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So, I am now understanding why I have had high cylinder temps with my engine. The baffle seal is completely shot and I am beginning to wonder if the lower portion has ever been changed (see photo). The top seal is a patchwork of various black and orange pieces so while we are working a cylinder issue I've decided to replace the seals. Does the front lower cowl need to come off completely to get at the row of rivets, or is there some trick (like a partial removal)? Thanks!

Any help is appreciated! I am doing an engine overhaul on my 1970 M20C and am trying to find the best source for a few items they are: 660166-007 throttle cable 600046-000 baffle 600034-000 baffle 860014 air filter Regards Jeff Allen Louisville, KY N9389V 1970 M20 C

As an inexperienced C model owner, I thought Sabremech's cowl mod looked cool but didn't initially get why people were SO excited about it. I think I get it now. For the first time on my own, I opened the top of my 48 year old doghouse, wanting to change my top plugs and RTV caulk some gaps that I'm tired of looking at. It seemed like a simple enough job for an owner with boundless enthusiasm but limited experience and tools. Well, years ago someone riveted shut the small side access panels for the plugs (huh?), so you now have to pull the whole cover. Tons of screws, many damaged screw holes jury-rigged with various screw types - painful to keep straight and reinstall. Then I had to run out and buy an extension for my torque wrench, since the spark plug access is still tricky with the cover off. The lower front rubber baffle strips, which are now hidden by the cowl closure mod, were dry rotting and had multiple holes that I did my best to caulk shut. I learned all kinds of Houdini tricks to get to numerous gaps all over the baffle, some intrinsic to the original design . Then there was a large ragged gap at the bottom of the alternator that was too large for caulk - looks like someone had cut away a piece of the doghouse here at some point. Why?? Maybe they had trouble getting the old generator out? There was another large, unfillable gap at the top left of the starter. I probably will need to convince a mechanic to design and rivet in place some custom baffle strips for these two areas. Yet my doghouse has numerous cracks (all stop-drilled now) and looks like the whole thing will disintegrate into a pile of dust at any moment, so I don't want to put any more resources into it than absolutely necessary. And I can't imagine deciding to remove and re-install that crappy thing if I have to overhaul engine at any point. So David needs to get his cowl mod to market soon, and tell me where to send a deposit.