Installing torsion bars- shouldn't this be the easy part?

Excellent advice and input here, guys. Thanks to all. I never regret coming to this forum with my hat in my hands and admitting that I'm a total moron...and usually, I become slightly less of a moron each time! :D

Fortunately, SwayAway does provide the bars with the hexes un-coated. That is a good suggestion but not an issue here.

My car has lived a pretty easy life, never needed any significant repairs so I don't suspect that the body mounts are anything other than OEM/sold...but that's an interesting question so I will take a good look at them before I try again.

Where you guys were pretty unanimous (and something that I neglected) was in the suggestion to unbolt basically everything. I have the adjuster backed all the way out (finger tight)...but it's still in place. The new shocks are bolted up...which I didn't think would be relevant since the suspension appeared to be fully bottomed-out...but of course, it wouldn't take much to change the clocking of the socket.

So...I've got some stuff to try tonight! Thanks a million to all.