I'm going to have to go out with a block of scrap and experiment, I'm not getting how adding a spacer block adds travel. It seems like it would be adding it on one side of the travel by taking it from the other side. (This is biproduct of my working with enclosed x/y/z systems where there's simply no idea of "adding travel".)

Good call on the motor orientation. I'm already banging into the lead screw every time i walk buy, having the servo stick out further is going to be a real joy.