74 Body Alignment
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 1,736
Likes: 37
From: Stockton Ca
74 Body Alignment
Looking from the front, the front end is skewed about a 1/2 inch to the passengers side. Is this normal? The rear seems centered ok. How hard time/money would this be to fix at a later date? Possibly when I redo the body bushings? Since "NOTHING" on a Vette is correct from the factory, is this just another thing that gets corrected on a show car? I once read that the perfect cars get built around their bumpers to get that "look"! Please comment.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jul 1999
Posts: 9,206
Likes: 17
From: Sewell NJ
Re: 74 Body Alignment (Taijutsu)
How can you tell that the car is skewed 1/2 inch to the side? :confused: If you're saying that the bumper is offset by 1/2 inch you could probably just loosen the bumper and move it over but if the body lines up at the front of the doors I don't see how the body could be offset. Pic would help.
[Modified by vettfixr, 12:27 PM 8/17/2002]
[Modified by vettfixr, 12:27 PM 8/17/2002]
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 1,736
Likes: 37
From: Stockton Ca
Re: 74 Body Alignment (vettfixr)
Sorry that I wasn't clear. The left front wheel sticks out a 1/2" more than right from the fender. It looks like the wheels are not "centered" under the fenders. Are my fenders uneven? I realise that vetts are full of imperfections. I jusdt try to fix/upgrade as I go. Eventually I want 2" flares so I can run 17x11.5 wheels!
Safety Car
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 4,844
Likes: 0
From: Pearland TX
St. Jude Contributor
Re: 74 Body Alignment (Taijutsu)
I have exactly the opposite problem with a '74 Roadster... the rear wheels on this one seem to be shifted to the passenger side. The previous owner converted this car from a Coupe to a Roadster back in 1988 with all GM parts and a new frame and then stored it for the last 14 years. The worst thing you can do without storing correctly, but it is an absolutely beautiful car. Not knowing much about the undercarriage(rear end, axles, subframe) of Vette's, can the rear end be shifted over? The body lines are perfect.
I'll check back here, but if you have any suggestions please e-mail me.
Thanks
I'll check back here, but if you have any suggestions please e-mail me.
Thanks
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jul 1999
Posts: 9,206
Likes: 17
From: Sewell NJ
Re: 74 Body Alignment (Taijutsu)
I don't know if I can help you because I didn't think there was much you could do with body alignment side to side. One thing you might check are the wheels. Are they both the same and do they both have the same offset.
Safety Car
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 4,844
Likes: 0
From: Pearland TX
St. Jude Contributor
Re: 74 Body Alignment (vettfixr)
vettfixr,
I just replaced the aluminum wheels with rally wheels from Ecklers and new 255/60 Goodrich T/A's, so that's not the problem. The car hasn't been on the streets for 18 years... it can wait a little longer.
Thanks for answering...
I just replaced the aluminum wheels with rally wheels from Ecklers and new 255/60 Goodrich T/A's, so that's not the problem. The car hasn't been on the streets for 18 years... it can wait a little longer.
Thanks for answering...
Safety Car
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 4,269
Likes: 3
From: St. Charles IL
Cruise-In 5-6-7-8-9-11-12 Veteran
A CI-6 Car Show Winner
Re: 74 Body Alignment (bgrice)
It is possible the body was not lined up perfect when the car was built. The body mount nuts are captivated in special holders that will allow some movement from side to side, and front to rear. There are 8 body mounts that would all have to be worked loose to mess with the alignment. You would also probably need to re-align the bumpers, could be a substantial project.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jul 1999
Posts: 9,206
Likes: 17
From: Sewell NJ
Re: 74 Body Alignment (bgrice)
Here's a long shot but it's easy to check. Look at the radiator support. It usually has shims on both sides to center the radiator support between the wheel wells and frame. I'm wondering if by putting shims on one side only the body could be shifted. If it's not that you might want to check the body mounts to see if they're severly rusted.
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Burning Brakes
Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 922
Likes: 0
From: Maine
Re: 74 Body Alignment (vettfixr)
Interestingly enough, mine looks like it's shifted towards the driver's side (tire more prominent on RHS of car). I've checked track and measured from the frame and no evidence of accident induced problems. I think it was just built that way. I didn't really notice it until I lowered the front end a bit.
Safety Car
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 4,844
Likes: 0
From: Pearland TX
St. Jude Contributor
Re: 74 Body Alignment (Big Fish)
BigFish...
Thanks for the info on the possibilities why this '74 Roadster(conversion) might have the tire stick out further on the passenger side than the drivers side. Looking more closely from the back I now notice that there is a slight lean on the driver's side. That could be a multitude of things, but after all this car is a conversion where a new frame was installed... whole new GM rear clip... windshield modified to allow attachments to convertible top... etc. The outside bodylines are perfect, but who's to say they did not take the right care of making sure that all of those features were in line with the new frame.
Thanks for the info on the possibilities why this '74 Roadster(conversion) might have the tire stick out further on the passenger side than the drivers side. Looking more closely from the back I now notice that there is a slight lean on the driver's side. That could be a multitude of things, but after all this car is a conversion where a new frame was installed... whole new GM rear clip... windshield modified to allow attachments to convertible top... etc. The outside bodylines are perfect, but who's to say they did not take the right care of making sure that all of those features were in line with the new frame.
