Service?- Installing Ball Joint Rivets

[Jerod M.]

Do you know of a business or individual who will install ball joint rivets if I mail the A-Arms, Ball Joints, and Rivets? I have them ready to go. Thanks!

[Jim T.]

Re: Service?- Installing Ball Joint Rivets

https://www.bairs.com

[Tracy C.]

Re: Service?- Installing Ball Joint Rivets

Do you know of a business or individual who will install ball joint rivets if I mail the A-Arms, Ball Joints, and Rivets? I have them ready to go. Thanks!

Jerod,

I wrote an article for the Restorer about a year ago on this topic. If you're so inclined you can do this at home with the right tools. If not, I see from your profile you are an Oklahoma boy. If you want to drive your stuff up to Wichita KS I can help you out in my shop.

Tracy

[Jerod M.]

Re: Service?- Installing Ball Joint Rivets

Mike (our chapter pres) was giving me a hard time last night for "outsourcing" this task. I told him that, by the time I acquired the tools, I would have the equivalent in trouble, time, and money as sending it out. I hope I wrong on that!

I figured I would need to acquire...

1) Offset, concave rivet set(s)
2) 4X Rivet Gun
3) Tungsten or steel bucking bar
4) Torch?

or

1) Large Pneumatic over Hydraulic Rivet C-Squeeze
2) Rivet Dies and shims
3) Extra rivets to set up and shim the dies

or

1) Hydraulic Press
2) Custom make a rivet set
3) Custom make an anvil for the manufactured head

As far as the restorer article, I would love to have the material. ...But...I'm a new member without a massive personal archive, so adding the $50 CD Set to the basket pays for one leg of shipping. I know, I should probably buy the CD anyway!

Actually, it would probably be really nice to take a road trip to Wichita to do this with my old man. I really appreciate the offer to help. I'll run it past him and see if he's up to it. If you change your mind, thanks for the help just the same.

[Tracy C.]

Re: Service?- Installing Ball Joint Rivets

Jerod,

You will need a torch as the rivets are driven hot. A 4X gun will do the uppers but I have a used 9X gun for the lowers that I aquired from The Yard Store . I think you have one of those in Tulsa as well. My bucking bars are homemade from mild steel.

I can send you a pdf of the article tommorrow if you PM your email address. I'd be glad to help you out as the Tulsa chapter was very instrumental in helping us get the Midway USA chapter started here in Wichita.

tc