Success at last!!! I just got in and cleaned up after working through the evening after I got home. The front springs and the new front shocks are a done deal! I stopped at AutoZone after talking to a friend about the job and picked up a coil spring compressor tool. It worked like a charm. I first practised on the springs out of the car and then when I felt I had a handle on how to use the tool I went for it and got them in. Now I'm not saying I'm an expert at this point but, I do feel confident enough to say I could help someone else with the job and not be fumbling around. Thanks for all the advice along the way.

I knew you could do it.
Dave

I like to run a 3'x 3/8" or 1/2" piece of all thread through the center of the spring and put a 10lb weight from my weight set below the bottum A-arm then thread a nut down the top where the top of the shock usually comes through. Just tighten the nut and the lower arm will come right up. I did this after getting smacked in the leg when my jack shot out from under my car at about 100 mph. This seems to be a little bit safer.

That sounds like good advice. I did finish the job though and am glad to have it behind me. I kept watching that jack thinking that if it came flying out it was gonna hurt. It stayed put but, just the same I was a little worried. LOL