I also have no bad feelings about grinding on an overly thick housing
for a little additional clearance.
Frequently things are made for a target market, but universally don't fit
everything in the world.
That was what Hot Rodding was about years ago....making something instead of buying it.
These days if a 17 year old can't bolt it straight on, he doesn't know how to make it work.
Have any pictures of the things you overcame?