6-13-2021

I wanted my air filter hosing to be a low profile element of the cowling, at least as low as possible and I wanted the filter element to be located up on the nose bowl rather than sticking down below the cowling.

I opted to use the aluminum "chin" provided in the kit as a mold to make a fiberglass chin. I had not vacuum bagged fiberglass parts in years and had forgotten some lessons which meant I struggled to keep the vacuum from deforming the mold. Eventually, I was able to bag 6 layers of cloth and when cured, I made an initial trim then slowly worked my way to where I was happy both with the look. While trimming, I taped some pieces of wood to the inside the housing to give it a bit of rigidity.

I will be using a almost square F&N filter PN 33-2422 that measures 6.8" wide and 6.5" high which I ordered and once it arrives I can continue the fitting process. My current plan is to have the filter element sit inside the fiberglass housing against some aluminum "L" angles and retained in place by a fiberglass cover.

On the inside of the filter housing, I will need to fabricate another element that will channel the air that comes through the filter straight into the fuel servo while also providing a location for ALT AIR flapper valve.