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Marv,  Your concerns about the fiberfax insulation compression as you
tighten your engine mounting bolts are well founded.  When you do it per the
book you end up with a ratty looking firewall with bulges and depressions.
I didn't have the foresight to do what you are thinking of with phenolic
pads under the SS but other builders have done it and it greatly improves
the appearance of the firewall.  Don't forget to cut clearance holes in the
insulation so the SS goes directly to the pads.  Also, I suspect that a
further advantage of the phenolic mounting pads is that your engine will sag
less as you put some flight time on your plane.  My spinner came down at
least a quarter of an inch (relative to the cowling) in the first 50 hours.
Bob Jude
N65BJ