Recapping makes me very nervous (I have to send it out, and the thought of shipping it back and forth terrifies me), but I know I need to just bite the bullet and get it over with.
Might I recommend Frank at
Retro Rewind. The only downside is he's located in Canada, so shipping isn't as cheap as someone stateside. But he does very good work and his customer service is top notch. If you ping him at some point tell him we all said, "Hi!" at AmigaLove.
As for a 1541 emulator, I can't recommend the Ultimate1541 more highly. It's expensive, and the wait can suck sometimes (they are all out of stock at the moment, which sucks even more), but it's one of the most amazing devices ever made for the C64 IMO. That being said, there are excellent and far cheaper solutions out there that'll cover your tracks 90% of the way. The Ultimate's possibilities ... you could spend ages in there just unlocking half its potential.
Anyway... have fun figuring things out this winter. Look forward to seeing you around the site as you post more stuff. And don't be shy about non-Commodore brands. You can always use the "retro corner" area for any flavor you want to talk or ask about.