Oh it's a beautiful day outside and what do I end up doing? Sitting in my dungeon (basement) making airplane stuff! On the agenda today 1- fit prop nut. 2- get aluminium prop washer. 3- replace rear crancase bolts with studs so I can mount engine directly to firewall and 4- make test stand (yeh a 1/2 thick pine board!)

1 - Can't get a 3/8 24 thread prop nut anywhere so what do I do? buy any prop nut that looked right and I'll re machine it! Ok can you get a 3/8 24 tap anywhere? (I had to sell all my tools when I left England so I have had to start from scratch!) No! Had to buy a whole tap and die set from Harbour Freight (hey I'm only threading aluminium so it'll do)! Next can you get a Q drill anywhere for said tap? No chance in hell!!!! (Unless I buy a whole 100+ piece drill set for $70!!!!!!) So I had to use a 5/16 (again it's only aluminium) Well it worked althought the propnut is a tad stiff but hey at least it won't loosen! I had to drill a 3/8 x 1/4 counterbore in the propnut as the thread on the shaft didn't go all the way to my propellor.

2- Can you get an aluminium washer anywhere? Yeh right! Out with my aluminum plate and on to the lathe I went!

3- The studs were no problem and yes they will be cut shorter when the engine finally goes in the plane. Does anyone here suggest that this engine be rubber mounted or will straight onto the firewall be ok? My P47 has a fibreglass fuselage but there are blocks of ply either side.

4- The engine test stand (The plank!) was easy and I fitted the original leaf blower tank to the back of it. I now have to make up some sort of throttle linkage but I think that's it for today! I have to go and clean up now![]

Any ideas re the rubber mounting anyone?

Rich