CRG Discussion Forum
Camaro Research Group Discussion => Restoration => Topic started by: dtep on May 07, 2015, 03:28:47 AM
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I need to replace the right upper control arm on my wife's 68 RS. Goodmark has one that has the ball joint riveted in which matches the current part. All the other replacements that I've found have the ball joint bolted in. I've seen some criticism of Goodmark body parts and am wondering if anyone has used their control arms. If so, how was the quality and fit?
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What's wrong with yours? Goodmark seem to have only the left side atm.
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If the originality of having the riveted upper ball joint is important to you (and it sounds like it is!), several vendors offer rivets and I have also seen people go to the trouble of machining replacement bolt heads into a rivet-like dome. Looks original, although no idea how they can be sure they are fully tight without being able to get a tool on the bolt head.......
Here's just one link to the OE-style rivets: http://www.heartbeatcitycamaro.com/store/product/14629/Camaro-Ball-joint-rivets-%288%29-upper-1967-1968-1969/
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I know these are 67, but hey the price is right!!! http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/ubbthreads.php/topics/611665/67-camaro-control-arms#Post611665
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If the originality of having the riveted upper ball joint is important to you (and it sounds like it is!), several vendors offer rivets and I have also seen people go to the trouble of machining replacement bolt heads into a rivet-like dome. Looks original, although no idea how they can be sure they are fully tight without being able to get a tool on the bolt head.......
Here's just one link to the OE-style rivets: http://www.heartbeatcitycamaro.com/store/product/14629/Camaro-Ball-joint-rivets-%288%29-upper-1967-1968-1969/
And more to add to Tim's comment, the corvette houses just about all sell ball joint bolts that are already shaped like the rivet head so it gives the car the correct look.
As already asked, what is wrong with your a-arm?
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Sorry about the slow response, but I've been traveling for business. This car is not a show car as you can tell from the picture below. I just got it for my wife for Christmas and am beginning to make it roadworthy. I don't have to have the rivets, but that's what it has now and, if I have to buy a new arm anyway, I'd like to keep it stock appearing.
The front edge of the arm where the metal turns up is about 2/3 gone from up near the frame down to about 3/4 of the way to the ball joint. It was interesting in that it really looked like a 3 ply laminate where two of them separated (and rusted) from the other ply. The two fell out when I started scraping them with a screw driver.
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And more to add to Tim's comment, the corvette houses just about all sell ball joint bolts that are already shaped like the rivet head so it gives the car the correct look.
As already asked, what is wrong with your a-arm?
Many of the Camaro vendors also sell the bolts with rivet heads.
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That heavy lump of steel has rusted away!??! :o outrageous!! What's the rest of the car like?? [btw - no pic is showing]
I would look around for a good used original from any 1st gen. The upper ball joint has very little work to do and they usually last forever, which is why they're riveted in.
I wouldn't even worry about changing the rubber bushes, for now at least, even if they look a little ratty around the edges. The rubber inside the bushes will still be good enough to make the car roadworthy - if that's all you looking to do for now.
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So how do you tighten up the 'rivet-headed' bolts?
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I know these are 67, but hey the price is right!!! http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/ubbthreads.php/topics/611665/67-camaro-control-arms#Post611665
one more time...wish I could put neon and arrows around this!
It is a "bird in the hand", do NOT procrastinate. Will not last at this price.
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I know these are 67, but hey the price is right!!! http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/ubbthreads.php/topics/611665/67-camaro-control-arms#Post611665
one more time...wish I could put neon and arrows around this!
It is a "bird in the hand", do NOT procrastinate. Will not last at this price.
Those uppers look perfect - don't even clean them - they are grubby survivors!!
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I PM'd the guy over on the Supercars forum. At least one person admitted to having PM'd him before me. I'll let you know what happens. Thanks for the tip.
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Sorry about the slow response, but I've been traveling for business. This car is not a show car as you can tell from the picture below. I just got it for my wife for Christmas and am beginning to make it roadworthy. I don't have to have the rivets, but that's what it has now and, if I have to buy a new arm anyway, I'd like to keep it stock appearing.
