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Mail From: David J Harr (email redacted)

I would like to thank everyone on the list for all the ideas
and help. I finally got the export brace put on by a friendly
local mechanic, and have figured out the MustangSecret(tm) to
using the double J spring compressors.

Solution 1 - Export Brace

Since I had never seen an export brace installed before, I
naively assumed that it bolted on over the current braces that
are bolted to the weld on extensions on the shock tower. Woops!
Turns out, that is not the case. Once the mechanic removed the
stock braces, the export brace was at least able to go over the
shock towers, although it still overshot the firewall by an
inch or so. The mechanic than used the same technique as Brad
Morgan <(email redacted)> suggested: He inserted a
long nut into the export brace hole, ran it through the firewall
hole, and used it to lever the holes together. THen he installed
the stock bolts. Of course, he had the advantage of using an air
compressor attached to a pneumatic wrench...

Solution 2 - Spring compressor

While I was at the mechanic's place, blowing $600 in new toys, I
asked him about the spring compressor. He said the trick was to
insert a 5" piece of pipe between the top j-hooks and the nut at
the top. This, of course, is the exact procedure that John Strube
<(email redacted)> suggested in his insightful post earlier
today. It turns out that the pipe allows you to just drive on
and use the compressor in the normal way.


So, these are the answers to my difficulties. I now have the
export brace on, and I have the information I need to get the
springs off. Ther are other issues that have come up, but I will
deal with them in a separate post...


David J Harr
1993 NC30 Suzuka 8 Hour replica
1986 VFR750
1966 Mustang Coupe