I bought my H model back in October and it has been a learning process for me as well having come from renting and flying newer S models for the past 16 years. Here is what i can advise based on my own experience.
Lean - I was always good at leaning but the lead fouling on these O300 engines is a thing even with my leaning. I now use TCP in my fuel as an additive. It is a lead scavenging agent that seems to help a lot. I also changed out the old champion spark plugs for ones that are less prone to fouling. UREM37BY made by Tempest has the extended electrode. There is a slim wire one but sparkplugs for airplanes are crazy expensive so i went with the tempest ones. The new plugs made a noticeable difference in the starting and performance of my plane. YMMV
Getting used to the MPH for me was a change since i grew up flying in KTS. Try to force yourself to really think about your speeds, especially in the pattern. I found myself still trying to fly my old KTS numbers on my MPH gauges and my landings were horrible until i made the mental shift. Plus, the 145 horsepower engine takes some getting used to if you have been flying anything with more power (like the 180 Horse i was flying) Also, i had to get used to carb heat and priming again...not a big deal, but the S models were fuel injected so i hadnt had to do that in a long while.
I got a fresh weight and balance on mine. It wasn't terribly expensive and it gives me peace of mind knowing what my real useful load is. I realized there were a lot of additions and subtractions since 1966 to my plane and i just didnt feel comfortable not knowing what the real weight was with all the hands that had been touching the plane and the weight and balances over the years. Not something you have to do obviously, but knowing that i wanted to know my true limits on load, i wanted a new one i could confidently trust.
I hadn't had to deal with all the regulatory and maintenance issues myself since the rental place always took care of it. I spent a good deal of time building myself an excel file to keep track of all the things i needed to know. You are in Canada so cant speak to your regulations up there, but down here in the states, you have to keep the transponder checked, ELT batteries changed, Pitot Static if it is IFR, annual, oil changes, rotate spark plugs etc etc. The list goes on and on of things you must do and things you should do. I made the excel file to help me keep track of when things were done by me or an A&P. I also put up a dry erase board in my hangar to help me keep track of things as well and make it visible every time i go out there to keep it fresh on my mind. I also spent time going through the logs to find out when things had been done....when was the battery replaced last, tires replaced last and added those to the excel file for quick reference. This may be overkill, but I feel like having really gone through the logs and done that i have a better overall picture of my planes condition. I also took a minute (or many minutes actually) to go ahead and scan my airplane log books. I had heard stories of people (mechanics) losing logbooks and i didnt want to chance that so I scanned them into my computer and i keep a copy on my phone if i need a quick reference at the airport. I also bought the brightest folder i could find to keep my logbooks in. This thing is Hot Pink! I figured it might help people that are working on my plane not overlook a drab colored logbook lying around. Hot pink folder is hard to overlook or lose.
One more thing, i was initially scared of the 40 degrees of flaps. I had never used those before. I have found that that are like speed brakes LOL. Sometimes if I am high on final, if i kick in 40 degrees, i feel like i can almost point the nose straight down and not pick up speed. It is like deploying barn doors! That being said, i dont use them all the time, but dont be afraid of them, they can be useful at times.
Those are just a few of the things i personally did that may help you get your hands around this new adventure. Have fun with the H model, i am enjoying mine!
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