In rec.aviation.owning Bob Chilcoat wrote:
: We have a '74 PA-28-180 - the first year this model was called an "Archer".

: The other problem with the cowl is that there has been some delamination
: near the top of the low cowl where the propeller shaft opening is formed.
: This area has a lot of curvature, and there is a foam or balsa wood
: reinforcement bow epoxied into this area behind the curved opening. The

I'm assuming that you're referring to the top cowling, and the curvature
between the cooling air inlets and the prop clearance hole. The shape that is
embedded into the back of the cowling is screwed in from the front! There are
three screw holes covered up on the front of the cowling: One in the center
top of the prop clearance cutout and one on each side, on the up and
down part of the cooling air inlets. This reinforcing shape was delaminating
on my airplane (1968 PA-28-180) and what I did was to chop up some glass
cloth into short pieces, soak them in resin, and pack the recess caused
by delamination. This was 4+ years ago, and the repair is still in fine
shape. Presumably some day it will need another repair, and I will probably
remove the reinforcing shape completely and re-attach it.
--
Aaron C.