.  That’s my story and I’m sticking with it.

The mount fits pretty well. I had had issues as it seemed super tight. My friendly local sheet metal craftsman worked a little of his bendy magic and its all good.

The slight deviation from plans are those special pipe washers that I sort out years ago.

It is just great to finally have those washers finally in place.

I went to a lot of trouble to use the correct length bolts and number of thick or thin washers. Upper and lower were of course difference AN dash sizes. I finished off with rechecking the torque and adding some torque seal. Not show in the photos however. I bet you might spot it when I get the engine back on. For now just imagine blue blobs on the nuts.

This is my method for knowing something is done up. When the plane is ready for first engine start and taxi, I want to know what remains to be tightened, and not have to check EVERY nut on the whole build, except visually.