I did this job recently and i can tell you it was not fun. After all the colourful language and frustration of trying to do it my self i found the easiest way to be with two people. Now this is how i did it.
You need a set of pointy nose plires to hold the spring retainer clip and someone else to put this in when you bust your gut and hurt your fingers from compressing the spring down. Thats right use your fingers. Once you let out the scream that you have it down far enough you get the second person to put in the retainer clip with the pointy nose plires as there fingers will not fit in ther while you are holding the spring downand hence the use of the pointy nose plires.
Hope this helps,
Good luck and i hope your fingers are not to sensitive cuz they will be sore for a while after, but these are the things you must do if you love your vette.;27