I.D. My Ball Joint Please? Options

[kenshapiro2002]

The car is a 1970 914 that was converted to 5 lug using late 80s/early90s 911 front end parts. Not sure if the A arms were changed over and whether the ball joints I need are 914 or 911 parts (think they're 914, but not sure). Can I get these ball joints out using non-impact, hand tools, or should I just pay a local Porsche wrench to do it? Also, I thought the retainer nut on the bottom of the joint was supposed to be facing the front. Mine is the opposite. Does it matter?

[Cap'n Krusty]

Look at the first picture. Does that look like a bolt head? Not to me. Look at the second. That looks like a lock nut. I can't tell what size. Looking at the strut a little closer, it looks like it might be an early strut. That "might" be a split on the side, but it's hard for these old eyes to see from that angle. Take a look at the ball joint. Is that a "V" cut on the side, or is it a "U"? If it's a "V", it's a late ball joint. Coupled with the wrong fastener, it'll be loose. If you get replacement late joints, even with the pins, they won't fit in early struts. Early struts use a through bolt and the ball joint with the "U" cut in the shaft. They're nearly all worn out, though, and there's apt to be significant slop in the fit.

The Cap'n