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Any suggestions on how to remove the upper ball joint rivets? I've ground the top mushroomed end off of the rivets and I'm not having much luck trying to drive the rivets down and through the ball joint/control arm. I'm being cautious so as not to damage the control arm which by the way is removed from the suspension. Thanks in advance.
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Re: 64 upper control arm rivets
can you drill them out? -
Re: 64 upper control arm rivets
Lyndon, that will be my last resort. I would rather not drill so as not to enlarge???? the existing holes in the arm. Maybe I'm being too anal but I just thought someone who's been there and bought the T-shirt might have a better idea of which I'm open to. Another point, I would rather install the new ball joints with rivets as original or again, am I being to anal? Thanks againComment
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Re: 64 upper control arm rivets
Using a drill press,I finally decided to drill a 1/4 partial hole into the 5/16 rivet from the underside of the control arm. And with a rotary ball cutter in the drill press, I cut/chewed the flat part off thus creating a washer and smacked the ball joint's shaft on a steel plate table and voila! one upper arm done and one to go.Comment
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Re: 64 upper control arm rivets
well you need to grind the heads off better than what you now have. an then knock out the rivets, just be sure you take your time.Comment
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Re: 64 upper control arm rivets
put the a-arm in a press to remove the rivet which has its head ground off. by all means use rivets to fasten new ball joints if you intend to have the car judged. mikeComment
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Re: 64 upper control arm rivets
Jack,
Sounds like you're making this project too difficult. I drilled out the original rivets from my '65 without much hassle. Just carefully center punch the center of the rivet and begin with a small drill (approx. 1/8") and work your way up in size until you can knock the rivet out with a hammer and punch.
On my original '65, the upper ball joints were good so I refurbished the control arms and had the original ball joints re-riveted.
If you are not going to have the car judged, but want the riveted ball joint look, you may want to investigate a new fastener that Brian Bair has. It has a rivet head on the topside and a thread and nut on the bottom side. You bolt it in and it looks like a rivet. The judges will probably deduct, but it's an option.
As I said, I reused my original upper ball joints. They hardly ever wear out. Delco makes a pretty good looking lower ball joint that isn't too expensive if you need lowers.
Good luck,
GeneComment
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You guys are doing this backwards
To get the rivets off, you use a LARGER drill. If the rivet is 5/16th like someone said, use a 7/16th drill bit.
Centerpunch the rivet, drill into the head, and as soon as it hits the plate underneath, the rivet head will be free and spin.
STOP.
What little you cut the arm will be unimportant.
Using a smaller drill and drilling through and increasing size a little each time means it is possible to drill offset from center and cut into the arm, egg-shaping the hole.Comment
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