Things don't seem to be going back together to well

[eaglebeek]

I'm afraid the spring might pull the shock apart. Plus I wouldn't have been able to get those in either,...

...I compressed the spring again just to get the strut rod in with the bushings oriented the right way and left a block of wood under the upper control arm so it wouldn't drop so far that I couldn't attach the shock and got that in. Thing is now the block of wood is stuck in there....

You have the strut rod attached, so it should be safe to put the car's weight on the suspension. That should allow you to remove the block.

It's unlikely you're going to pull the shock apart. There are times in normal driving when the shock is likely to extend its full length.

The shock will also fully extend when you lift the car with its stock bumper jack to change a flat tire.

[carnuck]

I recently did mine and used the '78 Concord wagon with V8 and AC coilsprings. Now 6 months later, the ride is fantastic but I need to get my rear axle swapped out for the 8.25 XJ one and the extra leaf added to the pack. (I'll probably pull the air ride suspension then too but keep the factory air compressor for tires) I need 2wd upper control arms to finish my front lift. I've been trying to contact Control Freak about their OEM replacements with no luck. I guess I'll end up swapping a buddy with a Hornet that wants to lower his car a bit.

Also, I'd do the whole front end (except swaybar) before doing the springs. I plan to make a spring compressor (actually, just a retainer) that will hold the springs up in their sockets while I swap the upper arms. 1" threaded rod (grade 8 or higher) with a plate for the top where the shock top bracket bolts on and another plate to go through the coils with holes for U bolts to keep the coils from sliding off the edge. Tighten the bolt on top and the spring squishes up into the socket enough to remove and swap the upper arm safely. The regular spring compressors (especially the parts store rental junk) sacred the heck out of me when I did mine. (I used 2 sets and they were straining!)