Lower ball joint stud spinning - need ideas

[rgunlock]

I'm replacing all the ball joints on a Dana 44 front axle for my 78 GMC K15. I've already pressed the new ball joints into the steering knuckles and have one of the knuckles installed onto the "C" and had no problems. Then I went to install the other side. Ran the new nut down on the lower ball joint stud. It went down freely so I don't think it cross threaded. Unfortunately I could only get the nut down nearly flush with the end of the stud and then the stud turns with the nut.

My Chilton's manual tells me to first tighten the lower ball joint nut to 70 ft lbs. Then thread on the spanner nut and tighten to 50 ft lbs with the special tool, then put on the castle nut for the upper ball joint and tighten to 100+ ft lbs until the cotter pin can line up. The first side went on just like this and no issue at all.

Lower stud is just spinning in the pressed in housing and at this point I can't get it to either tighten or come back off. I tried installing the spanner nut and castle nut on top to pull the lower up and snug - didn't help. I've tried inserting the end of a crowbar into the steering knuckle and prying against the "C" thinking to put some tension on the stud but this hasn't worked yet either.

Anybody else had this problem and come up with a solution?