Mid Body Belly Mod?

[Gary0747]

Not sure if all the model years have the mid body belly skins riveted on but my 67F does. These skins restrict access to a number of things that need to be inspected and maintained. I know if one does the fiberglass belly pan mod that this allows access, but it is quite expensive and time consuming to install.  I was wondering if anybody has been able to do a mod of just installing nut plates in place of the rivets on the mid body belly skins? 

[Ragsf15e]

40 minutes ago, Gary0747 said:

Not sure if all the model years have the mid body belly skins riveted on but my 67F does. These skins restrict access to a number of things that need to be inspected and maintained. I know if one does the fiberglass belly pan mod that this allows access, but it is quite expensive and time consuming to install.  I was wondering if anybody has been able to do a mod of just installing nut plates in place of the rivets on the mid body belly skins? 

Interesting, what skins do you mean?  My 68f has panels all down the belly with hundreds of screws.  They allow access to pretty much everything.  Do you have a different arrangement?

[Yetti]

Then one in front of the flaps, behind the gear.    I did not think there was much in there.   I believe it has a couple of access panels in it though.

[Hector]

Yes there is one section there that is not removable but does have a couple of access panels so you can get to the flap actuator and other stuff.  I think you can inspect well enough through those access panels and although I doubt it is a structural skin (carrying loads) I'm not sure and would be hesitant to remove all those rivets and swap them with screws/nutplates.  Probably not an issue but it is a mod I would need to further investigate before I jump into it.  I do have a couple of the belly panels that are actually sheet metal screws and those are more of a PITA than anything.  I have screws of different size/diameter in the same panel and putting them all back in is a trial/error business as I never bother to note which screws came out of which holes. I am seriously considering converting those to RivNuts so they are all the same.  It really does not bother me that much that there are 1000 screws in the belly.  If they are all the same type/size with the right tools they can come off and back on in under one hour.    

[RLCarter]

The short bodies are the same, or at least mine is. There is one skin that is riveted, the removable skins eith has machine screws or sheet metal screws. IIRC they are either nut plates or tinnerman clips... Not sure rivnuts would be the right move

[charlesual]

I feel ya Gary. A few years ago I came across a mid body single piece belly but haven’t been able to find the time to install it. One of those projects for another day.

Anyone want a belly mod project in a heated hanger and stay at my house an hour from DC (Leesburg, VA KJYO) with car, travel and expenses? PM me



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[Gary0747]

I think there is a fair amount of stuff under that riveted panel that is hard to get at even with the small access panels.  There is flap hydraulic jack, Brittain wing leveler tubing, hydraulic hoses and hard lines, rear spar inspection, spar cap AD repair access plus elevator, ruder and trim tubes. Plus a lot of dirt collected over the years.  Maybe an opportunity for someone to certify and sell a kit?