afbecker, are you using 8 lines or 4 lines connected to the lcd display? It seems from your posting you are trying to build a serial "backpack" controller for your lcd display. I have done this before and it works quite well. I did however use 8 line connection to the lcd display as the data can be transmitted in 1 strobe rather than 2. Just remember that some of the commands for the lcd display require at least 5 Ms. to execute ie (clear lcd, and some of the cursor positioning commands.

Dave Purola,
N8NTA