Splitting the Floorboards

[kenryan]

I'm wondering if you other builders have split your baggage floor boards at the elevator rod cover, so that you can remove them without removing the elevator push rod?

[Familyflyer]

Yes, you will need to do this.

[danerazz]

I did, I added a tab riveted the length of the split, then added tinnerman nuts riveted to that (this is attached to the "wide" piece) and then added more tinnerman nuts to screw the tunnel to the same piece. Then the narrow piece is sandwiched between the tab and tunnel and secured with sheet metal screws into the tinnerman nuts. You remove the tunnel, and the screws around the perimeter of the floor, and the floor comes out in four total pieces (plus tunnel).

I have a fuel pump mounted under an aluminum cover at the front right corner of the baggage area, so I am going to run any wires, etc. down the left side so I won't have to remove the whole floor to inspect/access them. There shouldn't be any reason for me to remove the right side floor panels once everything is together.

[kenryan]

Thanks guys. I will split them to make them easily removable.

[Gil T]

IMG_0422 - Copy.JPG

It's been a few years since I done mine but this is pretty much the sequence. On top of the floor I put 1.5 inch styrofoam on either side of the tunnel to bring it flush with the top of the tunnel. On top of that I placed a sheet of 3/32 birch and on top of that the rug. Where my fuel lines came from the header tank I cut a channel for them to run through the styrofoam. The birch is flexible enough that you don't have to split it to install it or remove it and it makes a nice solid floor on top of the styrofoam.

Gil T