Tonight was dedicated to trimming the intake manifold to allow the air filter to fit against the lower cowl.
Removed the carb and connection hose. Made sure the carb was seating all the way against the intake manifold - it was.
Trimmed the intake manifold as noted in the pic below - about 3/8". Cut-down the length of the connector hose. Put it all back together and put on the right side of the cowl - so far so good.
Put on the left side of the cowl. The lower centerline hinge went about half-way in, but no more. The air filter was preventing the cowl halves from coming together.
