As for the adapter plate idea, it's already been done and i believe they were a factory item primarily used for base swaps for full cranks after the power torque came into production. (Well, at least thats what an old Victa dealer had told me)
I've got one here and if anyone is interested I'll dig it out and post a couple of photos of it.
Yes bigted, please show us. I find it odd though, that Victa would bring out an adapter to fit an obsolete engine over the current one.
