Okay, so I got new springs a few weeks ago, just stock ones, for my 63. Ordered new stock shackles from Macs. Got everything and started replacing them last weekend. Ended up breaking one of the front bolts, the big one. Along with being a pain due to rust and not entirely knowing what i was doing, also turns out that the upper bushings in the shackle kit were wrong. I ordered a new front bolt, it wasn't cheap by the way, ordered new upper bushings. Got those the other day. The new bushings fit the new shackles but were really tight, like the bushing hole was a hair too small, or shackle too big. Once the new bushing was on the new shackle, it wouldn't go in the hole. I decided I could either keep searching for a different shackle set and send everything back and start over, or make the bushing hole bigger, or shackle smaller. Not really wanting to wait and go through returning things, I chose to make the shackle smaller, using the bench grinder and angle grinder. Woohoo, did it, it worked. Goto put it all together, and the new upper bushings are too wide, no threads sticking out. I decide to make them shorter by cutting off a little. Did it, it worked sort of. It seems like I cut off a hair too much, or that's just how it is. One side of the shackle is REALLY close to being on the frame. The other side, the outside I think, has a little lip, so it's fine. Worst case I guess is I have to replace the shackles and bushings and waste some (more) money.
Taking the springs out was tough, at least the first side, when I was figuring it out, and also before I brought out the Sawzall. Second one popped right out, broke the big bolt, cut the rest, BAM!! Putting them back in went ok. I couldn't get one of my new u-bolts to go, it just wouldn't line up, I fought it and fought it. Ended up using an old one, one I didn't cut. After that, the rest was easy. Except shocks, I still need to get the upper nut off. I cut the bottom off. I figure I'll wait until I get it back on the ground and see if I can climb in the trunk and get at them.
![Image](http://i.imgur.com/dUIRAzl.jpg)