ConcoursMustang Forums
Restoring - General discussions that span across many different groups of years and models => Suspension => Topic started by: T Lea on December 21, 2010, 07:01:10 PM
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A good friend of mine who is a machinist is look at making dies and offering ball joint rivet pressing. He can make the dies but I need some samples as all I have here is 68 style lower (dome) I am looking for the waffle design as well as others. If you have any old a arms that you could drill out rivets (from the non pressed side) I would appreciate it and it will help us all as I'm confident he will be lower than the going rate.
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I've got an original 68 upper arm with the rivets still installed. I can ship you the whole arm if you want it. Don't want to mess with removing the rivets. Thanks
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I'll take it. Are you going to see Charles soon? He has a box coming to me you could fit it in.
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It might be a month before I see Charles. I will see Pete soon, maybe a week or 2 but not sure. I can send it out tomorrow UPS ground, shouldn't cost too much. Just let me know, thanks
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Tim
I'm doing this to my car right now, I cut the top of the rivits off and have the waffle design head you are talking about. I'll even send you my original upper arm so your friend can practice on, as long as you send them back with the rivits pressed in. I tried to pound the rivits in one of my upper arms and put the waffle design on them, but they don't look the same.
Gary
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Gary, Thanks but I already have samples. He's working on the dies now
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What about the guys at Skillman's? Didn't they have some rivets made and have a few different dies?
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I think so. I'm just trying to come up with an alternative to whats out there. It always seems to take 3 months and costs a ton. I guarrantee my machinist friend will be significantly less
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From what I understand, a 40T press is the minimum requirement to do it in-house. If I could get the dies made to do the various types of rivet head indentions, I'd consider getting a press.
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He has a 50 T
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Here are some of the different patterns Rare Parts had stamps made up for (and a test disc) since there were plenty of owners asking for specific patterns. Looks like some have been looking at service replacments
Can't say they are not trying ;)
(http://i44.photobucket.com/albums/f49/firetrainer/My%20details/RarePartsRivetPatterns.jpg)
(http://i44.photobucket.com/albums/f49/firetrainer/My%20details/RarePartsRivetPatternsTestplate.jpg)
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Jeff,
The originals on my car have that pattern but they also look to be convex, in other words they look to dip into the center... Have you ever notice that on other cars?
Gary
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Jeff,
The originals on my car have that pattern but they also look to be convex, in other words they look to dip into the center... Have you ever notice that on other cars?
These wouldn't be a domed rivet with a dimple or depression in the middle would it?
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Well we will call it a depression in the middle... So I would think that your die would be some kind of small ball with the waffle pattern, It almost looks like they may of been pressed in hot...
Gary
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Gary - what year and plant was your car built?
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68 GT500 NJ 13 FEB 68
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68 GT500 NJ 13 FEB 68
Looks like Tim's neighborhood ;) - but will check my pictures also
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Gary, can you post a picture?
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(http://i229.photobucket.com/albums/ee12/saleensr11/car%20pics/shelbyrestoring006.jpg?1295449864)
I hope this is big enought. Do you see what I mean.
This was before I cut the head off and installed the new rivits, I am not to happy with the results, I just pounded in the new rivits and marked them with a chisel to try to get the right pattern.
Gary
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Those are pretty much the standard of what we see on 68 NJ uppers. I don't know what causes the concaveness, maybe dies are worn?
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Tim,
Are you going to Pensacola? Will your machine shop be ready by them? I could bring them to you...
Gary
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Do you mean Jacksonville?
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This one...
March 25, 2011 - March 27, 2011
The 32nd Annual Gulf Coast Regional Mustang Club Show Pensacola
Pensacola, Florida
FL - Gulf Coast Regional Mustang Club presents The 32nd Annual Gulf Coast Regional Mustang Club Show Pensacola, March 25, 2011 - March 27, 2011 at Pensacola Interstate Fairgrounds in Pensacola, Florida. Event hours are 8am to 5pm. Registration is open Friday 8-5, Sat 8-11. The registration fee is Several see website, inside, outside, vendor,camper. Contact See website for more information, or visit the web site at www.gulfcoastmustangclub.org.
Gary
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Probably not. There is a national in Jacksonville May 20something but I think its going to conflict with my daughters graduation.
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My son and I were at Penscola last year selling Mustang parts and I took some time off to watch the judging, I believe I saw you judging a blue 68 GT500 that Orlando Mustang had restored. Actually I was under the front of the car looking at the ball joints. He had 69 upper control arms, and he made the comment that he though they were the same for 68. I should of introduced myself but Pete told me to watch out for a tall guy with a hat. ;D
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I have done several sets of the 65/ 66 Arms as well as the 67-70. I have the tooling to totally rebuild them with properly riveted MOOG balljoints and using Carpenters boot with ring. The boots are a C7 part # but I use them on the 65/66 ball joint . I have not seen a proper part # boot for the early A Arm. I also can replace A Arm bushings also using Moog parts. The new Moog bushing kits utilize a boot instead of a O ring on the bushing so they are not totally Concours. I have not been able to locate a source for a like original Bushing that is US made but if anybody knows of a US manufacture that still makes it available I would be happy to go that route. I would be like to offer a service of restoring 65-70 Upper A arms. See the service section of this web sight for details.
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pics are easy. below the reply box is an 'additional options' button. clik that then clik browse to find the pics on your 'puter then open them & they should attach. if i can figure it out i know you can too........i'd like to see your work.