Latest updates:
Well, after 4 months and lots of back and forth between Aspen, Eagle Creek, Collins etc, they've come to the conclusion they cannot drive the A/P from the new Aspen, even though they initially said they could. In my world it seems like the easiest thing in the world - just convert digital heading and alt info into analog and have that drive the H-14. But apparently Eagle Creek had tried that with a previous install and it didn't go well. So the cheerily offered me to install a new A/P for about $100K... No thanks. So, the old Collins/Sperry goes back in and that's the end of that. Sorry to say, but I'm OK with it now, just sad that it took 4 months to get to this conclusion. I also understand the avionics shop's frustration, they've spent close to 100hrs troubleshooting and calling various engineering teams and they won't really get paid for that. All around just a bum deal for all.
Anyway, not all of that time was wasted. We overhauled a lot of the hydraulic actuators and did a mini-phase inspection, so that was good. Waiting on last actuators end of May, and then gear swings etc and the she should be out of there. I can't wait to go flying again.