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Replacing lower ball joints
Race Director
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 16,836
Likes: 337
From: Database Error Indiana
I just read the Helms manual. Section 3 C General describes the upper and laower control arms as ALLUMINUM. Section 3 D describes the differential cover (batwing) as ALLUMINUM. Go ahead and get out that torch. 
Instructor
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 194
Likes: 0
From: edmonton alberta
sorry guys the rear cover is cast aluminum
i just read it to in a corvette book ,but the front lower arms are magnesium ,upper aluminum ,if i pissed off anybody i apologize .this is not the way i act and shouldn't let things get out of hand like this did then we all look like kids,instead of passonite corvette owners that help each other out:.so i apologize.p.s you know the crankshaft in a vette is carved out of wood
Team Owner
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 24,337
Likes: 25
From: San Diego , CA Double Yellow DirtBags 1985..Z51..6-speed
Mag is nowhere near the strength of a decent steel.
It's lighter and weaker than aluminum.
It's more corrosive to steel than aluminum.
And, it's not used on the lower control arms or batwings.
It's lighter and weaker than aluminum.
It's more corrosive to steel than aluminum.
And, it's not used on the lower control arms or batwings.
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Racer
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 443
Likes: 0
From: Pueblo Colorado
you can weld magnesium,so whats your point? let me see your polished rear bat wing if you polished it ,you can tig and torch weld magnesium so i don't know what you meant by that .its obvious you guys don't know what your talking about a corvette guy here in edmonton that has probably worked on and raced more vettes then most of us here has also told me it is magnesium,and its hard to tell aluminum from mag they look the same. so i can see why you guys think it aluminum,but its not .but then again you probably read it in a hot rod magazine
http://todd-vette.tripod.com/mycarpi.../img00026?i=12
I don't know if alloys of Mg are still as combustible as pure??? But pure Mg is used in underwater welding (or was) since it burns hot and fast enough to break h2 bonds and release the gas to continue combustion. Hence i beleive in keeping flame away from any Mg to make sure.
Whish i still had access to an IR ... could settle this in an hour. Never mind Masspec would be needed.
PS, Almost any powder can ignite/explode under the right conditions... Some of the most destructive and deadly have been in grain silos and flour mills... if it can oxidize it can go boom... even Al.
Last edited by todd_vette; Mar 16, 2007 at 06:13 PM.
Drifting
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 1,867
Likes: 3
From: Pasadena Maryland
I did my lower ball joints(On whatever they where on, I really don't know or care) I used the C-Clamp looking ball joint press with the lower control arms on the car. The only problem I had was the rubber boot did not stay all the way down over the new ball joint, it would lift up just a little from the lower control arm.
PS: What kind of wood is the crank made out of, I hope it's teak.
PS: What kind of wood is the crank made out of, I hope it's teak.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 1,050
Likes: 0
From: Portsmouth VA
I'll jump on the thread-jacking wagon as well..
You're thinking of Magnesium Oxide (aka Thermite). Which will (kinda) burn. Ignition point is like 5000 C, so you got a ways to go to get there. And yes, once it starts, it doesn't stop. It's not a real combustion reaction like burning gas or wood. Rather, it's known as a oxidation-reduction or red-ox reaction. Nasty stuff I tell you.
You're thinking of Magnesium Oxide (aka Thermite). Which will (kinda) burn. Ignition point is like 5000 C, so you got a ways to go to get there. And yes, once it starts, it doesn't stop. It's not a real combustion reaction like burning gas or wood. Rather, it's known as a oxidation-reduction or red-ox reaction. Nasty stuff I tell you.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 862
Likes: 0
From: Lewisvlle NC
i just read it to in a corvette book ,but the front lower arms are magnesium ,upper aluminum ,if i pissed off anybody i apologize .this is not the way i act and shouldn't let things get out of hand like this did then we all look like kids,instead of passonite corvette owners that help each other out:.so i apologize.p.s you know the crankshaft in a vette is carved out of wood
Burning Brakes
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 828
Likes: 103
From: Olney MD
Ball Joints - Isnt that what this thread is about??
While you argue over Aluminium versus Magnesium, answer me this- Why did GM put that dumb tab on the bottom of the lower balljoint??
Do I need to grind it off?? or grind a notch in my remover tool? How hot do I need to get the lower (wooden) control arm to help the C-Clamp tool do its job? Any other tips? I've seen references to Black Harley Guy, but no links, but he seems to know ball joints like I know Beer Joints!!
Thanks in advance!
Do I need to grind it off?? or grind a notch in my remover tool? How hot do I need to get the lower (wooden) control arm to help the C-Clamp tool do its job? Any other tips? I've seen references to Black Harley Guy, but no links, but he seems to know ball joints like I know Beer Joints!!
Thanks in advance!
