Holy crap !!!!!!!!
Thread Starter
Pro
Joined: Nov 2012
Posts: 672
Likes: 0
From: Chesapeake Virginia
Holy crap !!!!!!!!
Dang,
I took the '81 up to get the alignment done after the frame off resoration and damn, what happened to the old days when an alignment was an alignment. now they want to charge you for the alignment AND for installing the shims necessary to do the alignment.
they are talking over $300.oo to do a 4 wheel alignment.
time for me to start looking around for someone who doesn't want to bend me over.
I took the '81 up to get the alignment done after the frame off resoration and damn, what happened to the old days when an alignment was an alignment. now they want to charge you for the alignment AND for installing the shims necessary to do the alignment.
they are talking over $300.oo to do a 4 wheel alignment.
time for me to start looking around for someone who doesn't want to bend me over.
Drifting
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 1,839
Likes: 45
From: nassau co. new york
if someone could have done my car right and on the first shot,if they got my tracking correct and achieved max front castor,and if they were able to set and hold proper camber angles,and they set my rear toe to make my car behave on the highway without my knuckles turning white,i would then after working a few hours overtime at work gladly paid $300 and been way ahead of the game. but i would have missed out on the fun.
CF Community Team
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 9,316
Likes: 359
From: Delaware
St. Jude Donor '25
Dang,
I took the '81 up to get the alignment done after the frame off resoration and damn, what happened to the old days when an alignment was an alignment. now they want to charge you for the alignment AND for installing the shims necessary to do the alignment.
they are talking over $300.oo to do a 4 wheel alignment.
time for me to start looking around for someone who doesn't want to bend me over.
I took the '81 up to get the alignment done after the frame off resoration and damn, what happened to the old days when an alignment was an alignment. now they want to charge you for the alignment AND for installing the shims necessary to do the alignment.
they are talking over $300.oo to do a 4 wheel alignment.
time for me to start looking around for someone who doesn't want to bend me over.
Drifting
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 1,886
Likes: 9
If you are getting a knowledgable professional, it's probably worth it. There are plenty of yahoos out there, though, that have the fancy expensive equipment and no idea how to use it.
When I asked my local Firestone dealer to set the wheel alignment on my daily driver to the max castor setting allowed by the factory specs, they simply said ,"We can't do that".
"Why not?", I said.
"We can't do that."
WTF?
When I asked my local Firestone dealer to set the wheel alignment on my daily driver to the max castor setting allowed by the factory specs, they simply said ,"We can't do that".
"Why not?", I said.
"We can't do that."
WTF?
Melting Slicks
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 2,207
Likes: 26
From: Ocean County NJ
There's a place in NJ I go to that specializes in alignments for C3's and charges $75.00. They have the correct equipment and are competent. It's an hour from my home but well worth the drive. There are shops closer that do charge $300+, however heard from local club members that not only do they overcharge, they don't even have the proper "old school" skill set. Good luck in finding a reputable shop.
Drifting
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 1,886
Likes: 9
There's a place in NJ I go to that specializes in alignments for C3's and charges $75.00. They have the correct equipment and are competent. It's an hour from my home but well worth the drive. There are shops closer that do charge $300+, however heard from local club members that not only do they overcharge, they don't even have the proper "old school" skill set. Good luck in finding a reputable shop.
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Drifting
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 1,839
Likes: 45
From: nassau co. new york
in a time not long ago i was with my beautiful blonde lover who sold me on the ways of the c3 corvette.this c3 would need to be aligned but alas it did not matter whilst i be lost in her gaze.this beautiful women is now only a faint memory as is that alignment shop she spoke of. she was from new jersey.the dream was never realized. 
Team Owner
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 37,637
Likes: 3,116
From: Crossville TN
The 'trick' is to find a shop that is qualified and capable of doing a good alignment job (front and rear) on a C3 Corvette. When you find a good one (recommended by their other C3 customers or Corvette club members), it will probably cost less than the "other guys"....because the "other guys" will screw around for hours trying to figure out what they should be doing. The guys that know will have it done in a reasonable time, so they don't need to overcharge you.
But, in the northeast, it might still cost you $200 or more for all four wheels being done WELL.
P.S. Make sure the front and rear wheels have just a touch of negative TOE dialed in to them. That will keep the wide tires from wanting to "hunt" (wander) down the road.
But, in the northeast, it might still cost you $200 or more for all four wheels being done WELL.
P.S. Make sure the front and rear wheels have just a touch of negative TOE dialed in to them. That will keep the wide tires from wanting to "hunt" (wander) down the road.
