And So it Begins......T-41B Restoration

JohnB · **Posted:** Fri Apr 04, 2014 11:19 am

I'd assume the O-2 was USAF surplus.
Also the Army...primarily NG units...also picked up used U-3s from DM. They made a great low cost (i.e. free) easy to maintain (I guess take it to a Cessna dealer) utility/VIP ship.

The Navy also had a few O-2s, again, USAF surplus.

K5DH · **Posted:** Fri Apr 04, 2014 2:57 pm

I've been wondering why there is no prop spinner on T-41s. Not suggestion that you should install one (originality is cool!) but just curious.

L-4Pilot · **Joined:** Tue Jan 18, 2011 10:35 pm **Posts:** 616

K5DH wrote:

I've been wondering why there is no prop spinner on T-41s. Not suggestion that you should install one (originality is cool!) but just curious.

Neither the O-1, O-2 or T-41B had spinners. I guess it was one less thing to go wrong and facilitated maintenance and inspection.

L-4Pilot · **Joined:** Tue Jan 18, 2011 10:35 pm **Posts:** 616

Cleaning every square inch of the interior by hand. Lots of old glue, grime and dirt but no corrosion. After cleaning the interior chromate will be top coated with epoxy primer color matched to the chromate. Removing all antennas and cleaning, acid etching alodine and temporary primer before going to the paint shop. All antennas will be removed and painted under.

Enemy Ace · **Posted:** Sun Apr 06, 2014 4:53 am

what are you using to take the tar/ soundproofing off with?

L-4Pilot · **Joined:** Tue Jan 18, 2011 10:35 pm **Posts:** 616

Enemy Ace wrote:

what are you using to take the tar/ soundproofing off with?

http://www.orange-sol.com/index.html

We use the pump spray, or brush it on to control it to a small area. It will remove old glue, tar any adhesive, grease or just plain old dirt. Does not harm a dry painted surface and is safe for aluminum, just don't soak the aircraft in it Use in small amounts.

http://www.orange-sol.com/casestudies/aluminumplts.html

http://www.orange-sol.com/casestudies/aircraftassm.html

L-4Pilot · **Joined:** Tue Jan 18, 2011 10:35 pm **Posts:** 616

The new old stock interior panels arrived on Friday still in their original factory packaging from the 1960s and 1970s. It was like Christmas Day seeing this stuff along with the blade antenna.

All of you old O-1 and O-2 Drivers will remember these interiors,

ALAN.L · **Posted:** Sun Apr 27, 2014 7:01 am

Looking forward to following this project !

L-4Pilot · **Joined:** Tue Jan 18, 2011 10:35 pm **Posts:** 616

We missed our paint shop date a few weeks ago due to mechanical problems including losing our engine driven fuel pump, and have rescheduled for June.

This gave us an opportunity to proceed with some of the mechanical issues and we replaced two more cables and removed all baffling for cleanup, painting and new baffle material. We also removed the entire exhaust system for cleanup and inspection.

The entire fuel injection system was removed and sent off for overhaul including the fuel pump. We also pulled the prop and governor and sent them off for overhaul as it had been 10 years.

The engine was overhauled with new factory cylinders, new engine mount and rebuilt mags in 2010 but the anodized cylinders had some minor surface corrosion which we cleaned up. We are replacing all gaskets with new and will pull the engine, soda blast the firewall back to original stainless and install new lord mounts, touching up the steel mount where needed. We replaced the battery, all solenoids and the starter.

Interior cleanup continues with the floors receiving a good cleaning, etched and alodined before epoxy primer.

K5DH · **Posted:** Sun Apr 27, 2014 9:09 pm

Will the civilian paint scheme be stripped before the military paint is applied, or will you be able to do a "scuff 'n shoot" over it? Just curious.

L-4Pilot · **Joined:** Tue Jan 18, 2011 10:35 pm **Posts:** 616

K5DH wrote:

Will the civilian paint scheme be stripped before the military paint is applied, or will you be able to do a "scuff 'n shoot" over it? Just curious.

Good Evening Dean,

It will be a full strip and paint with all fairings, control surfaces, inspection covers and antennas removed. It will also be getting all new glass.

Same as the Lone Star Museum aircraft, they graciously provided me with the paint codes used on their aircraft. The only difference will be the absence of the orange training panels.

The antenna configuration will also be a little different, we have the 54 " FM whip, VHF/UHF blade on the dorsal spine in addition to the large towel bar FM homing antenna.

Steve

flightsimer · **Posted:** Wed May 07, 2014 11:07 pm

What specific product is it from orange sol? I'm thinking about trying on the glue that is on the inside of our C-47 cabin. It's either that or I'm gonna soda blast the interior, which we still might just do as the primary method as we have paint that needs to be removed as well.

L-4Pilot · **Joined:** Tue Jan 18, 2011 10:35 pm **Posts:** 616

flightsimer wrote:

What specific product is it from orange sol? I'm thinking about trying on the glue that is on the inside of our C-47 cabin. It's either that or I'm gonna soda blast the interior, which we still might just do as the primary method as we have paint that needs to be removed as well.

We buy ours from a local hardware store.

http://www.de-solv-it.com/all-products/ ... s-solvent/

L-4Pilot · **Joined:** Tue Jan 18, 2011 10:35 pm **Posts:** 616

We pulled the engine this week to repaint the mount and install new Lord Mounts, The new mount had been installed in 2010 but needed some touch up. The firewall had been painted gray over the original stainless and looked pretty bad so we completely stripped it and brought it back to original. Most of the FWF wiring will be replaced over the next few days.

The new fuel pump and governor along with the freshly overhauled prop and fuel injection system will be here next week and will be installed when we hang the engine. All of the baffling is being repaired, repainted and new material installed.

Cleanup of the interior continues and when done the entire interior will be sprayed with a color matched epoxy chromate primer from Poly Fiber.

Enemy Ace · **Posted:** Thu May 08, 2014 5:31 pm

just an FYI inspect the engine oil pan very carefully before bolting back on the engine.. I have had to pull several engines over the years that got cracked somehow while resting on tires...They don't start the massive leaking until everything is back together, torques, safety pinned, safety wired etc etc don't you know...

Warbird Information Exchange

And So it Begins......T-41B Restoration

Who is online