John,

I started out using the Lancair drawing to lay out my firewall
penetrations, but soon tossed it aside and did my own layout.  The first
thing I noted was that the engine control cables start out in the center
console below the instrument shelf and then exit the firewall above the
instrument shelf.  In the engine compartment, the mixture and prop
linkages are both below the elevation of the instrument shelf.  I located
all my engine control penetrations just below the instrument shelf so the
cables don't interfere with anything on the instrument shelf.

Also note that the plans call for all the engine controls to be 60" long. What I found was the prop cable needs to be a little longer and that the
mixture cable can be shorter.  I bought my controls from AC Spruce and
ended up with a 72" prop, a 60" throttle, and a 48" mixture cable and they
seem to fit just fine with the re-routing I did.  Actually, a 64" prop
cable would have been just fine but the standard sizes are in 12"
increments.  I  believe Lancair sells you a 72" for the prop and a 60" for
both the throttle and mixture.

I also slightly moved the cabin heat valve and the brake reservoir inboard
from the location shown on the drawing.  Watch out for the engine mount
reinforcements when locating the brake reservoir and the rudder cable
eyelets.  You will also want the cabin heat SCAT tubing to clear the
canopy hinge and gas strut.

Indeed the plans are really just "guidelines" and you should always
measure twice before cutting.  An hour of thinking can save a days worth
of sweat.

Jim Thomas
L2K #166



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