Eric,
I actually feel better about my fight with the bolts. Yours sound like they were even more determined to stay where they were. I also don't envy you having to drill those holes.
I did finish getting the trim kit put in today! Everything works like it is supposed to, but I haven't road tested it yet. That will be a while. I am about ready to take it off the ramps, just want to make sure It can stay off them for a while before I do. Kind of a pain to get all the wheels centered on them at the same time.
Keep working at the front axle, if it was easy everyone would do it. It hit me today that on a great big motor home you still end up working in a tiny little space.