You're right, dammit. I had new U-bolts (grd 8 & 6 3/4") bent and they came with cutter nuts which are torqued to 65#. Now I've gotta' get new ones ..
You're also correct on the longer shackles keeping the springs from pushing the shackles back. That was my original intent and how I had it set up (w/ OE Shackles) until I saw they'd been pushed back. I put the CALMINI shackles back in and it's fine. The ass sitsup a little but it looks great and the ride's great too.