Ok I got my springs and shocks and will be planning on replacing Sunday if the weather holds out. This is my first step towards my final product and need to ask some basic questions. Car is a 67 Cutlass, 330ci:

1. For the springs, do the A-arms, brakes, spindles need to come off or can I just compress the springs all the way to remove and re-install.

2. Shocks I should be able to just remove and re-bolt?

If the A-arms need to come off, best to replace the bushings and clean them up. I will be replacing the drum brakes with a power disc kit from Summit, but that's be down the road. My main concern is being able to replace the springs without having to remove the drum brakes, that's the ultimate issue.

Can anyone gimme a quick rundown on replacing springs?

 

#1 - "A" arms, nor the spindle, need to be removed, but you do have to break either the upper or lower ball joint. However the shocks need to come off first! I would relplace unservicable ball joints and upper and / or lower bushings at this time also.

#2 - Shocks are an easy remove and replace.

 

Support the frame up on jack stands. Has to be up high enough to drop the lower A arm.
remove the shock
loosen ball joint castle nuts about 1/4", then break them loose using a pickle fork. The spring will now be tensioned agains the nuts so DO NOT remove them now.
Place a jack under the lower A arm and compress the spring until tension is off the castle nuts.
Insert spring compressor and tighten lightly.
Lower the A arm in stages slowly while loosening spring compressor. A arm will fall away, then decompress spring and remove.
This is a good time to replace all ball joints.
Be sure to align the lower spring end correctly, near but not covering the hole in the lower A arm hole.
Install in reverse order.