P51 Carburetor heat / induction system

[Pim Pouw]

I am hoping to find someone who can answer a technical question about the P51.

Currently I am working on the restauration to airworthy status of the P51 "Thrusty Rusty" from the EarlyBirds Foundation in the Netherlands.

http://www.vroegevogels.org/collectie/mustangeng.htm

In the forward part of the carburetor duct , originaly there was the air filter system and the cold air shut-off door. I can understand after WW2 that the air filter system was removed , but in our P51 also the cold air door has been removed. Checking on the other P51 "darn Yankee" present in the Netherlands exactly the same situation. To my opinion : with the Cold air door removed , the carburetor heat doesn't function.

My questions :

Is this standard among other P51's ?

Any reason why this was done ?

Any accidents related to carb ice ?

Does somebody have parts to re-install the cold air door ?

Any information and/or help is more than welcome,

Pim Pouw
Early Birds Foundation
the Netherlands

[Iclo]

Wow
I's the first time, I head infos from your project.
Nice to have a P-51 project in the "Area"

Good luck for the restoration.

Iclo
Belgium

[mlenoch]

Most civilian Mustangs have the filter system removed. Some full restorations have them re-installed for authenticity. With the filters removed, the dual paper oil filters can be installed and accessed during oil changes.
In the last 30 years, I have no recollection of any accidents or problems associated with carb ice. Presnt day Mustangs are operated in less severe atmospheric conditions and thus are not exposed to ice conducive weather as one might find in combat.
My Mustang does not have the paper filter system. I have also removed the cold air blocker and wired shut the warm air door on the intake trunk. In the last 20 years, I have not had any problems with carb ice during both VMC and IMC flight.
Fell free to ask further questions. (Picture posts of your project would be most appreciated.)
V. Lenoch

[mlenoch]

............Feel free..........(ooops!)
VL

[Pim Pouw]

The last but most scarry thing of installing a new canopy glass . Drilling 15 holes size 5/16" with an edge distance of aprox 3/4".
First drilling undersize from the inside canopy bow outwards.






the reaming/drilling it to it's final size





Pim Pouw
EarlyBirds Foundation
the Netherlands

[Pim Pouw]

V.L. you don't have by any change still those parts lying around some were ?

We plan to re-install the cold air door because we want to operate the P51 in Europe with it's North Sea climate which even in summer can place you in averse conditions/situations.

Greetings,

Pim Pouw
Early Birds Foundation
the Netherlands

[pbeegle1]

Pim Pow:
What does the cold air door look like, we may have one.

[Pim Pouw]

Philip Beegle,

Hereby one drawing from the IPC showing the door and levers. The door should be quite heavy because it's made of 5/32 inch steel plate.





The second drawing shows the brackets on top of the airduct. This drawing depicts an early P51 version ( I believe P51B ). These brackets are cast aluminium. Later version these were replaced by meatl stampings.




The door can be scratch build with some difficulty but the brackets on top of the airduct pose a real challenge.

All help is more then welcome but I believe the CAF is familiar with these kind of challenges.

Greetings,

Pim Pouw
EarlyBirds Foundation
the Netherlands

[51fixer]

I believe I might have some of those parts including the guillotine.
PM me if you are interested. I also have several of the complete air filter boxes that sat on top of the intake.
Rich