I'm restoring a 67 coupe(frame up). I have installed all new steering and front suspension.Its all back together, but my new shocks will not reach far enough to allow the two studs on the bottom of the shocks to bolt up. The engine and tranny is still out. Is this common?

 

No they should reach. Pics would help if there is an orientation issue.

 

Is the car on jackstands? I had the same issue if the tires were not on the ground, but just a 1/2 inch or so.
Kip

 

maybe jack up the control arms to make it reach?

 

If I understand right when the spring is placed on the upper control arm it is not tall enough to reach the top of the shock tower? Either you have the wrong springs or you just need to jack it up and attach the shocks to hold it is place... It seems kind of odd to me that the spring would be that short? Pictures would definitely help?

 

This may be stupid, but you have fully extended the shocks, right?

 

Problem solved. Jacking up the lower control arm was thje way to go,but because there was no weight on the frontend I had to collapse the spring a little to make it reach.

 

that was my idea!

 

Yup, I had the same issue with my KYB's and using a jack to lift the suspension assembly about 1/2" was enough to fix the problem..