I am getting ready to complete the front suspension before the engine comes home and had a question about the the spring/a-arm install.....will I need a special tool to compress the spring to get the clearance to connect the spindle to the upper a-arm or will a floor jack underneath it give me enough compression to connect the upper a-arm? thanks...Jim

 

I used a floor jack but I can tell you that it was quite the dexterity test to get the spring seated correctly in the upper saddle. The spring starts at an angle as they are so long and has a tendancy to sit on the higher centre section as opposed to being in the groove. It takes a bit of arguing (read bruises on your hands and wrists ) to get it right. I do not trust spring compressors that much now that they are all made by the Commies... You will get it done, but it can be painful..

 

I just didnt know if the frame itself would be heavy enough to compress the spring enough for me to put everything together...the engie is not in the car

 

Oh, my engine was in. You will need a pretty good spring compressor to get it to fit inside the spring. Do you have a lift? You could strap the frame down with canvas tie down straps to keep from lifting the whole thing.

 

Without the engine in the car, there is no way you can use a floor jack to compress the spring. The frame will lift under spring tension. With the engine out, I used 5/8" ASE threaded running stock with large washers and double nuts for safety. Put the spring in the pocket and put the running stock through the frame down to the lower control arm through the shock hole. Tighten the nuts as you go. Have the spindle ready to slip on the lower ball joint as the spring is compressed. Take your time and be careful. When the spindle assembly is firmly attached, back off the nuts until all tension is off. Lastly, slide the stock out and replace it with a shock. I used a small amount of grease on the rod to move things along. If you removed the snubber on the upper A frame, put it in before you do any of this. Jerry

 

If you have a spring shop near by, you can bring your springs to them and they can compress and band them so that it will be very easy to install. Then all you have to do is cut the bands and you're done.

 

Actually without the engine in the car, or for that matter nothing but the frame, you can use a floor jack to raise the lower control arm and compress the spring enough to insert the ball joint in the spindle. All that is required is the use of a length of chain, preferably 3/8" with a couple of hooks on the ends.

(One without the large hook in this picture is all that's needed.)

Place the length of chain on the floor below the frame and parallel to it, directly under the lower control arm. Carefully place the floor jack into position on top of the chain. Attach one end of the chain to the front horn of the frame. I like to use the holes that the bumper brackets bolt into and bolt one end of the chain to that. (You can also wrap the chain around the frame and hook the chain to itself using the small hook.)

Take the other end of the chain and wrap it around the frame on the other side of the lower control arm (rear side) and again link it (or bolt it) to itself with as little slack as possible. It's important to place the chains in a position where they won't slip under pressure abruptly. I also like to place a couple of leather welding gloves under the chain to prevent it from scratching a newly painted frame.

Once every thing is secured properly, you can now position the spring between the upper spring pocket of the frame and the lower control arm. Have someone hold it gently but firmly in place and then carefully and slowly begin to raise the lower control arm using the jack. This is the most difficult stage, because the spring doesn't naturally seat itself until the spring is compressed quite a bit, and you can attach the ball joint to the spindle without the spring being seated completely in the upper pocket... been-there & done-that!

As the jack begins to raise the lower control arm things may want to move about a bit, but if you've positioned the jack properly and the chains are securely attached, it should all go together just fine. If things appear to be moving more than they should, don't hesitate to stop and reposition things a bit.

It also helps to have a third person act as a safety observer to alert you if things are not progressing as intended. Quite clearly inserting springs into a frame can be a very dangerous process and extreme caution should always be used, regardless of how you do it. However, if you do it carefully and watch what is happening it can be done in this manner quite safely.

Good luck... and be careful out there... GUSTO