I’ve been mulling over how to retain the bottom hinge pins on the lower cowl. I wanted something that didn’t require any tools to remove but also wasn’t visible externally. I finally stumbled on a solution that I’m happy with. I fabricated a couple of clips that are riveted to the bottom flange of the firewall. They started as 1/8″ thick flat stock that I filed to about half thickness where it rivets to the firewall flange. It’s full thickness where the pin latches for added strength and bearing surface.
I then bent a couple of pins into this shape.
Here’s how the pin clips into place. The lower part of the pin is hidden just inside the cowl exit, but it can easily be reached and released. Since the notch is below the line of the hinge eyelets, you just have to flex the lower end outward and pivot it forward to release.
