So what finally got the lower control arm loose was a combination of petek's tool and the persuader. I had tried pounding, and due to a combination of timidity and weakness on my part, never got the spindle bolt to budge. I put together petek's tool, and tightened it until the wrench I was using started rounding off the coupler nut, and then went back to the hammer. Two quick pops, and it came loose.
Then it turned out the stabilizer bar (which may not go back in, partly because DV says it's not 100% needed, and partly because jacking up the lower control arm actually lifts the car off the jack stand before the spring is compressed enough to make it easy to connect the bar again!) was keeping the contro arm from dropping. After disconnecting the bar, the arm dropped as far as it could, and the spring still was not free. I guess this does confirm my suspicions that when CR built it they used uncut springs, but didn't help with removing it.
At this point, I pull out the spring compressor that I didn't think I'd need, and fought it into place. However, even after compressing the spring a good 3/4", it's still not compressed enough to clear the lip in the control arm.
I'm very close at this point to cutting my losses, bolting it back together, and paying someone who actually *can* do this to swap the springs!
JLW
PS - not particularly wanting to do this again, does Bethania garage have the hot setup for coil-overs? I don't particularly care that they are chromed. Bill Emerson - are you still online? I didn't see a parts list at
http://www.beyondcobra.com/index.html.
Thanks,
JLW