2 Questions regarding simple spiral.

1) If my guide train goes: butt guide #10, and first 180 #8, and then running guides are #6 is it ok that the bumper guide (between butt guide & first 180) is a size #6 or should it be an #8 to follow the sizing? If the line goes from a small guide like a #6 to a #8 or even a #10 and back down to a #6 is that a problem?

2) When i lay out the simple spiral the first 180 guide just acts like a guide for the line it doesn't seem to play any roll in rod loading (it passes thru the center of the guide). Is it ok to use a taller guide that can contact the line when the rods under load or is that a bad idea?

The 90* guide keeps the line off the blank, so it can small like #3 or 4.

The 180 guide is only going to be maybe 8 or 9 or 10 inches from the butt guide. You can use a lower frame guide for the first 180 if you like. It will put the line on the ring sooner, but isn't of much consequence as the rod will flex more deeply as the load is increased and the first 180 will pick up the line then.

The bumper guide is an addition to, not a part of, the regular guide system. you do not want it so small in ring size that it would redirect the line in any way, but you do want it very low to the blank. For that reason I generally use a larger bumper guide but bend the feet so that the ring sits very low - right down almost on the rod blank.

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I have built some spiral wrapped rods with the standard size stripper guide that I would use on a conventional wrap and then all the same size for the running guides at 180 and the bumper at 90 as well. They cast just as well as the same blank conventionally wrapped, and I much prefer the spiral wrap when fighting large fish.