Drilling the Z brackets.

With the tank strapped down, you drill the inboard and outboard Z brackets first. Using a 12" drill with allows you to get in close enough to drill the holes. The drill stop is on there to prevent the drill bit from hitting the spar.
This is Jay's arm. Jay is thinking of building an RV8, and has come over and helped me a few times. He's been a lot of help!



Once the inboard and outboard Z brackets are drilled, those two ribs get unclecod and the tank skin and other ribs are lifted off the wing. You are left with the two inboard/outboard dribs, and the tank rear baffle. Which you can now use as a guide to drill into the remaining Z brackets. A ton of work, but it will be worth it, because everything should fit very nicely.

If you notice the crease in the flange it was easily fixed. And no, it doesn't cause a safety hazard.


Here all the Z brackets are drilled. You can see the inboard and outboard ribs of the fuel tank, as well as the rear baffle.


Here you can see the Z bracket now drilled