What spinner are you using? Does shortening them cause spinner iproblems with installation?
Swimmer, I did adjust the cowling a bit, but I used the stock spinner which worked fine except for having the spinner cap fall off all too easily.
If you go back thru this thread, there are lots of posts about the landing gear. I now use 1/4" cork between the lg and the fuse to give it a little bit of cushion.
I also use nylon screws. I went a size larger on the screws by replacing the blind nuts. the combination works well for me. I rarely actually break the screws off. More often if I land hard, the nylon bends, the cork cushions and we get to walk away with a plane intact except for a couple of bent bolts.
Add to that, I gooped a walnut sized wad of epoxy into the fuse area around the landing gear, and I have few problems with it now.
I'm flying an eflite extra 260 now on which I made the modifications above. Same lg as my old MPXT. Seems to work fine even on my rough dirt landing strip.