While waiting for an opportunity to prime (sensing a theme yet?), I decide to start section 15 – the Rear Spar.
The first order of business is to pull out the SB-16-03-28. Initially I tried to figure out what steps I need to replace from the build manual (I’m working off revision 07/24/14). Honestly it took me a while to figure out that the SB kit replaced step 2 on page 15-2.
I pulled out the bench vise to try to straighten the brackets as they were visibly bowed. Then I went a little crazy using the scotch bright wheel to polish / deburr the edges of the brackets. For some reason I really wanted to get them looking nice, I guess since they will be visible.
I do remember that it wasn’t very obvious which way the angle aluminum should sit against the brackets for the SB kit, but believe I got it right. If not I’ll find out when I go to attach!
Also looking around the Vans forums, it looks like a few people had some clearance issues with elevators and the rivets on the bracket since it’s so much beefier than stock. One builder suggested changing some of the universal head rivets with flush rivets now as it is much easier to do vs once you go to install the elevators. I decided to do the same and and countersunk for flush rivets where needed.
Since I was already going nuts deburring, I pulled out the Ribs and the elevator hinge bracket and start deburring them.