Topic: Are my upper control arms original?

[ddonzella]

How can I determine if my 1969 upper control arms are original ford parts? They are 4 rivet ball joint style.

[Bob Gaines]

How can I determine if my 1969 upper control arms are original ford parts? They are 4 rivet ball joint style.

Posting some pictures would be a start. There were a couple types used in 67-69 production . Side profile was one distinctive feature also the balljoint end .

[TLea]

also post build date of your car to see what style you should have

[ddonzella]

ok, will do. June 12th 1969 Dearborn. Pic will follow when I get home.

[J_Speegle]

Like allot of things/parts. Its easier to see what should not be there than what features should not.

All leads to the same end result

Picture of the date code area (top/outer surface of the ball joint cap/cover)

[ddonzella]

Thanks Jeff. Taking a look now that its clean..

[ddonzella]

There are no dates on the area you describe. Please see photo. Must be a repop.

[69GT350H]

My 4 bolt upper control arms do not have any markings in that area. I'd have thought they were original but I could be wrong.



I picked up a pair of 3 bolt's to modify and they have no markings on them either.



Click to open a larger image.

[ddonzella]

Jeff,

Seeing as my control arms have no date codes and are very pitted. I will look for replacements. So in looking for replacements, my Dearborn june 12, 69 car should have unpainted 4 rivet waffle head rivet upper control arms, correct?

[Bob Gaines]

Jeff,

Seeing as my control arms have no date codes and are very pitted. I will look for replacements. So in looking for replacements, my Dearborn june 12, 69 car should have unpainted 4 rivet waffle head rivet upper control arms, correct?

Yes on unpainted and the rivet  details . If it were me I wouldn't worry about the date code.The date codes were many times stamped so slight that they can not even be read. If one doesn't seem to have a stamp it most likely is because it is so light that it doesn't show. The stampings  are very small even if they are legible. I would worry about the most important thing which is the condition of the metal and the correct 69 style.   If you find a nice core and the date bugs you polish it off  that way it will look like the many that don't show up. Nobody else will likely be able to see it once tire the tire is mounted anyway even if they were looking for it . Just my opinion others may have different.

[ddonzella]

Thank you!