Over the past six months I have been accumulating the necessary NOS parts to restore and rebuild the front suspension of my 67 coupe. The only thing I have been unable to locate are a pair of NOS lower ball joints. I have had a number of leads, including two which recntly sold on ebay for more than $150.00 each, but have had no luck in acquiring a pair. The labor involved in this project is significant enough that I would like to do it right the first time. Am I going to far in my quest for originality?
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Re: C2 Lower Ball Joints
I found a pair of NOS lowers and uppers through our sponsoring GM Chev dealer. Joe Lucia was kind enough to give me the part #'s and my dealer performed an electronic trace through US dealer inventory. Uppers are probably around but I can understand why lowers are so difficult to find since they wear much faster than the uppers. If you don't have the part #'s, check the archives. Try a dealer who is willing to do a search for you. You will often stumble across them at flea markets like the upcoming Carlisle Corvette show. I believe that
I found a spare lower at Carlisle for $25 several years ago.
As fas as points go, you may want to consider the current GM 63-82 replacement which I think might be a little longer. You may have to take a minor points deduct.
Regards,
Dave Kitch
NCRS Pittsburgh -
Re: C2 Lower Ball Joints
Dave, Thanks for the helpful message. I found an original set of uppers but didn't try the obvious approach of having my GM dealer check the system. The replacement ball joints presently available definitely look different.Comment
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Re: C2 Lower Ball Joints
John and Dave-----
Except for any NOS stock which might be on a dealer's shelves, no ball joints are currently available from GM for 63-82 Corvettes; all iterations are discontinued.In Appreciation of John HinckleyComment
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Re: C2 Lower Ball Joints
John; I rebuilt my ball joints by cleaning them out completly and making some simple tools to set up and press them back together and recrimp the open side of the body that holds all the parts of the socket. I have not reassembled the car yet but the joints are as tight as new and given the low mileage and smooth rides from here on out I figure they will last a long time. They had about 1/16th play in them before. Never throw anything away! DavidavidComment
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Re: C2 Lower Ball Joints
I'm hopeful that I can salvage my tie rod ends. The lower ball joints were replaced with an aftermarket replacement before I acquired the car. Good advice about not throwing anything away.Comment
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Re: C2 Lower Ball Joints
Any advice on this one, Joe? Perhaps I just need some patience.Comment
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Re: C2 Lower Ball Joints *TL*
David, Did you take any photos? This sounds like a tech article for The Restorer.
Terry
TerryComment
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Re: C2 Lower Ball Joints
Terry;
No, but I can take pictures as I still have the tools and the ball joints loose (not installed on the a-arms) and can set up some shots with a digital camera. Not familiar with how to do a tech article though. DavidavidComment
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Re: C2 Lower Ball Joints
Pictures would be very helpful to the rest of us as would a description of what you did. I think this is where the Tech Article idea comes from. I have never heard of rebuilding these ball joints.Comment
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Re: C2 Lower Ball Joints
I am a machinist and made the main peice to recrimp in a lathe but it was a simple operation and I will try to take pictures of the process and get the deminsions as well.
I was worried about posting on rebuilding ball joints because I did'nt want to sound crazy and of coarse the safety issues that can come from this were a consideration, but they came out so well and really feel like new. I just don't know how long they will last before they loosen up, and there was no way to check for actual wear inside the jiont.
Since we are the N.C.R.S, and the R. is for "restore", I figure saving as many original parts as I can will produce a more original car. Nahh; I'm just incredebly cheap!eap!Comment
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Tech article *TL*
No big deal to the article - just write down what you did, as if you were explaining it to one of your friends. Just like you did here.
Email to me in MS Word or just send it in the document if you are Mac user. Images and text should go to restorereditor@ncrs.org. Hotmail doesn't like large image files. Use high resolution for the images - they will print better that way. It really is that simple.
TerryComment
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