upper mounts were included with the new shocks, and 'all that shit' was only 4 bolts and 4 nuts took less than an hour from pulling into the garage to backing out without a lift. I guess I was worried about nothing really.
didn't look at it but I think I got it tracked down. Once I loaded the trunk it pumped up and the clunking is gone, I'm thinking I need to readjust the level sensor so it doesn't vent all the air unloaded. Without air part of the shock slid down and was smacking the top mount from the looks of it. I just put 400 miles or so and it road great. The one bulletin about 'concern for air fittings to the new shocks' may be something to look into also, if it's bleeding out air it will probably ride like shit too.
Plus I thought about it, for less than $200 I put new front brakes and new rear struts on it. It would have cost a hell of alot more for a last minute rental for the week and it took shit for time to do. If I fuck the shocks up and void the warranty it is still far cheaper to buy a second set of shocks, but even then I'm sure I can talk em into swapping them out for a new set even if it was my fault.
Thanks for the help, I'm over halfway to my destination I'll just rock it there and back next weekend and deal with anything I fuck up if anything