quick question - setting pinion angle
 

Do I need to have the rear sway bar installed to set the pinion angle, if that's how I'm going to have it when I drive?

I was going to change it out, then put everything loosely together to take my measurements, but the metal hardware is so rusted I can't reuse.

It seems like it isn't a big enough deal to change any measurements, but I wanted to double check.

No you do not. The sway bar will not affect height

Sway bar doesn't affect height or angle......all it does is even out the motion side to side.

It is mounted along the centerline of the axle so it can't affect these things (not all vehicles are, but the XJs are).