Thanks man.
I had access to a few specialty tools thru a friend, but for the most part this was just me in my garage using tools on hand. There are a lot of wrenches on this site, but I'm proof you don't have to be one. You just have to be able to read & follow instructions, ask questions, and get your hands dirty.
Mostly for my own benefit I'll recap here all the things done so far:
replaced bucks with flat bars ("broomstick")
replaced mirror
removed front fender
removed crash bars/hwy pegs
made cheap bike lift to drop rear wheel
removed passenger pegs (after dropping rr wheel)
bullet signals front and back
moved voltage reg to air box
custom tail light
replaced rear fender with custom (trailer fender)
side mounted plate with light (horizontal to be legal here)
replaced muffler with HD
wrapped exhaust
replaced air filter with chrome cone
replaced seat
painted shocks black
tweaked the carb a little for the intake/exhaust changes
Things left to do:
paint tank and fender
replaced petcock with Raptor (ordered)
replace that @!%* head plug (procrastinating)
get another Savage and do it again even bigger