answered all my questions myself.

<img border="0" title="" alt="[Big Grin]" src="images/icons/grin.gif" />

The shock bolts were just REALLY REALLY tight, had to use a 5' breaker bar to get them undone.

The Montero Sport is SUPER SUPER easy to lift in the rear!!

remove shocks, remove sway bar end links, and the rear axle just about falls off.

The springs slide right out and the new springs slide right back in.

The only really PITA part is the driver side shock, the top bolt is next to impossible!!

I took it to midas and they tightened the top bolt on the driver side for FREE! Super cool!

The trick and I would have thought about it had I any patience....use a LONG LONG extension with a swivel socket, like an 18"+ extension. Then just go above the axle and drive shaft across to the driver side shock bolt and tighten away!

The Montero Sport handles WAY better, doesn't bottom out any more, I LOVE IT!

Also kinda cool that my 265/75R16 tires look small in the wheel wells now!