Rear Cabin Heat in 7ECA Citabria

C

Cowboys Air Ranch 84ME

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Forest Twp, Maine
Howdy from Maine,

Well, Spring mud season has arrived and all the grass strips are muddy, soft and unusable for a little while. Wife wants Rear Cabin Heat installed. She gets cold legs and you know the old saying,... "Happy Wife, Happy Life!"

Question is has anyone installed a rear cabin heater in a 7ECA, if so, how hard, where to get a kit or can one be made up with a 337 or such. I am planning on a few small upgrades this summer, Rear baggage door, reseal side window air leaks, renew panel face, little touch ups, etc.

I would like to have some info in my head before I approach my IA with this idea.

Ken "COWBOY" Winiarski
Cowboys Air Ranch (84ME)
 

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Hey Cowboy, I don't have any advice on adding rear seat heat since my 7GCAA has it from the factory (and works very well I might add) but I would like to know if you have developed a plan yet for sealing your left window? Does yours have the fully opening window or limited opening with the scissor hinge? Mine leaks a good bit where that scissor hinge is and would like to seal it.
 
Flyingj said:
Hey Cowboy, I don't have any advice on adding rear seat heat since my 7GCAA has it from the factory (and works very well I might add) but I would like to know if you have developed a plan yet for sealing your left window? Does yours have the fully opening window or limited opening with the scissor hinge? Mine leaks a good bit where that scissor hinge is and would like to seal it.
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Howdy,

My left window opens fully to the wing. I do not have the sissor hindge like some do. When I get up in flight, the pressure from the inside of the cabin forces the window open about 1/2-3/4 inch and it originally looked like the fuselage was moving, but it was just the window opening slightly.

I seen many videos of newer Citabrias, which have another latch towards the front of the window. Even watched a Aerobatic Video of a Citabria/Scout/Decathlon which actually had 3 window latches on the left window.

I still have not made a plan as of yet. Will have to run it by my IA/AP as it may need his blessing. What can I say, "I am FAA Gun shy !"

Ken "Cowboy" Winiarski
Cowboys Air Ranch (84ME)
 
I'm pretty sure the baggage compartment door kit needs to be welded in.

For the rear seat heat, it starts at the muffler shroud as an additional port. It's ducted through an on/off flapper valve that passes through the firewall at the lower right corner (aircraft right) and is then ducted via scat tubing to an outlet in the floor near the back right corner of the front seat. There's also a cable that is installed to open/close the valve.

Your muffler shroud might already have the extra port built into it but it's likely you'll have to cut the hole in the firewall and then another hole in the floorboard. Other than that, it's just some time to get it all installed and you'll have it working.
 
Flyingj said:
Hey Cowboy, I don't have any advice on adding rear seat heat since my 7GCAA has it from the factory (and works very well I might add) but I would like to know if you have developed a plan yet for sealing your left window? Does yours have the fully opening window or limited opening with the scissor hinge? Mine leaks a good bit where that scissor hinge is and would like to seal it.
Click to expand...
Flyingj said:
Hey Cowboy, I don't have any advice on adding rear seat heat since my 7GCAA has it from the factory (and works very well I might add) but I would like to know if you have developed a plan yet for sealing your left window? Does yours have the fully opening window or limited opening with the scissor hinge? Mine leaks a good bit where that scissor hinge is and would like to seal it.
Click to expand...
Howdy,

This is what I found on Ebay. It is an easy install. I was told it just needs a minor modification sign off and install it close to the front on the window. Will look for some installed pics on the internet.

Ken "COWBOY" Winiarski
Cowboys Air Ranch (84ME)
 

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Cowboys Air Ranch 84ME said:
Howdy,

This is what I found on Ebay. It is an easy install. I was told it just needs a minor modification sign off and install it close to the front on the window. Will look for some installed pics on the internet.

Ken "COWBOY" Winiarski
Cowboys Air Ranch (84ME)
Click to expand...

I think you'll also need a striker plate on the frame, no?
 
Big Ed said:
I think you'll also need a striker plate on the frame, no?
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Howdy,

Yes,.... I forgot about that plate. It is just a 1/16 thick piece of stainless steel if I remember. I had to change mine out when I bought my Citabria last spring. The window would pop fully open on take off or in flight. 1st few times it was rather concerning, but fixed it and all set now.

Ken "COWBOY" Winiarski
Cowboys Air Ranch (84ME)
 
Flyingj said:
This is from their website: "External baggage door. This door is framed in aluminum and is installed with no welding."
Click to expand...
I had one installed and yes it is bolt in. And was done without removing the fabric. Works great. I was concerned about welding with the fabric on.
 
Big Ed said:
I think you'll also need a striker plate on the frame, no?
Click to expand...
Here's what my 7-GCAA has. The rear latch is secured by the window frame itself and the forward latch uses a separate plate. I visited with Dale at ACA to see about purchasing and installing their kit that would make mine like Cowboy's, full opening. I was shot down when I learned my wing doesn't have the necessary backing plate between the wing ribs to mount my striker plate. My intent was to eliminate the scissor hinge and get rid of the air leak.

IMG_9338.webpIMG_9339.webp
 
Howdy,

Does anyone have a pic of the rear heat valve for a 7ECA that is mounted onto the firewall. My bird has the hole and plate covering the hole in the firewall, and I have the duel exhaust with a port for rear seat heat (Scat Tubing) which is also blocked off.

ACA does NOT sell the kit anymore, but I went thru my original build sheet and is is noted that it was installed originally. So, someone had removed it at one time throughout its life, I just need to reinstall. Can not find a log book entry for the removal, but should of had an entry sometime in its life.

The hole is in the dash for the cable as well and placard stating "Rear Cabin Heat".

If I had a picture of the valve, I may be able to secure a used heat valve from a junk yard and reinstall since it was never legally removed? The floor plywood was replaced and floor vent was never cut out and reinstalled. (See Pic) Not best pic, but no vent hole.

We are doing more research (IA/AP and myself), so any pics would be greatly appreciated. Pretty straight forward.

Ken "COWBOY" Winiarski
Cowboys Air Ranch (84ME)
 

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Big Ed said:
View attachment 4945
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Howdy,

Thanks for them pics.

Looks like the same size hole in my firewall. I think I found a valve at BAS Aircraft Parts. Center of this screenshot posted below. A little pricy, but think it would be the same.

Would you happen to have a pic of the floor vent itself under the seat?

Ken "COWBOY" Winiarski
Cowboys Air Ranch (84ME)
 

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Cowboys Air Ranch 84ME said:
Howdy,

Thanks for them pics.

Looks like the same size hole in my firewall. I think I found a valve at BAS Aircraft Parts. Center of this screenshot posted below. A little pricy, but think it would be the same.

Would you happen to have a pic of the floor vent itself under the seat?

Ken "COWBOY" Winiarski
Cowboys Air Ranch (84ME)
Click to expand...
This is the factory version:0F8A280B-1113-437E-9FAD-E15B82D0F630.webp
 
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