Hi,

This is related to a previous post, but it branched out into its own new issue so I thought I would make a new post to get a wider audience, lol.

Basically the issue is that I put new front springs (Moog 5390) in my 1971 Cutlass with a 350 engine. After the springs are properly seated in the top and bottom when I jack the control arm up it gets to about 2" from where I need it to bolt up the ball joint and it starts lifting the car. One solution mentioned, primarily used for cars with the engine out is to wrap a chain around the jack and upper control arm. It would probably work, but I was wondering if anyone else encountered this and what you did about it.

 

Without the weight of the engine, the front will lift. You will need to use a spring compressor to finish the job.

 

That's the strange part, it still has the engine in, lol. I was just wondering if others have encountered this with the engine in or if something else is going on here.

 

Which springs are you installing? Are they Moog, Do you have part number?

Rodney

 

Correct, they are Moog, 5390. I thought maybe I had 455 springs or something but they appear to be right for stock replacements.

 

Are you jacking the LCA at the ball joint or under the spring pocket? The LCA has a 2:1 motion ratio; so you'll get twice the leverage if you jack at the ball joint location instead of near the spring pocket.

Rodney

 

Thanks! I was wondering if that would make a difference. I am currently under the spring pocket. Will give that a try

 

It worked! Thanks for the help. Now just have to do the drivers side and the rest should be easy.