A spacing adjustment and overload releasing mechanism in a stamping press having a base and a crown spaced from one another and a ram operating therebetween, in which posts interconnect the base and crown and the spacing between the ram and base is adjustable by a nut and collar disposed on opposite sides of the crown, and a fluid operated means such as a hydraulic cylinder for each of the posts disposed in the base applies pressure urging the crown and base toward one another at substantially equal pressures, greater than the normal pressure applied by the ram, but at a pressure sufficiently low that it is within the load capacity of the press frame. The nut and collar provide the initial adjustment between tool sections operated by the ram and base while the fluid operated means provides an overload release in the event excessive pressure is applied by the ram.