Today and yesterday were all about the exhaust pipes, EGT probes and crankcase vent tube final installs.  I did a final check through all my notes and also some online stuff to make sure I wasn’t missing anything.  This included a chat with GRT Avionics on the EGT probes installation.  Moreover, I needed some 5/16″ star washers that I didn’t have on hand, but was able to get from a fellow EAA homebuilder that just finished a VANs RV-10.

With star washers in hand I got to work.  In addition to mounting the exhaust pipes, starting on the left side, I also did the final install on the EGT probes, including safety wiring the probes-securing hose clamps.

Here we have the engine right side —the #2 cylinder exhaust pipe having just been installed— while I’m in the process of finalizing the EGT probe install/safety wiring on the #4 cylinder exhaust pipe before I do its final install.

Also note that the hose clamp securing the black rubber crankcase vent tube to the aluminum tube has been replaced with safety wire securing the two together… having used the ClampTite tool to get that done.

Here we have the right side exhaust pipes, EGT probes and crankcase vent tube all installed for the final time (for now at least… ha!).  I marked the exhaust pipe mounting nuts with orange torque seal as an inventory tool to identify what engine hardware has been torqued prior to engine first start.  I am fully aware that the heat of the pipes will probably burn it off in no time flat.

Since we’re discussing exhaust pipes, last night I drew up some initial exhaust pipe end caps up in CAD to kick off the design process on making breathable desiccant inserts to both keep any wannabe nesting bugs or critters out while also drying any air out making its way towards the cylinders.

Speaking of which, I made a point to examine the exhaust ports prior to installing the exhaust pipes, and all the valves, ports, etc. looked very clean and shiny.  Nothing out of order!

I plan to continue to press forward tomorrow, and since I’m running out of engine components to install I’ll be transitioning more to final cowl work before I pull the engine here in the not-too-distant future.