[Healeys] Front shock mounting plate

[Healey Bruce]

While doing my annual routine maintenance, checking the front shock mounting 
bolts revealed the right front outboard bolt was a bit loose. 
Unfortunately, it would not tighten down.  In reading Tech Talk, it sounds 
like there is a captive nut welded to the mounting plate.  It does not feel 
stripped, but more like the nut is still relatively tight but turning.  It 
also appears that the spring needs to be removed to gain access to the 
underside of the mounting plate.  So, several questions:

1.  Is there, in fact, a nut welded on the mounting plate?
2.  If so, can the spring be dropped without having to remove the lower 
A-arms?
3.  And if so, is it fairly straight forward to get up in there to reweld 
the nut, or is it more involved?

Thanks.

Bruce Steele
1960 BN7
Brea, CA