The International Cessna^® 170 Association

I was wondering if anyone out there has had to replace there firewall yet. I am doing a restore project and the firewall is pretty bad off. i am thinking about fabricating a new one. Has anyone done this? If so did you add the dimpled recesses in or just go with a straight firewall no dimpled recesses.

Re replacing the firewall--- Try contacting Dick Doll. He's in the directory in El Cajon, Calif. He did one last year, but I din't know if he used a Cessne part or fabricated it.

They're not that expensive, compared to the amount of work involved. And the nice thing about the cessna part is that it comes pre-drilled (undersized pilot holes.)/

On http://www.cessnaparts.com the firewall sheet, p/n 0513101-3, is $419.90.

I looked into making my own firewall but decided that by the time I bought the tooling to make the dimpled recesses it would be cheaper and easier to just buy one. I bought a stainless one from Del-Air for $383.96. This includes CA tax but not shipping. When ordering it I wrote Harry that my 170 was a 1952 model with the heater vent on the pilot's side. I later reiterated this on the phone. I was disappointed that he ended up making a "generic" firewall--one that would allow the heater vent to be mounted on the left or right side. On my original firewall the horizontal dimple extends further to the co-pilot's side.


My original firewall looks like it crossed paths with Bonny and Clyde.



Could someone share information or pictures of which holes are original?

If you can email the picture, I'll have at it to point out the original holes.
The nice thing about a Cessna firewall is that all the holes are punched by Cessna. That could be a good thing or a bad thing if you want to modify the systems.

I thought there were issues using stainless against aluminum. Does the firewall not but up against aluminum where it is rivited?

Jr.CubBuilder wrote:I thought there were issues using stainless against aluminum. Does the firewall not but up against aluminum where it is rivited?

Depending upon which specific alloy, indeed it does have issues. The original firewall was zinc-plated steel. Zinc and aluminum are very near each other on the periodic table and not in conflict. Stainless (chromium actually) is not especially aggressive, but it'll react more actively than zinc.