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Anyone seen this before? The weld holding the frame mounted clutch ball stud broke! I pushed the clutch in and it stayed to the floor. This is a nasty spot to be welding. The car has a frame off restoration and I'd like to not have to get a welder to my shop and try and weld it while up in the air. I thought C2s had a threaded frame ball. Ideas or call the welder? I'm just north of Denver if there is a serious welder in the area. I have a Lincoln TIG welder in my shop but it's been a lot of years since I have done any welding and with one broken weld I don't trust myself. IDEAS?
Jerry, The ball stud on my 61 was severely worn/damaged from not being lubricated/ load from gorilla spring. At the time I had no access to a welder. I drilled out the old stud/ ball and installed a threaded one from another Chevy. (5/8” hole if I remember correctly) Haven’t looked back. But I do grease it regularly. Sorry I don’t remember what the threaded one was from or for.
That ball matches the one for my 66 that goes on the frame mount...there's a special 'lock' that holds it in place...along with a nut..to lock it onto the mount..it does not screw into the mount..the mount pictured in post #2 is what my mount looks like also
The C1 frame bracket does not have a slotted mounting hole so the lock won't work.You can see in my photo above it's just a hole. On the one you drilled out did you do anything special to insure it doesn't loosen or back out?
Jerry,
On my install, a lock washer and nut. I just checked it’s a 3/4” nut so it has to be threaded for 1/2”. Probably wouldn’t hurt to use a little locktite too. Good luck!
I ordered a ball for a 66 Corvette and it doesn't fit. 66 ball is too big. so this idea is no good. Ball must come from something else. Does anyone know what threaded ball will fit a 61 Cross shaft? OR... does anyone know of a welder who makes house calls near Denver?
Jerry;
I'd get the weld in stud, put car on trailer and take down to a good weld or body shop. If they can put on a hoist it will be easier. I replaced mine a few years ago and once you remove the splash shield it is fairly easy to get at from the bottom. I would recommend countersinking the hole from the outside and also beveling the outside of the stud prior to welding to make sure you get good sound weld.
1) drill or grind the peen area down, use a punch to drive shaft through the bracket.
2) chamfer the outside area of the bracket
3) center punch the outside of ball shaft (not all need this. Depends on how ball is manufactured) I do this for the next person when it needs replaced....so they know where the center of the shaft is to drill/grind.
4) clean up the inward side of the bracket so the shoulder of the shaft sits squarely against the bracket
5) push new shaft into place..hold firmly against bracket...tack weld on the outside. Of course you can also use a clamp to hold it in place.
6) check that the new shaft is sitting square and against bracket...if so weld the rest of the shaft to the bracket.
7) grind weld smooth
Last edited by Jake Morgan; May 4, 2023 at 06:38 AM.