***Need advice!! ASAP... with alignment MAJOR PROBLEMS!!!!
Thread Starter
Race Director
Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 13,911
Likes: 101
From: Manassas VA
NoVa Events Coordinator
St. Jude Donor '14
***Need advice!! ASAP... with alignment MAJOR PROBLEMS!!!!
I have really no idea what to do. As some of you know I just rebuilt my front end of my 80. Well I took the car in for an alignment and here are the results.
Left Front:
Camber: -.10 degrees
Caster: +6.50 degrees
Toe: +0.05"
Right Front:
Camber: -.30 degrees
Caster: +6.00 degrees
Toe: .21"
Front Totals:
Total Toe: +.26"
cross camber: +.20 degrees
cross caster: +.50 degrees
The right back side is also an issue but numbers won't matter.
Now the left side of the car can be brought into spec but the right side can't! THey think the car was hit at one point and time and in order to get the car to go right they had to put the left side out of spec.
I need advice on what I should do? Looks like the car took a hit on the passenger side at one point in time. I didn't notice and damge to the frame nor did the shop before I purchased the car.
The shop where the car is now says I can drive it with no problems but I will have shorter tire life.
Does any one know of any place in the northern VA area that I could take this car to?
Is it possible to straighten out the frame if there is frame damage?
The car drives straight and it feels like its on rails in turns.
what to do?
Left Front:
Camber: -.10 degrees
Caster: +6.50 degrees
Toe: +0.05"
Right Front:
Camber: -.30 degrees
Caster: +6.00 degrees
Toe: .21"
Front Totals:
Total Toe: +.26"
cross camber: +.20 degrees
cross caster: +.50 degrees
The right back side is also an issue but numbers won't matter.
Now the left side of the car can be brought into spec but the right side can't! THey think the car was hit at one point and time and in order to get the car to go right they had to put the left side out of spec.
I need advice on what I should do? Looks like the car took a hit on the passenger side at one point in time. I didn't notice and damge to the frame nor did the shop before I purchased the car.
The shop where the car is now says I can drive it with no problems but I will have shorter tire life.
Does any one know of any place in the northern VA area that I could take this car to?
Is it possible to straighten out the frame if there is frame damage?
The car drives straight and it feels like its on rails in turns.
what to do?
Melting Slicks
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 2,041
Likes: 0
From: Wichita, KS
Re: ***Need advice!! ASAP... with alignment MAJOR PROBLEMS!!!! (Bluewasp)
Vette Brakes and Products offers front a-arms that they claim offer an increase in the adjustment range of the front suspension. You might take a look at them.
Thread Starter
Race Director
Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 13,911
Likes: 101
From: Manassas VA
NoVa Events Coordinator
St. Jude Donor '14
Re: ***Need advice!! ASAP... with alignment MAJOR PROBLEMS!!!! (Bluewasp)
Yeah, I plan on it sometime this week...
Has anyone ever had their vette on a frame machine?
[Modified by Bluewasp, 8:06 PM 9/15/2001]
Has anyone ever had their vette on a frame machine?
[Modified by Bluewasp, 8:06 PM 9/15/2001]
Safety Car
Joined: Sep 1999
Posts: 4,901
Likes: 698
From: grand rapids, lowell mi. area
Re: ***Need advice!! ASAP... with alignment MAJOR PROBLEMS!!!! (Bluewasp)
Hey is it was me ,I would have everything checked out ,and if it is real expensive to fix, but it is ok to drive, I would go ahead and drive it and not put alot of money in it.
So what if you have to put a set of tires on it every 30,000 miles or so!!!!
So what if you have to put a set of tires on it every 30,000 miles or so!!!!
Safety Car
Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 4,679
Likes: 6
From: Charles Town WV
Re: ***Need advice!! ASAP... with alignment MAJOR PROBLEMS!!!! (Bluewasp)
On the off chance that this isn't a Vette shop and doesn't know much about Vettes, have you checked your T-arm bushings? Mine were so worn out that I could wiggle them just about any way I wanted to when the spring and half shaft was detached.
Does your frame LOOK bashed? Usually when a frame's been hit hard enough to cause alignment problems it'll show some sign of damage.
Take your car to Tony's Corvette shop in Gaithersburg. Have Andrew look at it, he is really good.
Does your frame LOOK bashed? Usually when a frame's been hit hard enough to cause alignment problems it'll show some sign of damage.
Take your car to Tony's Corvette shop in Gaithersburg. Have Andrew look at it, he is really good.
Thread Starter
Race Director
Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 13,911
Likes: 101
From: Manassas VA
NoVa Events Coordinator
St. Jude Donor '14
Re: ***Need advice!! ASAP... with alignment MAJOR PROBLEMS!!!! (Steve Straus)
No, I didn't see any frame clamp marks, weld marks or even the frame having that common crash sign called a "wrinkle".... I need to find someone in my area that has worked on C3s for sure and I need to get laser measurements of my frame to know if its ok.
I also replaced the following on both sides: upper/lower ball joints, tie rod ends (both ends) control arm bushings, new springs, new shocks, new control arm studs, and replaced other rusted out nuts and bolts.. Purchase all items from zip....
robert
[Modified by Bluewasp, 7:41 AM 9/16/2001]
I also replaced the following on both sides: upper/lower ball joints, tie rod ends (both ends) control arm bushings, new springs, new shocks, new control arm studs, and replaced other rusted out nuts and bolts.. Purchase all items from zip....
robert
[Modified by Bluewasp, 7:41 AM 9/16/2001]
Thread Starter
Race Director
Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 13,911
Likes: 101
From: Manassas VA
NoVa Events Coordinator
St. Jude Donor '14
Re: ***Need advice!! ASAP... with alignment MAJOR PROBLEMS!!!! (Bluewasp)
how bad is it to have your caster at 6 degrees or 6.5 degrees... Its only 3 degrees out of spec.???
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Melting Slicks
Joined: Apr 1999
Posts: 2,010
Likes: 3
From: Moon Twp. PA USA
Re: ***Need advice!! ASAP... with alignment MAJOR PROBLEMS!!!! (Bluewasp)
If memory serves, caster does not affect tire wear, only camber and toe in.
My GM spec book for my '76 calls for P 3/4 +/- 1/2 camber, and total toe in of 1/8 +/- 1/32.
My GM spec book for my '76 calls for P 3/4 +/- 1/2 camber, and total toe in of 1/8 +/- 1/32.
Thread Starter
Race Director
Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 13,911
Likes: 101
From: Manassas VA
NoVa Events Coordinator
St. Jude Donor '14
Re: ***Need advice!! ASAP... with alignment MAJOR PROBLEMS!!!! (glen242)
I am having a frame shop measure the frame tomorrow. NO adjustments will be made to the car. I will post the results either tomorrow night or by next day, mid afternoon.
Robert
Robert
