The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Engine Shop Springs on a mustang II

bought a TCI mustang kit for my 49 Chevy pickup.
I have it all welded in and will put the engine in next.
How do you get the springs compressed to where you can assemble
everything. I used the floor jack but without the engine it just pushed the whole frame up when the springs started to compress.
Hopefully the engine will be enough weight.
Is there another way that you can compress the springs.
I was thinking of a threaded rod where the shocks go.
As far as the directions from TCI they plain suck.

Go to your local auto parts store and rent/borrow a spring compressor tool that's made for your front springs. You don't want any mishaps or questionable tools doing that kind of a procedure. It could get ugly in a split second,
Scott

An old and pretty safe trick for this is to put a short 2x6 under the front and another under the back wheels of your floor jack. This will leave a 1 1/2 inch gap under the jack through which you can slide a chain. Run the chain up over the frame and fasten back to itself. Now your frame can't raise up without breaking the chain and you can jack the lower control arm up as far as needed. This works fine on springs that will fit into place (like a MII) but doesn't work on long springs that won't fit up into the frame pocket and onto the spring seat in the lower A-frame, then you need a spring compressor.