First post on my 69 -- I was putting together the front end without the rest of the car, including the engine. I thought some might appreciate the tooling I used to compress the springs.

 

You know they sell spring compressor for like $10 at Harbor freight? That thing looks like a accident waiting for the right time.

 

Why does my chin hurt just looking at that?

 

I tried the spring compressor -- it didn't work! When the springs were in the final position, the turn-to-turn spacing was too small to allow removal.

 

As silly as it looks necessity is the mother of invention.

Kudos from this shadetree.

 

Your title thread should have a disclimer in it

"DO NOT TRY THIS AT HOME!"

That is just straight up dangerous!

I've seen illegal immigrants in junkyards doing things more safe than that, and they are usually balancing an entire car on a stack of used tires so they can pull a tranny

 

The safest way to install springs is to take them to a suspension shop and have them banded.

For very little cost they will compress the springs and use bands to keep them compressed. You take them home, intsall them, then safely cut the bands with a wire cutter.

Safe and easy.

Vic

 

Wow.

 

Granted. Necessity is also a ***** F**KA if your invention is poorly executed. It may have worked this time but it is bound to fail in spectacular fashion at some point. I wouldn't want myself or my kids around it if it did. Glad it worked for op this time. Now he should burn it or throw it in the scrap pile.

 

Well, I did do this safely. Truth is, doing this with the engine in the car is just as dangerous.

I do have to admit to liking the banding idea, it's "The Best Way". The problem with installing springs is that the geometry with the LCA all the way down doesn't allow the spring to be easily seated properly -- but with the banding, it seats well.

Thanks, that'll come in handy next time.