Today I finished up the effort to add back in that half inch to the cowl. Overall it wasn't quite as bad as I was expecting. All of this was due to comin up short where the cowl meets the spinner. Still don't know if I measured wrong the first time or if it was because I had to change the spinner. Either way it's done and will give me just a little more space for the intake tubing, which is a very tight fit. The cowl does need a little fit and finish but it needed that before this effor and, overal it's a better fit than before.