You should do it. But I recommend a book or two on compiler design. There are useful techniques (like SSA) that simplify program analysis if you decide you want to dip your toes into adding optimizer passes. Building stuff yourself, the hard way, is definitely the best way to learn. I wish I had unbounded time to do it…

Edit: I like the Appel compiler book. One of my students enjoyed “Writing a C compiler” by Nora Sandler. There are also a number of classic compiler books that feel more relevant once you are deep in the weeds.