Body shifted?
Thread Starter
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
Body shifted?
I received my new 18" wheels and proceeded to test fit them sans tires. This brought up a problem I've ignored until now. The left front wheel is about 1" outboard when measured against the right side wheel. Here's how I came up with that. I used a level held vertically from the top of the fender arch and then measured horizontally into the top of the rim. The left side was 1/2" inboard and the right side was 1-1/2" inboard. Both rears measured equal so they are fine. You can easily see that the left front tire is more outboard than the right tire. The car drives straight, no uneven tire wear, never in an accident and when following down the road behind her, it's not **** eyed. Is it possible the body has shifted on the mounts? Everything looks fine on underneath.
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 31,273
Likes: 4,366
From: Westminster Maryland
Hi r,
Since there are 8 body mounts they'd all need to be pretty loose for the body to move…..plus things like the bumpers hold it in place too.
Have you checked to see if the front clip is loose?
Also, have you taken some measurements to locate both the wheels and body relative to the FRAME?
I think I'd check that next.
Regards,
Alan
Since there are 8 body mounts they'd all need to be pretty loose for the body to move…..plus things like the bumpers hold it in place too.
Have you checked to see if the front clip is loose?
Also, have you taken some measurements to locate both the wheels and body relative to the FRAME?
I think I'd check that next.
Regards,
Alan
Former Vendor
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 76,656
Likes: 1,853
From: Jeffersonville Indiana 812-288-7103
St. Jude Donor '08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15
There is room for this kind of shift considering the body mount holes at the front position of the frame are 1 3/16". But as Alan mentioned, it'd be hard to imagine considering the other items that mount in place on the frame including the outer bumper braces on your 76.
Also.... if it shifted in the front it would have to shift in the rear too. Now you might be able to loosen all the bolts and tweak it but you'd have to give some in the rear to gain in the front.
I wonder if possibly someone didn't put a complete front end on the car and just didn't get it squared up during the install.
Willcox
Also.... if it shifted in the front it would have to shift in the rear too. Now you might be able to loosen all the bolts and tweak it but you'd have to give some in the rear to gain in the front.
I wonder if possibly someone didn't put a complete front end on the car and just didn't get it squared up during the install.
Willcox
Thread Starter
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
I don't think it's the body mounts but I'll do some measuring just the same. Could there be something 'altered' somehow in a wheel alignment or in the front suspension? I'm sure the front end is all original and the car goes over bumps without any knocks or rattles. Could it have been born this way?
Former Vendor
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 76,656
Likes: 1,853
From: Jeffersonville Indiana 812-288-7103
St. Jude Donor '08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15
Thread Starter
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
Thanks for all the input thus far. I'll have some time tomorrow to start following up on your suggestions. My Michelin PSS tires arrived today. Can't wait to get them mounted next week.
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Safety Car
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 3,717
Likes: 551
From: Seattle Washington
I looking for clues as far as front end damage either frame or body. A 10 mph Hit Bends the Frame on these Cars all the Time. A lot of the time the Motor Mount brackets break loose from the frame when some minor damage has occurred the lower arm areas. Look for Non Factory Welds. They probably look to good, not worse than the originals. Then I would start looking at the Body Seems. Any Hand lay'd Fiberglass is a sure sign. Or odd colored Bonding Adhesive.
This being said when I put 17 C4 Wheels on my car in the late 80's I had to make my own Wheel Spacers and the front two were not the same. Maybe a 1/4" different, not as much as yours.
I have made up my mind that I'm going with the same Michelin Tire so I hope they work out. Just waiting for them to be available in my size.
This being said when I put 17 C4 Wheels on my car in the late 80's I had to make my own Wheel Spacers and the front two were not the same. Maybe a 1/4" different, not as much as yours.
I have made up my mind that I'm going with the same Michelin Tire so I hope they work out. Just waiting for them to be available in my size.