jpatrick62

So I installed new control arm bushings, ball joints, tie rod ends, center link ball and stud, and idler arm along with new springs in my 69 L46. Everything went pretty smooth except I noticed that the toe in was off - specifically
it was toed in about 1 inch too much on each wheel. I thought I had recorded the number of turns on each tie rod end and put it back that way, but I ended up having to get a rough toe in using a string from the back wheel to the front. So it appears fine now, but is it normal to have the toe in so far off after a rebuild?

Also, since my engine hasn't started in 4 months (because of various projects on the car) should I shoot some fogging oil in each cylinder before starting the car? I'm going to change the plugs out anyway so I thought that might be a good idea...

jackson

old alignment settings may've been compensating for worn parts ... & none of us are dead nuts perfect.

Your toe experience Not unusual.

4 months ... no worry ... but if it makes you feel better, spritz it AND spin it over, just before you install new plugs ...
... short spin is perfect time to see oil pressure on gauge & fill fuel bowl.
Before you spin it over, perhaps drape motor ... but not w/ her "company's coming" towels.

7T1vette

Resetting new parts for the "number of turns" when old parts are disassembled merely gets you in the ballpark. Every time you change ANY parts in the steering/suspension system, you need a new alignment. These parts come from different manufacturers and there is way more tolerance in part manufacturing that can be tolerated for alignment tuning.

0CSM Performance

We've found on some aftermarket tie rod ends that the distance from the center of the joint (it's a ball joint by technicality) to the start of the threads is not always the same. Say it was normally 3" (arbitrary value) and their production tolerance ranges anywhere from 3.050" to 2.950". Even through you kept the thread count constant, the distance from the joint that you started the threads could be different from the original leading to a Toe condition. Same story for tolerances on the ball joints and such, who knows if they have the same exact joint center-line that the factory ones had. Bushings could be slightly off center, etc... They all combine to cause an error. Nothing an alignment can't solve!

Colton @ CSM Performance LLC
www.csmperformance.com

jpatrick62

Oh to see my wife's face if she spotted her good towels on top of my engine... Married too long to pull that one - but that would be priceless to see!

jpatrick62

Thanks 7T1vette!

jpatrick62

Thanks CSM !