that's weird; i pulled a front wheel to see if there might be room for some washers but there isn't (i mean, maybe 1 or 2 w/o running out of thread for the center nut so i didn't bother).
i'd think real hard over how you're gonna want better shocks than stockers, esp with heavier parts and rolling stock that're gonna need to be damped.
fwiw, the SC shocks have 3" travel.....it'll be the best $32 you ever spent.
eat ramen for a week (after you're done w/ the whole barfing situation) to afford them if you have to.
if you center up the column it'll help the bumpsteer which is gonna get worse w/ your extra travel.
"edited due to not having realized there was more to your post than came thru on the email notification"