Well, it's done! What a PITA it is to get the oil pump on while aligning the front spindle and the mode fork shaft to the rear case half while on your back. It's like juggling while on fire. I'd get the spindle and the shaft lined up then the stupid feed line for the pump falls off. Keep in mind I'm doing this while trying not to touch the RTV that's on the other side. Finally got it all together though.
I didn't like how low the pinion was so I decided to loosen teh U-bolts and put the shims I had back in. I think they're 2.5* but I'm not certain. They're the ones the lift came with for when you didn't install a SYE and had to drop the T-case. In any case it looks a lot better. It didn't go withough a fight though. I have Currie spring plates and they're boxed. So you have to keep the bolts straight in order to not get the socket jammed in the plate. Well that didn't happen. The other PITA part was trying to get 90ft-lbs on them while laying on my side. I ended up going in increments so I could tell I was tightening then without having to worry that I was going to break a bolt. It's always strange when you get them all to a set torque then it takes more turns to get to the next mark.
In any case, all the heavy lifting is done. The pinion is still a little below the yoke. I ordered some 1" dog legged lift shackles for the rear. That should get me on the pinion while giving me a little more lift in the rear. (I had 1" Con-ferrs in the rear not too long ago and removed them for some cheap stock height shackles.
So I measured some the yoke strap holes to the yoke strap holes and I get about 19" on the bottom and 19.25" for the top.
One thing to note is that the index on the VSS isn't helpful anymore. I just went by feel and it works.
In 4WD, the shaft doesn't even come close to the hole.
After adding the degree shims.