1963 Corvette Upper Control ball joints.

[Doug Y.]

I am just doing a 1963 body off resto for a friend who has purchased new upper control arms with riveted ball joints. The complete assembly is painted black. I noticed a recent thread with a picture from John Hinckley I believe and it showed the ball joints un painted. Should the ball joints be unpainted?? Many thanks for replies from the frozen north

[Dan H.]

Re: 1963 Corvette Upper Control ball joints.

Doug, the ball joints were installed at St. Louis after the A arms were painted, all the rest was painted by the vendor/supplier, a little lacquer thinner is what you need to fix em.
Dan

[Dan H.]

Re: 1963 Corvette Upper Control ball joints.

Doug, forgot to mention that 63's had 90 degree zerk fittings on upper and lower A arms, 64 on have straight up zerks. Always liked the 90 degree zerks when I worked for Standard Oil in 1963, much easier to lube!
Dan

[Michael H.]

Re: 1963 Corvette Upper Control ball joints.

Doug, forgot to mention that 63's had 90 degree zerk fittings on upper and lower A arms, 64 on have straight up zerks. Always liked the 90 degree zerks when I worked for Standard Oil in 1963, much easier to lube!
Dan

I think the 90* fittings continued into the 64 model for at least part of the year. I don't remember exactly when the change to straight fittings occured. Probably in the first third of 64 prod.

This info should be in the 64 AIM.

[Joe L.]

Re: 1963 Corvette Upper Control ball joints.

I am just doing a 1963 body off resto for a friend who has purchased new upper control arms with riveted ball joints. The complete assembly is painted black. I noticed a recent thread with a picture from John Hinckley I believe and it showed the ball joints un painted. Should the ball joints be unpainted?? Many thanks for replies from the frozen north

Doug------


I THINK there was one other difference between some or all 1963 upper ball joints and later as well as 64+ NOS and current reproductions. I believe the style of projection (spot) welds seen on the upper surface of the ball joint changed either sometime during the 1963 model year or shortly thereafter.

I just mention this as a point of "curiosity". I'm not even 100% sure about it, and I certainly don't know when the change was made if it occurred, at all. Plus, there's no way you'd be able to obtain the original style, anyway.

Assuming that the car has the original upper ball joints on it now, I'd sure like to see a photo of the upper surface showing the projection welds.

[Alan D.]

Re: 1963 Corvette Upper Control ball joints.

Joe, would a Mar64 help? Not sure just what you need picture of!

[Dan H.]

Re: 1963 Corvette Upper Control ball joints.

Hey Alan, do you have 90 degree zerks on your A arms?
Dan

[John D.]

Re: 1963 Corvette Upper Control ball joints.

Dan, The zerks are pointing toward the car you are following on a 63 and some 64's. That's so they clog up with road grime and road salt. Nice pic of them in the 63 aims.

Alan, I can see why you asked this question. The 5th edition on pages 132 and 133 points out that the lower ball joints were of a natural unpainted finish and riveted to the lower "A" arm with natural finish rivets., etc..
But no mention is made of the upper (top) ball joints. If so then I can't find it. JD

[Michael H.]

Re: 1963 Corvette Upper Control ball joints.

Dan, The zerks are pointing toward the car you are following on a 63 and some 64's.

Yup. Youse guys get yer 63 and 64 AIM's out and get the part numbers for the grease fittings. You'll see the change in the 64 AIM.
The 90* fittings point forward for 63 and early 64, as JD mentioned. Later 64 through 67 were straight.

[Doug Y.]

Re: 1963 Corvette Upper Control ball joints.

Thank you fellas for all the great feedback. It is very much appreciated. I have just shovelled myself into exhaustion with both the shovel & snowblower. Can't wait to get to Florida on the 20th from up here in London Ontario. Rgds.

[Joe L.]

Re: 1963 Corvette Upper Control ball joints.

Joe, would a Mar64 help? Not sure just what you need picture of!

Alan------


It might help determine if the 63 upper ball joint projection welds, assuming they were actually different than later, carried over into early 1964.

Attached are photos of an NOS GM upper ball joint showing the projection welds I'm referring to. I think the 63 welds were either "rectangular" or a different round configuration.

[Tracy C.]

Re: 1963 Corvette Upper Control ball joints.

Joe,

What diameter are the attach holes on the NOS parts? Original parts and repops have .270 dia. holes and I was wondering if the service parts were sized for 5/16 bolts instead.

This would be important when sizing rivets for proper installation.

tc

[Joe L.]

Re: 1963 Corvette Upper Control ball joints.

Joe,

What diameter are the attach holes on the NOS parts? Original parts and repops have .270 dia. holes and I was wondering if the service parts were sized for 5/16 bolts instead.

This would be important when sizing rivets for proper installation.

tc

Tracy------


Yes, that's the one difference between GM PRODUCTION and GM SERVICE UPPER ball joints. The SERVICE ball joints have 0.34" holes for 5/16" bolts.

The lower ball joints are the same for PRODUCTION and SERVICE.

[Alan D.]

Re: 1963 Corvette Upper Control ball joints.

Here is a March 23, 64 upper ball joint, note straight grease fitting changed on 2-6-64 by ECR 59892 (NPC511 ?) AIM Sec 3, sheet 3.00

[John H.]

Re: 1963 Corvette Upper Control ball joints.

Alan, I can see why you asked this question. The 5th edition on pages 132 and 133 points out that the lower ball joints were of a natural unpainted finish and riveted to the lower "A" arm with natural finish rivets., etc..
But no mention is made of the upper (top) ball joints. If so then I can't find it. JD

JD -

See page 125, middle of the page.