This is fun since its November and your money!
My pylon looks like this:
ImageUploadedByTapatalk1353280606.324488.jpg
So I didn't need to reinforce the wall. I think Mandley did a write up on reinforcing his.

I surf the port side so I left the hydraulics where they were. In hindsight I felt like I could have easily moved it to the engine compartment, I'm getting plenty of weight on that side so I'm leaving it.
Here's what I did:
ImageUploadedByTapatalk1353280933.829343.jpg
Very simple, one screw holds it to a stop I mounted on the side panel. It's carpeted marine plywood.