Best/easiest way to install coil spring

[siggyfreud]

Hey all,

About the install the coil spring in the truck after finally getting the LCAs sorted.

The frame currently has the engine/trans sitting in it, but nothing else on the front end aside from the suspension parts.

The frame isn't high enough with my jack stands to get the spring inside its area, and under the LCA to jack it up from the ball joint end. Besides that, it looks like it would be really tough to keep it aligned in its resting area on the bottom end.

I'm thinking the two options are:

#1 Use a spring compressor, get it in there and attach the lower ball joint to the spindle. I'll need to jack up the frame more because it's not high enough to even set the spring at an angle in the LCA.

Or

#2 Unbolt the LCA ubolts, attach the LCA to the spindle, then put the spring in and jack up the rear, which would be more up and down with less swing and keep the spring in its resting area.

I have done #2 before, however I had the entire vehicle weight. Not sure if there is enough weight to compress the spring, or if I'd just keep lifting the frame. I don't want to shove it off the other stands.

Any thoughts on if the spring will compress well before I start lifting stuff, or should I go rent myself a spring compressor?

Thanks.