Thanks for the input Ftrjok. I went ahead and set dual rates with the higher rate set at -30 exp and left the throw as you suggested and the lower one down to 10mm throw. I will give it another go when the weather clears and see which works best. I did add a couple ounces to the nose. One thing I didn't think about was that I did the CG measurement with gear extended and I raked the gear far enough forward that it changed the CG a couple of mm back with gear retracted. I set the CG to 112 with gear retracted. We will see how these mods work.

As for engines, I also dislike the engine sticking out, but the Saito is the most reliable engine that I have ever used inverted in a warbird. The one thing I dislike more than a engine sticking out underneath, is spending my Sunday afternoon fixing gear ripped out when I tried to dead-stick a warbird. From the picture, it isn't too bad.
JD