Glad you have a good attitude about it all. If it were not for the problems we would not learn anything.
I'm the same, mine is a SRV 540 into a Fl 250 kart. Every time I work on it, "its what about this or what about that". I do keep at it, and can only hope I have as much fortitude as you have had.
Good luck. :-)
RDomke@Comcast.Net