The front edge of the arm where the metal turns up is about 2/3 gone from up near the frame down to about 3/4 of the way to the ball joint. It was interesting in that it really looked like a 3 ply laminate where two of them separated (and rusted) from the other ply. The two fell out when I started scraping them with a screw driver.
Unless you know/understand how/why the one control arm rusted away (without the rest of the car doing the same), I'd thoroughly check the other control arms! The only reason I suspect could cause that area to rust away is for wet trash etc to have sit there (and stayed wet) for years. Was the car sitting outside? or where that one side was exposed?? Please check the other control arms carefully and use a screwdriver or something hard to scrape in those areas to ensure they are sound...
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So how do you tighten up the 'rivet-headed' bolts?
LOL, that's a good one Tim! Never used but know people that have so must not be an issue.
Agree 100% with Gary, that the car should be evaluated to see what other damage might be lurking or understanding why so heavily at that area.
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I just bought the car in December and, because of work, have spent exactly one afternoon working on it. A friend and I pulled the brake drums and found that the right side brakes looked good, but the left drums both were a bear to get off and the top third of one shoe in each looked like it had been wet. There was rust on the drum and the material on the shoe had broken down. My buddy found the control arm problem. I just went out and looked at the other control arms and they all seem pretty solid. There is a lot of dirt sitting down in the valley in that part of the control arm so maybe that was the culprit. All in all, I think it's a pretty solid car for its age, but I'm just getting back into cars after a 25 year layoff so what do I know? :-) The odometer only shows 12k+ miles, but who knows if that is original or not. The car allegedly sat in a garage for the last eight years so I need to replace all the belts and hoses and go through the braking system before I let my wife take it out. I'd like to get it done this summer, but at the rate of one afternoon every six months, it's going to be a while.
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So how do you tighten up the 'rivet-headed' bolts?
LOL, that's a good one Tim! Never used but know people that have so must not be an issue.
Agree 100% with Gary, that the car should be evaluated to see what other damage might be lurking or understanding why so heavily at that area.
Maybe they have a small spline under the head so it grips the metal? Like the upper control arm bolts.
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I had a look at a few of the usual vendors' details and it seems the 'rivet' head end of the bolt is serrated to grip the hole.
Here's the link to just one such vendor's item, in case anyone else is curious:
http://www.camarocentral.com/1967_1969_Ball_Joint_Assembly_p/sus-36r.htm
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So how do you tighten up the 'rivet-headed' bolts?
http://www.camarocentral.com/1967_1969_Ball_Joint_Assembly_p/sus-36r.htm
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Scott, see post above your last. Same link.
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I never read page two of this thread so I did not see your post. I already assumed they made them like lug nut studs. If I had to make my own because they did not I have a knurling tool for a lathe work.
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So how do you tighten up the 'rivet-headed' bolts?
http://www.camarocentral.com/1967_1969_Ball_Joint_Assembly_p/sus-36r.htm
Brand new Camaro upper ball joint Rivet Bolt Set. Mounts the upper ball joints to the upper control a-arm and gives it the appearance of a real rivet.
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So how do you tighten up the 'rivet-headed' bolts?
http://www.camarocentral.com/1967_1969_Ball_Joint_Assembly_p/sus-36r.htm
Brand new Camaro upper ball joint Rivet Bolt Set. Mounts the upper ball joints to the upper control a-arm and gives it the appearance of a real rivet.
'gives it the appearance of a real rivet....from the top side'. (they left out that last part!).. :)
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To the OP. I have one good original upper control arm. Don't remember if it is left or right. Someone needed one, and I sent it to him a few years ago.
PM me if you don't find one, and I will check to see if it is the left. If so, and if you still need it, it is free. Just pay actual shipping which should be about $15.
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Lynn, You are always so helpful to the hobbyist. This is bbbentley on sYc. I have benefitted from Lynn's charitable help. I say Thanks for this guy in advance and "Go Sox"!
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Thank you Lynn but I think I have one on the way. I'll let you know either way how it works out.
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Just in case this comes up again. Dick was unable to find a good rh upper arm. I found the one I had, but it is lh upper.
I also have a pair of lower control arms.
All are available to anyone who needs any or all for their own car. Just pay shipping.