I found this very difficult too.  I think I ended up using needle nose
pliers at a 90 degree angle to the rod.  Pushed them sideways against
the  spring with great force, then pinched the rod with them to keep them
from being pushed off the rod by the spring.  Then an assistant put the
little clip on the end.  I could never get it done by myself.

Edward

At 11:36 PM 9/2/2003, you wrote:
>What is the best procedure for getting the spring on the throttle end of
>the rod that runs between the kickdown lever on the automatic transmission
>and the throttle?
>
>John Lauterbach
>Macon, GA
>'84 7-passenger