It's sounds positive. It will be interesting to see how things improve from now on. Did you try full outhaul to flatten the bottom? Almost everything adjustable on an 18-2 I had seemed to corrode and seize up in no time (quality issues?), anti-corrosion paste is a must. Can you make some cheap temporary (fixed length) spreader bars using cheap tube or get a local machine shop to thread you some? Good luck with the tuning.

Cheshirecatman