[crhammond]

You do have to take care of rattles for sure... use guide tubes/cable wrap and tie everything down good. And yes... your canpoy screws need locktite from time to time LOL - ouch! I use those rubber backed Aztec washers - or I counter sink the hole like recommended - and line it with a little goop to keep the screw head tight and in-place. Once the goop hardens it is a little rubbery and the screw will be nice and snug in there but still easy to get out.

I used 24 nylon 4-40 screws to hold the cowl on on my 2.6 260. Everything is tied down and it is VERY quiet with no rattles at all.

I have heard some Comp-Arf planes with regular mufflers and wires all flopping around... in a composite frame the noise is crazy as it tends to resonate or amplify or something... I agree it is annoying.