if anyone else is following along, and needs to do this same experimentation, I did manage to find an aluminum housed/finned resistor here for $13 shipped (shipping was $7, more than the resistor itself). It is rated at 50 watts, 1ohm.
http://www.action-electronics.com/
I'll post up how it works.
Again, Sean, your help has been invaluable! Thank YOU!!!!!