On the shift linkage all I did was loosen a nut before the body lift. Then after the lift tightened it back down. No steering linkage issues at all. This was on a 2" body lift.

For me the torsion bars have not been the limiting factor. Even if they were such as if they are worn out you can reindex them which some people have had to do.

I am lost on your shimming Idea <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/scared.gif" alt="" /> sorry. But if you look at some lift kits for IFS such as on chevey trucks alot of the time you will see where people have brought the torsion bars down away from the frame. I dont think that is a good Idea though because it seems to me like they would easily get damaged on rocks or other things you cross. Now if you can drop the whole front suspension including the axle that would be great but then what do you do with the torsion bars that does not put them in harms way? That has been aswered with one kit but it is hard to obtain and get into this country and there are questions as to if it would fit a Gen I or not.