[FMXBMX91GT]

First off, hello- (I had a slight issue getting logged in for a few days, but the mods did me proud)
I'm over in Ohio and finally bought my first Mustang-A rust free 91 GT. It has some mods and it's no wonder these cars are so popular. Man, this is a fun car.
Now on to the question at hand: The car had hit a curb before I bought it. I changed the K frame & spindles with other stock units. I've also replaced everything under the front end. lower control arm bushings, ball joints, struts- everything. (I used an energy suspension master kit and will do the rear suspension when I get the front done) Getting the Stock front coil springs out was no problem, I used an outside compressor and a jack.

After sandblasting and painting everything & re-installing the K, I cannot get those stock front springs back into my fox. I've searched for 2 days and have read everything about it that I could find. It seems the way to go is use 2 jacks and slowly, carefully raise the lower control arm "ears" back up into the K frame pivot locations. Ok- I get that part. BUT, here's the catch- The engine and trans are OUT of the car. The front end is very light and it raises up the body when I jack the lower control arm back up into place. I didn't fully commit to jacking them up because if you have the jack close to the center of the lower control arm, it lifts the car body. I moved the jacks back to the pivot ears, but didn't go any further.

Will it work without the motor & trans in the car and more importantly- How in the heck am I supposed to get them back in? I don't want to cut them or use lowering springs on the car at all.

Mustang Suspension Gurus with your infinite wisdom- Please help me solve this. I thank you whole heartedly, in advance.

[93hatch]

go rent some spring compressors

[FMXBMX91GT]

go rent some spring compressors

Really?? Ahhh... Yeah, already did that. Used both types of internal compressors. The kind with the 2 hooks and the plate from Auto Zone and a four hook internal from a tool rental place. I even made a 3" tube spacer for the threaded rod on the four hook internal. It will not crush the stock spring far enough. Ford Makes a tool that actually compresses the spring against the lower control arm, but it's $350. If I cannot get intelligent help here on this forum, I'll either buy the tool or have my machinist make me the damn thing.

[fast90gsx]

Originally Posted by FMXBMX91GT If I cannot get intelligent help here on this forum, .

Not a great start, a "dumb" answer for ya would put the spring compressor on and use the jack or rig the car up where it can't lift up with the jack, ie strap it down

[FMXBMX91GT]

Well, no reall harsh offense meant. But when someone posts with no punctuation and a really general vauge comment, I get a little miffed. I'm not a typical "do it yourselfer", it's just that this task requires fox body experience that I do not have. I've been wrenching on cars & trucks for 25 years and done this on other cars but never had this problem. Don't take it the wrong way.

[flyin ryan]

Place jack under a arm
Jack up so jack has slight pressure on a arm
unbolt strut from spindle
jack a arm up and hold spring spring cup
once installed bolt the strut back up

[95tbirdv8]

That's how I did it when I put my springs back on.

[FMXBMX91GT]

Place jack under a arm Jack up so jack has slight pressure on a arm unbolt strut from spindle jack a arm up and hold spring spring cup once installed bolt the strut back up

That doesn't work. I wish it did. It lifts the car after the spring is compressed halfway.

[gripthenboost]

Originally Posted by flyin ryan Place jack under a arm Jack up so jack has slight pressure on a arm unbolt strut from spindle jack a arm up and hold spring spring cup once installed bolt the strut back up

+1

[95tbirdv8]

Do you have the shocks on? Why do you have to compress the spring so much, you said you can compress it up to halfway? Isn't that more than enough?

[93hatch]

go find a new forum we're all idiots and cant do springs on these cars

[FMXBMX91GT]

Yes, the strut is on. The tie rod is on. Sway bar is off. By halfway, I meant that halfway to where it needs to be, to line up the bolt holes on the K. It just picks up the car after that.

[FMXBMX91GT]

I wish there was a video of it being done with no motor in the car & stock springs. If I see it done, I can do it. There are plenty of videos, but none have the motor removed and stock springs.

[93hatch]

the engine isnt that heavy, get your fattest friend to sit on the k member if youre insisting its making it impossible to do

[FMXBMX91GT]

Based off of your profile picture- You're the man for the job. Hahahaa...
At any rate, you seem to be very knowledgeable on the subject- Have you done it exactly this way with the engine out or are you just telling me that it'll work?

[93hatch]

I pulled one of my springs out when I was building my motor to cut a coil, found out you cant cut 4 banger springs, put jack under the a-arm and jacked it back up. Picked the car up a lil, didnt give a shit it worked

[FMXBMX91GT]

4 cyl springs are totally different. Much lighter spring rate.

[93hatch]

so have a fat friend stand on the k member

[foxcobra262]

if you want to add weight buy a couple 50lb sand bags they are pretty cheap but you shouldn't have to i did mine with the motor and trans out i used the 4 hook inner compressor you just have to unbolt everything connected to the a arm to drop it down far enough to get the spring in

[fogged306]

I've never done engine out spring installation before but I do remember seeing someone asking this same question somewhere once before, and I think someone said they used ratchet straps on either side of the a arm instead of using the jack to compress the spring. I'm talking about the heavy duty tow strap width ratchet straps.