The springs for the suspension need to be pre-compressed 1/4" so I have removed the bolt which slides up and down the slot and marked 1/4' back from the full length. The lower shock strut is then welded. Now the spring has to be compressed while the bolt is pushed back through.
For this I made up a very crude press from timbers and long bolts. The welded end of the spring is pulled hard against the right hand timber and the left hand timber which has a larger hole allows the spring to move through it. All I used was some scrap steel jammed between the left hand timber and spring so when tightening up the nuts, the spring becomes compressed and the upper shock strut can move down and then the bolt placed.
