Thanks for the input, guys. Here's where I'm at.
330mm was nearly impossible to get in. I may have backed off 1/2 mm but it took force to get the plates/bolts in.
Changing the length of the shock will allow easier install in that regard, but does not change the lack of clearance to the cat, for instance, as all of that is driven by the plates...unless the cat is moved/lowered.
The bike had ~3k miles on it, so unless it was a visually perfect repair, I think everything was factory when I bought it. It was an "I know what I got" seller...but he owned Harley's, so I expected that!
Because at 330mm (same a '98) the aSS end is way up there, part(s) have to be different. I have no way to easily compare them without removing them from both bikes, so I took the tack of p/n research. Some p/ns had changed, but the same ones (for parts listed in prior posts-singarm, frame, linkage, dogbone, centerstand, etc.) fit both bikes outside of the actual shock p/n which is different. I can't know beyond that unless someone else posts some info about theirs...and I heard only crickets.
I suspect that the area where the top of the shock mounts to extends slightly further down on the '00. that would cause trouble getting the 330mm shock in and raise everything...but I'm making that up. There are quite a few parts that could have changed to cause this symptom.
So...I sucked it up and got my Captain big boy pants on and shortened the shock 1.5 turns, so 1.5 mm, which turned into a no weight (on centerstand) measurement change of 2-3 mm. I expected more or I would have shortened the shock more. (CB-1 is 3-4 mm per 1mm change in shock length, for reference.) Again...I wish folks that know would chime in. I may have to do that one more time, but I'm going to ride it as is (and set warm sag properly) and see what happens.
Stay tuned or tune out. It's up to you. 🙂
1998 at 330mm. Plenty of room and easy to install.
2000 problem with clearance, Clarence