3 inch lift coil springs install HELP

[nrb's70gmc]

long story short (truck is a 1970 3/4 ton)

intalled new upper and lower ball joints (c20)

wanna do a offroad (prerunner style truck)
baught some 3 inch lift coils (c10)

the new springs will offer a nice ride with a bit of lift

old stock springs measure at 13 inches (out of truck) these will slip in and out wihout the use of a spring compressor.

new 3 inch lift springs measure 15 inches (out of truck)

using a internal spring compresser (I compressed the new springs down to 13 inches) they slip in the coil buckets like the stock springs.

the problem is the rod of the spring compressor is sticking to far out the top of the coil to properly seat the coil in the upper coil bucket.

when you let the tension off the compressor (make the rod even with top of coil spring) the coil isnt compressed enough to fit in.

and then i twidle my thumbs again.

the reason for the internal compessor is that its more compact and i thought the other type of compressor (external) would not allow the room.

What to do-what to do???? at a stand still now.

[Steeveedee]

I like to live dangerously. I've installed dozens of springs by stuffing them into the upper spring pocket, levered them into the lower spring pocket with a ginormous screwdriver or pry bar, and jacked up the lower a-arm until I could get the nut on the lower ball joint. If you have a good jack, you can do that. I've put in springs that I had to have people sitting on the fender to get them compressed enough for the nut to go on the lower ball joint. Put a piece of chain through the spring, loop it around and bolt the ends together so that it doesn't arrange your dental work, if you are so inclined.

[weq92f]

This ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

Just be very careful please!


-klb