Ball joints!!

[mrrec]

Since 1/4" was the orig size, it's 1/2" head is correct and what I turned the 5/16" rivets down to. All rivets are mallable, low strength steel but rivets still have more holding power than most bolts. Buy the 5/16 and turn down the heads.

Incidentally, all FACTORY assembled Chevrolets that I have ever seen had ball joints installed as pictured and described.
Dave

[Enoch]

The steel in the rivets once compressed cold or hot in the "squishing" process takes on a forged quality to it so the are very hard. When I install the rivets I heat them up cherry red and peen them over with a air chisel and dolly (Bugs Bunny style) and in doing so the rivets are almost impossible to drill out (I know as in the learning process I made my share of mistakes on practice parts).