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?

[kenshapiro2002]

OK...got the ball joint installed on the right side...new style.

So, I go over to the left side (old style...split end strut). The shaft of the BJ will not go up far enough inside the strut. When I stick my pinkie up in there, I feel a "domed" ceiling, where I'm thinking it should be flat...to match the top of the BJ shaft. Using a narrow punch to measure, it is in fact dome shaped! After much exploration (jeweler's loop even), there is something in there! It's an insert or something. I can even see the edge of it, and hear it resonate when I hit the edge of it with my fingernail. It's like a damn metal yarmulke (LMAO). Don't know if it's some kinda former damage repair or if the DAPO tried to shim the BJ tighter (to stop up/down movement?) because he was using the wrong type of BJ. Still can't figure out why it's dome shaped.

Anyway...my immediate plan is to try and remove it. It does not look to be threaded in like an insert or helicoil. The rest of the shaft seems to be in good shape and I think this can work once I get that "yarmulke" out of the way. It's what I plan to try before going the way of a new strut.

Ideas as to how to proceed? Drill the center and try to get a screw in it?