got a little bit more done today and past few days. the top of the hatch is now smooth, just needs second coat of primer. i need to sand down the top and bottom of the cowl, and prep the wheel pants, so that i can prime all of them together and save time.
i did final install of the motor and the KS cans. this was not an easy task, especially working with those comfort mounts. very difficult to install. But now, it is a solid install. if anyone wants details of how i did this, i will be more than glad to elaborate.
there was a question raised, and concern for me, regarding the contact stresses from the standoffs on the firewall. i have considered this, and also on the back side.
MY solution is to be able to spread these forces out more evenly, and prevent wood deformation. I have included here a photograph of the install with the steel plate, 1" wide, 1/8" thick. i have spray painted it to appear more cosmetic, but now the standoffs are not on the wood but on a steel plate., on the back side of the firewall, there is a 1/4" thick aluminum plate that has the same shape of the SWB mounts that are available, it is cut out of aluminum
and lightened, weighs under 1.5 ounces. all in all, doing all this still weighs less than had i used the plywood block spacer mount.