76 With Front End Offset
Thread Starter
Pro
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 680
Likes: 5
From: Denham Springs LA
76 With Front End Offset
Just noticed the front tires on my 76 are not equally recessed in the fenders.
Measuring from the top of my fender opening, using a level as a reference, to the center cap of each wheel, both front wheels are shifted approximately 3/8" to passenger side. Hope I'm not confusing too much. Both front wheels are offset 3/8" to the passenger side.
I have a bbc engine in car with headers/side pipes. The passenger side fits fine, the drivers side is in contact with the rocker panel.
There are hardly any shims in my front A arms.
I see fiberglass repair work underneath the driver side front fender.
If the frame is bent, in front of the firewall, can this be straightened with body on the car?
Or is this not too bad and don't worry about it? I've been driving car for 15 years and the car does fine but I don't like seeing it now that I know it's there.
If its not too major of a fix I would like to have it repaired.
If I were to have the frame straightened with body on the car what components need to be loosened?
Thanks
Roger
Measuring from the top of my fender opening, using a level as a reference, to the center cap of each wheel, both front wheels are shifted approximately 3/8" to passenger side. Hope I'm not confusing too much. Both front wheels are offset 3/8" to the passenger side.
I have a bbc engine in car with headers/side pipes. The passenger side fits fine, the drivers side is in contact with the rocker panel.
There are hardly any shims in my front A arms.
I see fiberglass repair work underneath the driver side front fender.
If the frame is bent, in front of the firewall, can this be straightened with body on the car?
Or is this not too bad and don't worry about it? I've been driving car for 15 years and the car does fine but I don't like seeing it now that I know it's there.
If its not too major of a fix I would like to have it repaired.
If I were to have the frame straightened with body on the car what components need to be loosened?
Thanks
Roger
Safety Car
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 3,747
Likes: 713
From: Lafayette Louisiana
Imho
IMHO, there is a c3 mechanic at Ross Downing in Hammond that works on c3's in his spare time. He is supposed to be great. I would bet you need a frame machine to tell for sure although AIM has dimensions that might help. You also might see if the fiberglass is centered on the frame by measuring frame to fiberglass each side particularly with the repair? If you can not figure it out, I would call the c3 mechanic. PM me and I will find the name if you want. One other thought,you might swap the front tires and see what happens. And finally, check tolerances in AIM, +/-1/4" might have been fine for st louis.
Last edited by 20mercury; Jun 2, 2013 at 10:29 AM.
Had a 1976 L-82, 4-sp
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 5,338
Likes: 1,213
From: Some days your the dog and some days your the hydrant.
Royal Canadian Navy
Just noticed the front tires on my 76 are not equally recessed in the fenders.
Measuring from the top of my fender opening, using a level as a reference, to the center cap of each wheel, both front wheels are shifted approximately 3/8" to passenger side. Hope I'm not confusing too much. Both front wheels are offset 3/8" to the passenger side.
I have a bbc engine in car with headers/side pipes. The passenger side fits fine, the drivers side is in contact with the rocker panel.
There are hardly any shims in my front A arms.
I see fiberglass repair work underneath the driver side front fender.
If the frame is bent, in front of the firewall, can this be straightened with body on the car?
Or is this not too bad and don't worry about it? I've been driving car for 15 years and the car does fine but I don't like seeing it now that I know it's there.
If its not too major of a fix I would like to have it repaired.
If I were to have the frame straightened with body on the car what components need to be loosened?
Thanks
Roger
Measuring from the top of my fender opening, using a level as a reference, to the center cap of each wheel, both front wheels are shifted approximately 3/8" to passenger side. Hope I'm not confusing too much. Both front wheels are offset 3/8" to the passenger side.
I have a bbc engine in car with headers/side pipes. The passenger side fits fine, the drivers side is in contact with the rocker panel.
There are hardly any shims in my front A arms.
I see fiberglass repair work underneath the driver side front fender.
If the frame is bent, in front of the firewall, can this be straightened with body on the car?
Or is this not too bad and don't worry about it? I've been driving car for 15 years and the car does fine but I don't like seeing it now that I know it's there.
If its not too major of a fix I would like to have it repaired.
If I were to have the frame straightened with body on the car what components need to be loosened?
Thanks
Roger
Pro
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 691
Likes: 25
From: Boynton Beach Florida
My '76 favors the passenger side. The tire on the drivers side sits well inside the wheelwell but on the passenger side sits almost even with the outside lip of the fender. Didn't notice it for a year or more and the alignment checks fine on the front. I thought the body may have been removed and reset or something along those lines but I'm thinking it may just be the way the car was made since the rest of the body lines up fine.
Thread Starter
Pro
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 680
Likes: 5
From: Denham Springs LA
20Mercury,
Not sure yet what I will do yet (if anything) but I don't want to pass up a good contact, please do send me the C3 mechanics info, i'll send PM reminder, thanks.
Resdoggie and Palmbeach76vette,
Makes me feel better to think I may not have a bent frame thanks very much for the info.
Palmbeach76vette,
Your description is exactly how my wheels sit in the wheel wells. I have had this car for 15 years and only noticed it 3 weeks ago. I travel down to West Palm a couple times a year for work. I see a lot of corvette posts from West Palm, especially regarding Palm Beach International Raceway. Hopefully on one of my future trips I can get out their. At our local track I am the only C3 around, and there are only a couple of C4/C5/C6 cars, mostly Camaro's and Mustangs in Street classes.
Roger
Not sure yet what I will do yet (if anything) but I don't want to pass up a good contact, please do send me the C3 mechanics info, i'll send PM reminder, thanks.
Resdoggie and Palmbeach76vette,
Makes me feel better to think I may not have a bent frame thanks very much for the info.
Palmbeach76vette,
Your description is exactly how my wheels sit in the wheel wells. I have had this car for 15 years and only noticed it 3 weeks ago. I travel down to West Palm a couple times a year for work. I see a lot of corvette posts from West Palm, especially regarding Palm Beach International Raceway. Hopefully on one of my future trips I can get out their. At our local track I am the only C3 around, and there are only a couple of C4/C5/C6 cars, mostly Camaro's and Mustangs in Street classes.
Roger
