Buddy,

The plane is designed so that you sheet your top around the nose, and rough sand it first.

Then mount the engine.

Sand a lip for the cowl to seat onto the fuse, and slide the cowl on over the engine. The cowl must be trimmed at the rear about 1/4"-3/8", and the distance from the spinner back plate to the firewall is about 6 3/8". Leave a small clearance between the spinner and cowl of about 1/16".

It is common practice to have to sand the bottom there and "raise" the cowl very slightly. This will leave a slight gap between the cowl and belly pan at the engine compartment.

After the cowl is glued on, take a lagre block sander and work the bottom of the fuse so it fits better. you can still leave a slight gap, because of the way the belly pan is shaped, when you tighten your front screw it will pull it all tight.

I hope that made sense. if you need more help, you know my #.

-Mike

PS I'm still looking for belly pan pics...