72 K20 Steering Tie Rod Installation

[Brian 72 K20]

I've removed the front axle and got it all back together except for the steering tie rod that goes from one wheel to the other. Do the studs go up with the nuts on top or down with the nuts on the underside?

I thought when I removed it the nuts were on top, but the service manual seems to show the studs going down and the nuts on the bottom. Tho it's not the best picture.

I don't have enough clearance with the leaf springs to install it with the nuts on the underside. They're new aftermarket springs. Even if I could install it, I'd have about 1/4 inch between the top of tie rod and the bottom of the leaf spring. I can get one side in, but when I try to install the other, I can't lift it high enough for the stud to drop in because the tie rod hits the bottom of the leaf spring.

To install it from the top, I'd have to loosen the axle u bolts and drop the axle about 1/2 inch, which doesn't makes sense.

So I'm hoping it goes in from the bottom with the nuts on top and I'm misreading the service manual photo.

Can someone confirm if it's nuts on top or nuts on bottom? And if they are on the bottom, any problem with installing it with the nuts on top?