2026 Loser of the Year
Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 36,574
Likes: 7,016
From: New Or-leens Loo-z-anna
Well...concerning alignments....it took me a day to read all the threads about aligning my '34 truck/'89 new front suspension.......
then 3 afternoons (5 hours each day/slow learner) to get the alignment correct.
I now have 25,000 miles on the tires/no unusual wear showing.
Using that as a reference, I should be able to breeze through a Corvette alignment in..............
hmmmmmm..........
about................................... .....................
6 days.......and a bottle of Advil......
and 1/2 bottle of ALEVE..............
then 3 afternoons (5 hours each day/slow learner) to get the alignment correct.
I now have 25,000 miles on the tires/no unusual wear showing.
Using that as a reference, I should be able to breeze through a Corvette alignment in..............
hmmmmmm..........
about................................... .....................
6 days.......and a bottle of Advil......
and 1/2 bottle of ALEVE..............
Last edited by doorgunner; Jan 14, 2014 at 03:02 AM.
Drifting
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 1,968
Likes: 44
From: East TN
The shop I took my vette to went to the extent of cutting wood planks to raise my vette so it wouldn't bottom out while I drove it onto their alignment rack. They set it to VBP Advanced Street specs and charged me $99. I supplied stainless steel shims for the front and rear.
Drifting
Joined: Jan 2012
Posts: 1,908
Likes: 129
From: Fredericksburg Virginia
We have a place in town that does alignments on old cars. A bunch of old folks work there.
My understanding is that they take an appointment in the morning and another in the afternoon. They're booked for months.
One of my friends brought his early 60's Caddy there and it cost him in that range. And he'd never take it anywhere else.
My understanding is that they take an appointment in the morning and another in the afternoon. They're booked for months.
One of my friends brought his early 60's Caddy there and it cost him in that range. And he'd never take it anywhere else.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 5,339
Likes: 546
From: Central Texas
The guy that set mine up came highly recommended for C6s. I don't think he had ever done a C3. He took three hours and stuck to his original quote of $100. He did an excellent job but lost his *** doing it. He said he would never align another C3 after mine.
Race Director
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 11,814
Likes: 9
From: Science Bitch! Mississauga, Ontario
Canadian Events Coordinator
If you are getting a knowledgable professional, it's probably worth it. There are plenty of yahoos out there, though, that have the fancy expensive equipment and no idea how to use it.
When I asked my local Firestone dealer to set the wheel alignment on my daily driver to the max castor setting allowed by the factory specs, they simply said ,"We can't do that".
"Why not?", I said.
"We can't do that."
WTF?
When I asked my local Firestone dealer to set the wheel alignment on my daily driver to the max castor setting allowed by the factory specs, they simply said ,"We can't do that".
"Why not?", I said.
"We can't do that."
WTF?
speaking of "knowledgable" 
KNOWLEDGEABLE 
Burning Brakes
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 1,006
Likes: 28
From: Lutz Florida
I had mine aligned at a local frame and alignment shop after I installed the rebuilt trailing arms.
I felt pretty comfortable with the shop when the Tech told me on the phone that he could do it, no problem, but I suggested supply the trailing arm shims since the shop didn't keep them on hand any more.
I paid $150.00 for a complete alignment and balance (I furnished the SS Shim kit).
Worth every penny.
I felt pretty comfortable with the shop when the Tech told me on the phone that he could do it, no problem, but I suggested supply the trailing arm shims since the shop didn't keep them on hand any more.
I paid $150.00 for a complete alignment and balance (I furnished the SS Shim kit).
Worth every penny.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Mar 2012
Posts: 1,200
Likes: 1
From: Belle River Ontario
2015 C3 of Year Finalist
Same thing with a place here where i live, bunch of older hot rod fellas that actually take their time and do it right. Takes them at least a few hours but tracks perfect when they are done.
I'd never go anywhere else, the 225 they charged at that time was well worth it.
I firmly believe in the "you get what you pay for" scenario.
I'd never go anywhere else, the 225 they charged at that time was well worth it.
I firmly believe in the "you get what you pay for" scenario.
Pro
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 545
Likes: 0
From: Jacksonville Fl
I just got my shim kit and looking around jacksonville fl to get my baby alignment done. A goodyear shop quoted me $150 life time free alignment. I asked has anyone done a c3. There reply " a c what? What kind of car is that? Do you mean a c10 truck?". Needless to say not going there.
Thread Starter
Pro
Joined: Nov 2012
Posts: 672
Likes: 0
From: Chesapeake Virginia
well, I've been doing some calling around trying to find someone local that stands a chance of doing it right. I did manage to find one place that knew there were "special" shims for the trailing arms, that is at least a step in the right direction.