Thinking like a shop owner, I'd be willing to bet the shop owner would want you to have an alignment done after the lowers were done and you would kikely need another alignment after you did the uppers.  The shop guy may refuse to do just the lowers and my thinking is that as long as he's got the front end torn down, how much longer would it take him to put the fronts in while he's at  it?

If it were me(and it will be pretty soon), I'd pull it all apart, take th e lowers to my trusty hydraulic press shop, finish my BJ's and uppers and then find a good alignment shop(in this case the press shop and the alignment shop would be at the same address....lol.

Find a youtube video on the procedure and see if you're up to it or not.

YMMV

DM&FS

----- Original Message -----
From: "JRodgers" <jrodgers113@GMAIL.COM>
To: "vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM" <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
Sent: Sunday, January 10, 2016 12:24:40 PM
Subject: Front end overhaul

I am soon to replace the bushings and ball joints on the front of my 88 GL.
I can manage the upper ball joints and bushings myself. But I question the
wisdom of tackling the lower ones on my own. Can tthe lower ones be done
first (by a shop) and the later the uppers done by me? Recommendations?

Thanks.

John