Thanks guys.
Rob, it was very helpful to know in advance about these problems, and I'm confident now that she'll turn out alright. Touch wood.
Steve, thanks for the help with the edit. Yes, I'm more into the aesthetics of cars than the mechanicals. My first car was a 1964 VW and even with the help of my copy of "VW Maintenaince for Complete Idiots" I got nowhere. Having said that, I very much enjoy it when someone else does a great looking scale undercarriage.