I'll try to answer some of your questions.I'm sure the pros will reply soon.
1.My welder guy welded my pivots up solid both sides and anyplace it moved.You need to dig the rubber out with a screwdriver.I made the mistake of leaving it in on one side and it caught fire and dripped out.
It wouldn't hurt to use some flat stock and weld the pivot radius to it.
Pivot Welded 2.You want the vehicle sitting on it's wheels with all its weight on the ground.I did mine on flat concrete,but i don't think it really matters.If the rear tailshaft of the transmission is 2 degrees, you set the rear end pinion angle at -2degrees . Imagine a laser beam shining out from the center of the tail shaft and the center of the pinion,the two lines should be parallel with each other.
3.It depends on the experience you have at welding.I would remove it,it's awfully close and if there is any vapors present,it won't be pleasant.
4.Just the weight of the vehicle sitting on it's wheels on the ground.
Hope this has helped.
Tim
