I just want to post in this thread so I can track it!
But have to say Doug --- when I first saw the "build" being posted... all I could see was "hackie motto". Doing the kind of work you took on (the builder) took on -- that's way more involved than the average guy is capable of. What I saw was too much overhead.... as in -- the builder was in way over his head!
Glad to see you're sticking with it... make it fun... make it a good learning experience... and then drive the heck out of it!