Bummer to hear Mark. I have a 18" saw and use a carbide 1" blade (Ag B-18 and lenox trimaster(?)). Here's my set up procedure:
-aligning the teeth to overhang the front of the top wheel when tensioned
-setting the guides to 'kiss' both top and bottom (as you mentioned)
-striking a line parallel to the edge of a piece of 2' or 3' piece of scrap
-freehand cutting to the line 1/2 way through the scrap with the blade fully tensioned
-aligning the fence to the edge of the board
When changing blades, this often results in the fence moving a couple degrees. I have never checked alignment to the miter slot. Not sure if any of that is different than what you've been trying.
Looking forward to seeing the fruits of your efforts.
Best,
Chris
"You can observe a lot just by watching."
--Yogi Berra