Is there a trick to putting in the front springs without using a compressor?I don't want to scratch up the paint on them ,but I can't see how it can be done.I see these cars at shows with flawless undercarriages and wonder how they do it.Any sugestions,comments ? TIA Don :cool:

this is what i did. I had my car completely apart, and sat the front coil spring into the lower control arm. took a block of wood, and drilled a hole with a hole saw large enough to get the spring compressor thru. put an old towel between the the block of wood, and the control arm, inserted the spring compressor, and compressed the spring INTO the lower control arm. Installed the control arm, and began to slowly release the coil spring. IF I scratched the paint on my springs, it is so far up into the frame i cannot see them. BE CAREFUL WITH THAT SPRING COMPRESSOR!!!!! Make sure you use a quality tool. I am sure there is someone who would miss you if you were gone.!
CHIP

Hey Chip, thanks for the great info. I'm guessing you used the internal type compressor.I will definitly give your way a try. graemlins/thumbsup.gif Don

So what you're saying is that you pinched the spring against the lower arm from the bottom rather than pinching the spring and then inserting it into the space.

DANG! Wish I'd thought of that before I fought for 5 hours trying to get the spring compressed and then not being able to extract the compressor when the spring is released! graemlins/clonk.gif

GREAT idea for those of you who are about to fight your front springs!!!

DITTOZS,yes i did. I had a bare frame with no motor, and the frame sitting on an above ground lift. Thinking about how to get the spring in with no help, and not knocking my head off. i had powdercoated the complete chassis and front and rear suspension, and was dang sure i did not want to do this twice. i did have a little problem getting the coil springs to sit on the upper seat. A little fiddling with a pry bar and I had all my fingers, and My head still attached.
Chip