Picked up some used parts with a new ball joint.
Like the title says "What's wrong with this picture"

 

It would be good if the ball joint was on the correct side of the control arm. Lol.

 

Back in the 80s a shop did that to my 1970 Supreme on one side, and while they got the other side in correctly, they overtorqued and stripped all of the mounting bolts. I had to redo the work that I paid to be done. That is one of the reasons why I have always done work myself - I am much more invested in the end results than any mechanic shop that takes my money.

 

It's just the steel plate that's on the wrong side.
I was putting it together "The same way it came off" and something just didn't seem right.
Also shouldn't the bolts come down from the top, in the rare case the nut comes off at least the bolt won't fall out?

 

Yeah, that's just the retainer for the dust boot, not the flange for the ball joint. I usually put the nuts on top, to avoid any clearance issues between the bolts and the spindle. If a nut comes off, you have a bigger problem anyway. After a couple of bumps, the bolt is coming out no matter which way you installed it.

 

Were the ball joints bolted or riveted from the factory?

 

I believe that’s a 1970 control arm and I believe all the A-Body vehicles were riveted. But, you know what, as soon as I make the statement Curmudgeon will hit me with a smack-down. Maybe I’ll get lucky this time!

 

Eventually even a blind squirrel finds a nut...

Yes, the were riveted from the factory.

 

Truth!