Practical use for an old Balljoint

[Porschemaniac]

Hi everyone,

Recently, I replaced the front suspension wishbones on my beloved 944. Being a bit of a horader, I really could not justify binning the old ones, and have vowed to find practical uses for them.

Having stripped the old balljoint out of one of the arms, it struck me that it might make a good basis for an interesting garden ornament.

With the addition of (quite a bit of) MIG wire, a small piece of round bar and some 1mm sheet, this is what we have.

I (or rather, the wife) can feel a whole family of these coming on!!

 

[Archie]

Good one! We should have a thread for these. Sam showed us 'Big Bird' the other day. I've got a couple of boot pulls made of old horse shoes but they're far less interesting.

 

[Porschemaniac]

Cheers Archie. Let's see soe pics of those boot pulls (sounds like a really good idea).

As you say, might be good to have a seperate place for these - sort of a MIG Welding Forum Summer Exhibition.

I'd just like to say, on a personal note, what a fantastic forum this is. Not only can you get some really sound advice from genuinely friendly people, but I love some of the topics that come up in the Brew Room.

Long may this continue - it's right at the top of my favourites.

Cheers,

Ian.

 

[Archie]

I'll slap a couple of pics up as and when I get round to it, though I can assure you they're nought special!!! I knocked 'em ages ago when the wooden one collapsed.

You're right; it's a great forum.

 

[Woody.v8]

Heres a pic of a man i made when i was about 14 out of old bike bits..

 

[Woody.v8]

Maybe a future project a CAT C12 piston, That i found in the chassis rail, Needs a bit of chemical metal before it'll go again

 

[Rusty]

Here's something I knocked up with some bits of scrap I had laying around ( I wish )

 

[malcolm]

I love welded art. If everyone posts their art we'd have enough for a whole forum section.

 

[Drains]

Here you go.

Anyone who's driven past the off ramp to Edinburgh Airport over the last ten years may have noticed this, next to the Gogarburn Road. Made by a chap called Dillon MacEwan , and his trusty sidekick, me. (till we fell out, nine years ago)

I recall it was once a VW Passat, and ran very well, even after we'd messed it about a bit.

 

[Phraiwan Petkuea]

Good idea,I'm like it.

 

[Wozzaaah]

Here you go.

Anyone who's driven past the off ramp to Edinburgh Airport over the last ten years may have noticed this, next to the Gogarburn Road. Made by a chap called Dillon MacEwan , and his trusty sidekick, me. (till we fell out, nine years ago)

I recall it was once a VW Passat, and ran very well, even after we'd messed it about a bit.

Hehe, I like it too!
Think it might fail the SVA due to 'sharp projections' though

 

[TurboShed]

Good thread

And what, out of interest, does a Porsche Arm/Balljoint cost then? My Cossie eats them, so it's good you can get pattern ones for about £20, or Ford ones about £30. Had a mate with an old BMW E36 318, cost £60 for a flipping balljoint/arm! So come on what do Porsche have the nerve to charge?

 

[JayRS4]

No where near as bad as Nissan, 125 quid!!! I do like this thread though, any more?

 

[TAITSIE]

CV gaitor for a Merc ML 4X4 from dealer £96 + vat, normal price from a motor factors around £8.

 

[Porschemaniac]

Well, you can pick up a pattern balljoint for around £18 for my 944. These cars share most of their front underpinnings with a Mk1 Golf - so a front suspension is really not too expensive. Given the weight of the car, they last quite a while.

 

[fingers99]

Ciggy lighter assembly for FIAT Cinquecento -- £35 from FIAT, £5 from Halfrauds..........

 

[TurboShed]

CV gaitor for a Merc ML 4X4 from dealer £96 + vat, normal price from a motor factors around £8.

OMG £96 for a rubber boot FFS.

 

[TurboShed]

Well, you can pick up a pattern balljoint for around £18 for my 944. These cars share most of their front underpinnings with a Mk1 Golf - so a front suspension is really not too expensive. Given the weight of the car, they last quite a while.

Cool, nice to know you can run one reasonably cheaply. I've always been tempted by a 944 Turbo.

 

[Phraiwan Petkuea]

Oh' very cool, I have the car is very old. But no has idea for develop.

 

[paulmowers]

on the subject of boot pullers

I make these for sale amongst other things from old horseshoes.

you can see the rest on my site

not really into making arty stuff, but some of them that others produce look brilliant, anything I make has to have a practical purpose.

All the best paul.