Should my Pitts S-1S (E?) have radius plates?

[glenbecker]

My airplane was built by Willie Carter in FL and registered 1993. It appears I have Grove gear (is there another spring gear type?) and flat mounting plates. It's my first Pitts so of course I have "challenged" the gear on more than a couple landings.

I don't have pictures of the structure around the lower longerons and where the gear crosses the airframe but I can get those today.

From everything I've seen here I should have radius plates installed. But I'm not clear on the extent of the mod, so:

Should I have them?
I'm not a builder, so is Grove the best (only?) place to get them?
Is the install as simple as just replacing the flat plates?
What should I be looking for on the airframe to make sure I haven't already hurt something?

Thanks!

 

[cwilliamrose]

 

[Acrobum]

 

[dimcuesta]

 

[lanceav8r]

 

[cwilliamrose]

 

[Morphewb]

 

[cwilliamrose]

 

[glenbecker]

 

[ilikeitinverted]

 

[PittsDriver68]

 

[Morphewb]

 

[dimcuesta]

 

[lanceav8r]

 

[PittsDriver68]

 

[Jean-luc]

 

[cwilliamrose]

 

[Hova]

 

[cwilliamrose]

 

[PittsDriver68]