trying to get the front end together and without the weight of the truck/engine I can't compress the front coils enough to get things into place... any idea's are welcome here?

I guess I could put the tires on and drop the engine into it but.. god dam it.

Ratchet strap from LCA to strut tower around top hat bolts.
Damn that frame looks sexy. Lol

Anyway to run a strap (strong enough of course) from the axle of the floor jack up and around the frame?

Wedge a 2x4x8 or 10 against the frame and a ceiling joist if possible. I vé been reading and admiring your project.

I have tried big ratchet straps, and the problem is the strap interferes with the upper control arm making it impossible to get the arm lined up.

I have also tried a spring compressor, had to grind it down a bit as the fronts are pretty tight and got it crazy compressed. it was about a 1/4" away with this attempt. it also interferes with the upper arm but you can sneak it into each side. I need to cut a chunk of pipe tomorrow so I can get more threads because once I was maxed out the bolt for the spring compressor started to run into the shock tower. sigh.

I don't know I gave up tonight, time for a beer.

it seems these trucks are just born and nobody has ever tried to put a coil into just a frame without an engine/body before.

Take the coilover out, connect the UCA, then put the coilover back in

same problem

when you put coilovers into a truck with an engine/body you can use the weight to compress the coilover and make it fit.

without any weight in the truck at all the spring needs to be compressed in place to fit.

you can only make the range of motion go so far and you run into the upper arm on the knuckle.

trust me that was my first config and the only reason I made it to this place is because I'm out of ideas.

I need to run to harbor fright tomorrow and grab a different spring compressor... I think a single action one specifically designed for front spring should do the trick. maybe.

Get out your hammer drill, couple of concrete anchors secure frame to floor, thinking on it more one anchor would do it.

When I put mine in I bolt the top of the coilover in and use a pry bar on the UCA to droop the suspension as far as it’ll go so I can get the lower bolt thru the coilover and LCA. I don’t recall ever having had to compress the spring to get everything together, but I also might be misunderstanding your problem haha. Is the frame wanting to come off the jack stands when you do that?

Would it be possible to get some worn out strut spring combo? Disassemble it, cut off enough coils, reassemble and install.

I like HiLifes idea. Just toss an old set on for now. Yes its ugly compared to the rest of that frame, but sometimes you just have to man up and deal with the ugly. You are going to have to readjust everything later anyways

Buy a bunch of pizza and beer, invite a bunch of friends over and have them sit on the frame. They can enjoy the pizza and beer as they watch you work.

If the Egyptians could move 80 ton blocks of rock without machinery you can do this easily. Use leverage where you can. I'm thinking stick a landscaping beam or 2x6 or some other strong enough wood under the frame on other side, tie it back to the frame on other side somehow, cause would lift frame otherwise. Ratchet strap the coil to compress to where want it. I think this would work fine.
Awesome workmanship you're doing there.

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jack up the OPPOSITE rear corner of the frame. by the frame at the furthest point you can hit. this will help put more pressure against the side you're working on.

I'm probably not understanding the physics of this but cant you just put the UCA bolt in but dont torque it, then install the coilover? Then remember to torque the uca bushiing when the full weight is back together. I've never had to use pry bars or the bottle jack trick or anything to get coilovers in I just loosen the UCA and it drops down.