Narrowing 8 3/4 details

1) if your good and clock the u joints 90 degrees from one another and keep it straight then all is good
2) if using the stock style springs then you could clock it with the old but it would be better with the new springs because they may be different, but that is where the degree shims would come into play
3) i used a big chunk of angle iron and clamped it tight on both sides and then started tacking it together. I also stuffed a 1.5 inch bar through the housing and used a empty case with bushing in the bearing locations, just to be sure it stayed straight. (you could go without the bar)