For setup purposes, and until final assembly I don't put in the spring at all, just use a piece of allthread, 1/2", weld a piece of tubing or flat stock to match whatever your lower shock mount type is, and two nuts up top on either side of the hat. I set it with the lower arms parallel to the ground, which is what it should be at final ride height.

As another comment, you may have too much spring. Most people think that they need the heaviest ford spring because of engine weight, but they forget that in the MII/Pinto the engine was directly over the front crossmember, but in most rod applications the engine is farther back thus putting less load on the front suspension than imagined.