You had the shocks pulled all the way extended and couldn't get them on? Either you have the way wrong (too tall/hd) rear springs, or your shocks are way too short. If you drive it like that, the first dip you go through will destroy the shocks when they try to extend coming up the other side...
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1966 Strato Chief 2 door, 427 4 speed, 45,000 original miles
1966 Grande Parisienne, 396 1 of 23 factory air cars (now converted to a "factory" 4 speed)