I ran into something that I haven't seen in the other posts on this subject, so maybe I'm just special in my screw ups! I'm posting this so that maybe my experience will help others down the road, or maybe someone can show me the error of my ways.
On both outboard brackets near the splice plate, as shown below, my predrilled 1/8 hole is slightly off center (away from the root and toward the wingtip) from the hole in the tank baffle. Since I followed the instructions, I already have all the brackets bolted into place on the spar, so there is no adjustment available other than slotting the 1/8 rivet hole in the bracket, or make new outer brackets. All of the other brackets, including the inboard root bracket on both wings, align perfectly, as do the tank skins, spars, and baffles. The only problem I have is with these outermost brackets on both tanks, which is puzzling -- everything else fits great.
I contacted Van's and they said this problem is not uncommon and recommended that I slot the bolt holes in the outer brackets; however, since I already have the nutplates installed, with the rivets countersunk, that won't work, so I'm faced with ordering new brackets. I can't imagine having overlapping countersinks would be smart, even if it is just to hold a nutplate in place. Van's also recommended NOT slotting these 1/8 rivet holes in the brackets since a good fitting rivet is preferred to help insure a tight, leak-free tank. I can understand that.
Hindsight is 20/20, but at this point I wish I had waited on drilling the single 1/8 rivet hole and the three AN3 bolt holes in the outer bracket on both wings so that I could make this adjustment AFTER fitting the tank baffle in place. Maybe if I could have found the Dan Checkoway? method this would have been avoided, but I haven't been able to find that posted anywhere.
Oh well, I've ordered two more Z brackets and more nutplates and AN3 bolts. Just a heads up for those that follow. Again, not sure what I did wrong, but something went awry somewhere.
On both outboard brackets near the splice plate, as shown below, my predrilled 1/8 hole is slightly off center (away from the root and toward the wingtip) from the hole in the tank baffle. Since I followed the instructions, I already have all the brackets bolted into place on the spar, so there is no adjustment available other than slotting the 1/8 rivet hole in the bracket, or make new outer brackets. All of the other brackets, including the inboard root bracket on both wings, align perfectly, as do the tank skins, spars, and baffles. The only problem I have is with these outermost brackets on both tanks, which is puzzling -- everything else fits great.
I contacted Van's and they said this problem is not uncommon and recommended that I slot the bolt holes in the outer brackets; however, since I already have the nutplates installed, with the rivets countersunk, that won't work, so I'm faced with ordering new brackets. I can't imagine having overlapping countersinks would be smart, even if it is just to hold a nutplate in place. Van's also recommended NOT slotting these 1/8 rivet holes in the brackets since a good fitting rivet is preferred to help insure a tight, leak-free tank. I can understand that.
Hindsight is 20/20, but at this point I wish I had waited on drilling the single 1/8 rivet hole and the three AN3 bolt holes in the outer bracket on both wings so that I could make this adjustment AFTER fitting the tank baffle in place. Maybe if I could have found the Dan Checkoway? method this would have been avoided, but I haven't been able to find that posted anywhere.
Oh well, I've ordered two more Z brackets and more nutplates and AN3 bolts. Just a heads up for those that follow. Again, not sure what I did wrong, but something went awry somewhere.