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Hey all,
I just bought a TCI Mustang II IFS. (See IFS INstall Cost post)I can not get the springs to compress far enought to get it all together. I got no instruction with it and am very frustrated after ruining 3 spring compressors and the paint on the A arms,calipers, etc.
Has any one done one of these? Any tips? Instructions? Where can I get an indestructable spring compressor? (maybe I should have kept the straight axle)
Help.
Thanks'
Sean

If you have the truck assembled so theirs weight on the front-end then here is what I do.

I jack up the truck so it's as high as my jack stand will extend and rest the frame on the jack stands. I take the rubber anti-squeek spacer and slide it up into the bottom of the upper tower. With the lower a-arm hanging down I insert the coil spring in the upper tower and then raise the a-arm so it's contacting the bottom of the coil spring. Rotate the coil so the edge will fit into the lower a-arm notch when installed. I then slide my floor jack under the a-arm and raise the a-arm slowly while the spring compresses and then I just rotate the spindle over to install the lower ball-joint and nut. Once the nut is fairly tight I lower the jack.

Joe

Right now my truck is not assembled. There is just frame and not much else. It sounds like You could get killed doing it like you mentioned. I may be picturing it wrong though.
Thanks

I've always done it like chevy1 and I ain't dead yet. If you like, run a chain or rope through the upper spring seat and spring so it can't jump out and bite you.

I installed the same IFS from TCI and had the same problem. I losened the bolts were the upper and lower A arms connected to the cross member and the shock hat so it moved more freely. It let the whole thing hang down a couple more inches and they went in after compressing them as far as they would go. Then retightened the bolts. Hope this helps and be safe with those things!

Ok, here is how its done without the truck together.
I did this with a 76 Camaro subframe completely out of the vehicle- up on Saw-horses.

1. You need two 1/4" plates with a 13/16" hole in each of them, then get a length of 3/4" all-thread about 14" long.

2. Put a plate on the top and one on the bottom of the spring, run the all-thread through the Top Plate, spring, and bottom plate.

3. Put a nut and washer on each end and tighten it till the spring is compressed about 1/2" tighter than is needed for your install.

4. Wire (heavy guage wire) in multiple wraps with separate strands through the coils to hold the spring compressed (make sure this is done is separate wraps in various locations around the spring- don't want this to pop!!

5. Put the spring, wired up, into your subframe, close that arms up, connect all arms and spindles tight.

6. Use long wire nippers to snip the wires, the spring should only pop 1/2" to 1/4" into the lower and upper arms. If your spring was not compressed enough, use the plates above the upper arm and lower arm to compress further till you get it in place to connect your spindle and tighten it up.

This was done after doing just as you said, ruining paint on everything, ruining spring compressors and all. Those spring compressors SUCK!!!

Anyway, hope this helps- worked great for me.

That sounds dangerous too. I never put my springs in till the truck was almost done. Sometimes you have to cut some of the coils off to get proper ride height. I make a spacer out of PVC pipe that fits the size of the spring, slips right in place of the coils, till time to test drive. Then I put them in like "chevy 1" said.

Lots of good advice posted.
If you want "danger free" bring it to a shop.

My advise above IS how its done in the shop.

Not much other way to do it when your vehicle is desassembled.

I've done several Heidts Mustang II installations and never had this problem. Most recently on a 53 AD Truck with just the bare frame and cab. Could be that TCI's design needs improvement.

The way i do it in my shop, i have a whatever you want to call it, you mount it where the shock goes. tube where the lower shock bolt goes & welded a long grade 8 bolt to it so goes up thur the top hat, you can then adjust it to your ride height. it great that way cause you can set everything up to the way you want it. just make sure the lower a-arms are levelwith the ground.

put the coil springs in when the truck is about done.
the coil springs are a tight fit, i have never cut any coils off one.

the coil springs i use is the must2
v6 with a/c

Another way is to use a 1/2 inch plate with a 5/8 hole in the center across the hole for the shock in the lower control arm, then use a piece of 5/8 threaded rod in place of the shock to draw up the lower control arm up to the point where you can install the lower BJ. Its always a good idea to chain the spring to something solid just in case something lets go.