Yes, this is one of those things where you don't know what you're getting into until you get into it. I will say the video I mentioned above on the conversion is a bit misleading even though it explains pretty well the basic principle of the swap. It just doesn't deal with the issue of what you do AFTER you get the freehub bodies swapped out (he even puts the HG seal back on without putting any wheel bearings in the race first which is a real puzzler).

I hate to have to modify an original seal, but it's such a cheap plastic part that that still makes the most sense to me to do to get this project done (hopefully). I can't see spending money on a whole new axle assembly just to get a right cone that clears the seal as it is.