Thanks for the ideas. I think I was dealing with the combination of Fox shocks being tight and 0 degrees temps in our area. I think the rubber shrank a bit. I got some silicone grease, a small sledge, and I kept the shocks inside for a day. They are now installed. In the process of installing the lift, I managed to break one of the rear sway bar links (rusted solid) and one of the shocks won't tighten completely (keeps spinning when I tighten the top nut and I don't have clamp big enough to hold the shock body). Other than that, it's done. Phew.