Front driveshaft pinion to transfer case help

[ShadowsPapa]

Those are "conventional" driveshafts with a u-joint at each end. Our front shafts come with a CV joint at the upper end, and don't spin unless 4wd is engaged (the optional full-time transfer case is an exception, but it still has a CV). Those old rules don't apply to us.

Exactly. Those are for the "cross and roller" joints, those actually have a velocity change multiple times each revolution so the other end must cancel that change (and it's why they must be in phase)
Our drive shaft joints are CV or Rzeppa joints, ball and groove. CV - constant velocity, so there's no worry if one has more angle than the other and - they can run far more extreme angles.
Side note on a conventional or cross type u-joint - running them totally straight is not good! That actually leads to premature wear. You always want some angle on them. In fact, even CV joints should be better off with some angle to keep the ball moving in the groove and not letting it pound out a spot from never moving. I've seen conventional joints that were run almost perfectly straight - the needles actually put grooves in the caps from lack of rolling motion.
So - some angle is good, with CV joints, just plain don't sweat it if the angles don't match. It's ok.

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[NewGladdyOWNR]

You guys are awesome! Thanks for the feedback, making a newbie worry less.