installing upper ball joints bolts/rivets

[35chevcoupe]

Wondering how everyone is replacing there upper ball joints , just bolts, rivets ?   They are riveted in from the factory , has anyone tried to get them riveted back in ?
I see Inline tube is selling bolts that have the head shaped like the factory rivets .

[cwmcobra]

Hi John,

I just bolted mine in, but riveting is really the correct way.  That's what my painter/restorer does on all his cars.  It's definitely more tricky since you have to have the right rivets to start with, then the right tools (and experience?) to set the rivets.

Chuck

[35chevcoupe]

Chuck ,  does your painter do them himself or does he send them out somewhere ?
That must be on heck of a rivet machine .   I did find a corvette shop that maybe can do it but will have to call Monday to find out for sure .

[cwmcobra]

John,

He does them himself.  I've not seen him do it, but he is just now finishing the chassis for his 68 GTO and did the riveting a couple of weeks ago.  I think he uses and anvil and a BFH.....

Chuck

[WkillGS]

...... a corvette shop ......

I think the Corvette rivets are a larger diameter.  AMK products supposedly sells the correct ones for us.
An aircraft or industrial repair shop should also have the capability to install rivets properly. They should be collapsed enough to expand inside the hole for a tight fit.... and not just mushroom the head.

[gearhead46]

Wondering how everyone is replacing there upper ball joints , just bolts, rivets ?   They are riveted in from the factory , has anyone tried to get them riveted back in ?
I see Inline tube is selling bolts that have the head shaped like the factory rivets .

It looks to me like the rivets at Inline Tube are for the rear brake backing plates, not the front upper balljoint.

[WkillGS]

Ball joint rivet-bolts from Inline Tube:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/64-79-All-GM-Models-Upper-Ball-Joint-Rivets-Bolts-Nuts-Hardware-Look-NOS-OE-/190533369019