Thanks, I have a pretty good idea of CG and what it does, but was concerned that extending the nose would upset it overall, but if its the distance from wing to tail that is critical to it, I am fine. <div>
</div><div>As for cutting back that box, two reasons come to mind, which I explained in my Electric to glow thread.  The structure of the plane is such that cutting the box would be difficult, and would also move the nose wheel back 2 inches.  Cutting it would affect the overall structure in that area since the floor extends to the firewall and is all notched together along with the side pieces.  If I cut that back, I would not be able to open the floor up to put a tank in since the floor is part of the stability. </div><div>
</div><div>What I might do is notch the firewall where the motor mounts and just move that part back, leaving the nose wheel and floor intact. I have to study it some more to see if that can be done.  </div><div>
</div><div>Originally I was thinking I could take that whole box off, and make a firewall for the glow engine and another for the electric and all I would need to do is bolt it onto the existing structure, but the "firewall" is actually the box, and not the part the cowl attaches to, that is just a thin piece of plywood, and not very structurally sound.  The main structure that takes all the torque and vibrations is the box itself.  What I want to do is to be able to go back to electric if I decide that glow isn't right for the plane without having to buy a whole new fuse. </div><div>
</div><div>If I notch out the box, then I can set it up to be reattached and put the original parts back in with a couple long bolts and blind nuts.   I just need to rotate the motor 90* and see how it fits in the cowl, right now it fits perfect upside down, so I would just need a hole for the glow plug and muffler.  Sideways may need a larger hole, which in that case I would get a second cowl in case I change it back. </div>