Is your 64.75” measurement including the plastic end pieces? My stock one is 68” including them and 45” for the mounts. From what I remember there are special mounting brackets required for the Fey/Westin bumpers to bolt to the rear bumper mounts.
They are pretty rare, I’ve only seen one other owned by @Sugarfoot. I think those two brackets attach to the glass with tape and the louvers hang in them because you can flip them up to clean the window.
Sounds like rod knock to me. Get a long screwdriver put it to your ear and touch different places along the top and bottom of the engine to locate the sound. If it’s louder at the bottom it may be a bad bearing.
Test the CPS and look at the connections. Try jumping the fuel pump ballast resistor, driver side fender at the front. Also check the connections behind the driver kick panel. Mine was loose and would intermittently not start but if I slammed the door it would.