Here's a Steffen 7/8wt. 8'6" 4pc. rod I just finished: REC Recoil stripping guide; Snake Brand Universal Guides; YLI Chestnut Silk Thread; White tipping; Lemke Seat.
I turned around what would have been an uplocking seat to make it downlocking. To do this, I simply installed the inletted hood into the fighting butt instead of the rear of the cork grip. This allows my 4.6 oz. Abel TR3 to balance this rod at the very front of the grip.
I have not cast the rod yet. We have about 12" of ice right now; but I greatly look forward to it.