You can take some of the down thrust out with wedges or washers, but Sig doesn't usually make mistakes with their ARF's / kit's. If that is the way it is built, I'd go with it.. I haven't met anybody yet that has found a problem with putting it together the way it is.. Have three among people I fly with......You might want to try flying without cowl and see how it flys. If you don't like the way it flys, shim out some down thrust then deal with fitting cowl.....