With a couple hours to spare today, I knocked out the access holes in the inboard ribs. I’m still waiting on tank sealant from Vans.

For the main tanks, I’m planning to do aerobatic fuel pickups, which mean this round plate will have no holes in it. But for the ER tanks, I’m doing the standard fuel pickup and the float sender will attach to the access plate.

Anyway, the first step is to cut a big hole in the rib for the access plate.

I corrected it prior to cutting my big hole. After that, I drilled a few #19 holes for the plate and started matchdriling for nutplates. Then riveted nutplates, and finally grabbed this picture.

Now the more interesting part. I grabbed the -6D AN hardware to start looking at the standard fuel pickup. I made an initial bend, but I don’t have a 37deg flaring tool, so I’ll have to wait to make any more cuts or bends.

Then, I grabbed the right ER tanks in board rib and repeated.

And here’s the backside. I guess I’m counting rivets again.

2.0 Hours. 12 nutplates each access panel. 48 total rivets, with one bad rivet drilled out and replaced.