SteveL,
Just got my UCD 60, heard of all the problems with the gear so I took my saw and cut it all out, found the plate to be fairly good, but nothing really holding it in. installed lite ply on the sides and a double 1/4" aircraft ply plate with a couple of bass wood supports, I figure it's better to fix now than fix later with the wing. I see no useful purpose for the dowels, all they do is go thru the front plate, looks to me like they drop a triangle piece in after the fact and then dump glue in, it's a wonder the thing falls out on the first landing. Took about 45 minutes to do.