You do NOT need an FFL for an upper receiver (bare or assembled).
You DO need an FFL for the lower receiver, which has the serial number.
There is one upside to these limitations, and that is that you can trick out your rifle with all sorts of features like telescoping stock, flash suppreser, etc., because by definition, the gun is not an AW.
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*IF* kernelpanic is right (I don't know CA's laws) then pre- or post- ban upper makes no difference. The rest of the uppers on the page appear to be post-bans and would be fine on any AR.
Ordering: Anyone can order an upper - they're not federally controlled. My usual process for ordering a lower:
[list=1][*]Talk to an FFL and tell them what you plan to do[/*]
[*]Call the supplier and place the order - make payment and tell them who your FFL is[/*]
[*]Ask the FFL to send their paperwork to the supplier[/*]
[*]When the lower arrives, go to the FFL and fill out your paperwork, give him the transfer fee and drive off with a big, silly grin[/*]
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Depending on the supplier and your location, they may already have an FFL with paperwork on file, which would make things go a little faster. Also, some places in your area may have a CA legal lower in stock, which would also speed things up.