I hit the old lower ball joint with a hammer and it fell out with first whack. I use my press to install lower ball joint, I tighten it real good. I take off the press and the LBJ falls to the ground. I take the old put it in from the top it goes right in, I put the new one in from the top, it goes right in, no force needed for either.
Now is there a way to tighten the hole and maybe reinforce the lower control arm as well?
I don't want to spend $145 for a new one.
I haven't even tried the other side yet.

Weird, sounds like you need new control arms. I wouldnt chance it. Maybe you could weld to build it up, then grind for a press fit. Sounds like all your options may be pretty mickey mouse.

Somebody Hogged them out, so they wouldn't have to pay to press them in. I'm not sure if they have to be a press fit, how loose is loose?

Weld them in :yes:

Is welding mickey mouses way of doing it? Is it safe?
I like to smoke tires and rip around corners a lot.

My shop thought mine could have gone in tighter so they tack welded them in place, it's ok if you notice the direction of force that will be applied to the ball joint and the existing lip surfaces of the ball joint and CA. Tacking or welding them in will make future replacement more difficult though, but I didn't see any down side to playing it safe by applying a four tacks to the ball joints. For the perfectionists I am sure this is completely unacceptable :beers:

My shop thought mine could have gone in tighter so they tack welded them in place, it's ok if you notice the direction of force that will be applied to the ball joint and the existing lip surfaces of the ball joint and CA. Tacking or welding them in will make future replacement more difficult though, but I didn't see any down side to playing it safe by applying a four tacks to the ball joints. For the perfectionists I am sure this is completely unacceptable :beers:
Tack welding ball joints is a fairly common practice. Most circle track racers do it as a rule for more strength.

You are also correct in that the forces applied to the ball joint hold it in place. I.E. the spring is pushing down on the lower control arm, the lower control arm is pulling down on the ball joint and spindle and the tire to pull the car up off the ground. There are conceivable times when that would not be the case, I. E. pot holes (you hit a pot hole compress the spring and then on the upward cycle you could get negative pressure???)

Three GOOD tacks should be equal to a good press fit. A good tack means good penetration, not a heavy build up. Look closely at the attached photo

Glen your site is very informative. I was looking at the cross shafts and noticed I have one with bolt on the passenger side and the one with the nut on the end on the drivers side.
Both uppers still had the BJ's riveted, so I believe they are original. Have you seen them mixed before?

Glen your site is very informative. I was looking at the cross shafts and noticed I have one with bolt on the passenger side and the one with the nut on the end on the drivers side.
Both uppers still had the BJ's riveted, so I believe they are original. Have you seen them mixed before?
It is not as common to find, as to find that you have one oval style lower control arm on one side and a round on the other but yes they did come from the factory like that.

Jay - I just tacked one a few weeks ago - seems to be fine.

muffler shop here I come, after I charge my battery. My new amp discharged my battery yesterday while working on my Elco! LOL