Seth, 1st off, beyond my experience. That being said...

Posted By: Gary, Santana 2023A, Milwaukee
Date: 7/1/08 12:00p.m.

Report: outside forum guidelines

In Response To: Thanks (pic) (Seth Dabney, 2023-C, Oxford, MS)

my '2023A' is laid out differently. While I have what I believe to be 'typical' aging cracks here and there... nothing like what you have shown above. So, keeping in mind that you are the one on the scene to best evaluate it, I think I find it hard to believe that it would be seperating right at that spot, and right in that manner. Yes, it very well may be occuring that way, and I can certainly understand the rational and thought processing which you've laid out. However, I do believe that I would have to investigate it further, probably chipping all that stuff out of the way, get a better/clearer picture of the situation. See, here's my thought... which, simply by its nature of being a 'thought', is every bit as valid as your thinking, until the 'real' deal is discovered. You remember my telling you a while back at my shock at the poor (labor) quality of work done on the inside of the WB tank? Horribly POOR carpentry work, wood fitting, gaps, etc? As if "Nobody can see in here, and it's going to be covered by epoxy, anyway..." ?? Well, I'd be just as inclined to think, 50-50 along with yours... what if that bulkhead (plate) of wood was poorly cut and fitted, so that there's, oh, say a 1/4" gap between the top of its fit? Hell, it's covered by cloth and epoxy, anyway. So, if it did 'crack', and you/we are unaware of this, a simple look would SEEM to indicate that the overhead was pulling away from the top of the bulkhead. More simply put: how positive are you that its pulling/seperating away? I see the gap, and I see where you filled it. Is it possible this is simple aging with a poor OEM carpentry fitting?