Crazy alignment problems

No.... I know better LOL. IIRC: It took me a while to make sure I got it right the 1st time with stock t-bars. It also applied to an '03 Dakota that my son and I worked on; the LCA's had to be pulled waaaay down for proper t-bar clocking; my son did not do that 1st time, and the ride height could not be adjusted. He clocked them in with the LCA's close to level, and thought he did it right.

It has all been discussed here before. If anyone is interested, then search for 'clocking'; the info is there. I'd honestly be happy to understand another reason why the adjuster bolts look to be at full adjustment in (certainly abnormal), that the OP has them torqued 'as tight as he dares', and the t-bar cams are way above the LCA's (sure looks abnormal to me).

I am in agreement with you b6p: this does not change the tie-rods being waaay out of whack. But it does not look right at all, and needs to be fixed regardless, if it is wrong. There look to be multiple problems

BTW, the bumper being off the frame is just a reflection of the position of the LCA, regardless of what is taking the load. You could weld/bolt a solid bar in place of the shock with no t-bar in the car and the bumper could be in that position. So what is taking the load has nothing to do with the bumper position.