C2 C3 alignment
Thread Starter
Pro
Joined: Aug 2013
Posts: 633
Likes: 36
From: Cincinnati Ohio
C2 C3 alignment
With all the independent rear suspension cars and suvs on the road today, it seems any competent alignment shop could do a front and rear (4 wheel) alignment on the C2's and C3's, or are they "special" and should be done by a Corvette "specialist"???
Instructor
Joined: Sep 2011
Posts: 149
Likes: 1
From: Troutman North Carolina
The trick is finding a "competent" shop to do it. Make sure they have someone who is familiar with older cars. Alignment shims haven't been used in many years and if the tech doing the job hasn't worked on one before, you may be worse off.
As for a home alignment, I did mine with strings and levels and was very close. But when I brought it to work and used our new Hunter Hawkeye Elite unit, it wasn't even close.
As for a home alignment, I did mine with strings and levels and was very close. But when I brought it to work and used our new Hunter Hawkeye Elite unit, it wasn't even close.
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 58,061
Likes: 7,145
Army
Don't even count on "any good shop" to do it. My Chevy dealer took a stab at aligning the '61 and I had to drive home and get the ST-12 to show them the adjustments behind the zerk fittings. In the meantime the dealership alignment guy was calling his retired grandfather for advice on how to do the job. Many of the modern alignment machines databases don't go back far enough to even bring up the specs for our cars.
Now I go to an "old school" shop for my C1/C2 using equipment that the factory used and run by a guy older than my cars....
Now I go to an "old school" shop for my C1/C2 using equipment that the factory used and run by a guy older than my cars....
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 6,527
Likes: 1,961
From: Temple Terrace Florida
Shims
The shop I use will not touch a C2 or C3 if they cannot easily get the trailing arm shims in and out. Most shops have no experience or knowledge in how to correctly set up an IRS vette. Jerry
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 58,061
Likes: 7,145
Army
Oh - BTW - one shop I went to wanted to charge me an alignment "add on" fee for an exotic car. Like I brought them a Ferrari or Lambo - like another $40 or more IIRC.
I turned them down and left them a nice patch of rubber in their driveway instead....
I turned them down and left them a nice patch of rubber in their driveway instead....
Melting Slicks
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 3,461
Likes: 18
From: cooper city florida
I went to one shop, and they quoted me 150 to 200 dollars. I then went to Goodyear, and they quoted me 75 dollars. I had the 63 shop manual with the exact specs for bias ply tires, but the mechanic said he already had the specs in his computer. We compared them and they matched exactly. The guy was at least 60 years old, and he said over the years he has done many old vette's. He did an excellent job in less than an hour, and the cost was 75 dollars.
Advanced
Joined: Aug 2013
Posts: 89
Likes: 0
From: Sterling Heights Michigan
Yes, I remember going to a specialty shop recommended to me for mine. They had all the fancy equipment and the 'kid' (mid-20's) doing it who seemed knowledable with older Vettes when I inquired. Cost me $236 to have both ends done. After I picked it up and got home to inpect, I noticed my front drivers side alignment shims were 'gone'!!!!!!! 
Went back to get my money back and to have them fix it. They claimed they didn't touch those shims and alignment doesn't effect their torgue. Ended up going to another bubba. Everything seemed ok but soon after looking at the car from the rear it's obvious it's still off. Meantime I have replaced my rear tires with only about 8k on them.
My Vette shop replaced the bushings in the rear trailing arms stating that the bushing were shot (looked worn to me too) and that the rear would not hold alignment without replacing. They then realigned and I'm good now I hope.
Went back to get my money back and to have them fix it. They claimed they didn't touch those shims and alignment doesn't effect their torgue. Ended up going to another bubba. Everything seemed ok but soon after looking at the car from the rear it's obvious it's still off. Meantime I have replaced my rear tires with only about 8k on them.
My Vette shop replaced the bushings in the rear trailing arms stating that the bushing were shot (looked worn to me too) and that the rear would not hold alignment without replacing. They then realigned and I'm good now I hope.
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