Need alittle more help with this Essex arms build

[T-TAC]

I'm in the home strech with my Essex build. I would like to pick some brains before I put another Brownells order in. Here are my minor problems.

1) the Wilson hammer strut was too short. I tried to hammer the tip to peen it longer only to break it. ( This is when you know it's time to come up from the cellar). I plan to order a Egw Stainless strut. ( it's made longer).

2) the Kings mainspring housing is really loose. There is a gap between the housing and frame in the side demension. Does any anybody make a wide one?

3) the Nowlin mag catch seems to work fine, But the Metalform mag seems to go really high when inserted into the gun and then may or may not click into lock. I am thinking of ordering another brand of mag catch.

Need advice and I would like to thank Tuner for all of his helpful tips on this forum.
Thanks people for the help!

[1911Tuner]

If EGW's strut also falls short, try one of Colt's. Back of the Brownells catalog in the Colt section. Are you sure that the mainspring cap's location isn't the problem? it only takes a few thou to throw the geometry off. Quick-fix is to face .010 inch off the top of the cap to locate it higher in the housing. If you don't have a lathe, be careful to keep it flat.

Smith & Alexander mainspring housings have often required a little filing to fit in some guns. They seem to be on the high end of tolerance and a little extra meat may solve your problem. May solve the cap location issue, if there is one.

Try a Colt mag catch. Seems like I've heard that the Nowlin locates the magazine a little higher than standard. Could also be the location of the mag catch port. Not a whole lot you can do about that except to cherry-pick a catch that locates the mag a few thousandths lower than print specs.

[T-TAC]

Thanks tuner I will give it a try.