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Old Mar 8, 2004 | 10:30 AM
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Default Rear alignment questions.

I don't know a whole lot on the history of my 73 vette and I am in need of an alignment. Is the rear alligned in the same manor on all c3 vettes? Are any of these parts interchangable with older year models from c2 era? I ask this question because the rear end code shows to be a 3.55 rear end from a 65 vette. If the parts could be from an older vette, would the adjustments be the same for rear alignment ?
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Old Mar 8, 2004 | 10:43 AM
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Default Re: Rear alignment questions. (Skruball73)

All suspension parts from 65-74 are all the same. Same u-joints, 1/2shafts, strut rods, rear end, t-arms. You should use alignment specs from your 73 and you'll be OK.
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Old Mar 8, 2004 | 10:51 AM
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Default Re: Rear alignment questions. (Van Steel)

All suspension parts from 65-74 are all the same. Same u-joints, 1/2shafts, strut rods, rear end, t-arms. You should use alignment specs from your 73 and you'll be OK.
:iagree: ....and I'll expand that year range from 1963 thru 1982 ! :yesnod:
.....however, the Big Block cars use bigger 1/2 shafts but that doesn't affect the alignment.
The alignment for toe-in is on the front of the trailing arms where you add or take out shims. That is the main cause of tire wear and poor tracking. :chevy
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Old Mar 8, 2004 | 11:07 AM
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Default Re: Rear alignment questions. (verskel)

I could of said 63-82 but I probably would have been corrected my many. 63-82 do pretty much have everything the same. Only 63-64 have drum brakes. 65-74 ALL have 2 1/2" 1/2shafts. 75-79 use 3" shafts. BB did not come any different. GM actually put larger diameter shafts on when BB stopped coming in vettes. 80-82 use different strut rods & 1/2 shafts. the 80-82 1/2 shafts have no flange and they are shorter.
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Old Mar 8, 2004 | 11:59 AM
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Default Re: Rear alignment questions. (Van Steel)

Thanx for the info. I was loved enough to be given a lifetime 4 wheel alignment warantee for the vette on my birthday. I took it in for a current brake issue & an alignment, the guy says they were able to do the front but the back is not adjustable...I knew that was wrong, because of threads that I have read here in the past. the saving grace was that it was done on a computer system. it has only been pulling to the right just a little & the tread wear is pretty much normal. I will get my brake problem done with them & leave, call different stores & find out which store has a tech that knows about adjusting the rear & take it to him.
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Old Mar 8, 2004 | 12:04 PM
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Default Re: Rear alignment questions. (Van Steel)

.....65-74 ALL have 2 1/2" 1/2shafts. 75-79 use 3" shafts. BB did not come any different. GM actually put larger diameter shafts on when BB stopped coming in vettes. 80-82 use different strut rods & 1/2 shafts. the 80-82 1/2 shafts have no flange and they are shorter.
;) ....your right, my memory was "fuzzy" -I stand corrected....and I learned something about the 80's models since I'm not at all up-to-date on those C3's. :chevy
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Old Mar 8, 2004 | 12:41 PM
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Default Re: Rear alignment questions. (verskel)

:thumbs:
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Old Mar 8, 2004 | 12:50 PM
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Default Re: Rear alignment questions. (Skruball73)

Stay away from that shop. That fellow is spouting nonsense. The toe-in is adjusted by these shims at the trailing arm bolt attachment points.





And you can see the strut rod (one of two) in this pic that is used to adjust camber.




[Modified by paul67, 12:52 PM 3/8/2004]


[Modified by paul67, 12:56 PM 3/8/2004]
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Old Mar 8, 2004 | 12:58 PM
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Default Re: Rear alignment questions. (paul67)

Paul speaks the truth. That allignment guy is full of crap. Get your money back and find a new shop.

See my sig pic.... You are #28 and the allignment guy is in the white helmet. :smash:


[Modified by Stewart's74, 1:00 PM 3/8/2004]
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Old Mar 8, 2004 | 02:17 PM
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Default Re: Rear alignment questions. (Stewart's74)

Good idea stay away from that shop, they might use a Big azz hammer to set your rear camber. :smash:
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Old Mar 8, 2004 | 02:25 PM
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Default Re: Rear alignment questions. (JBR)

That is not as funny as it may sound to some. I have seen it done when the adjuster cam bolts are frozen.
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Old Mar 8, 2004 | 06:17 PM
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Default Re: Rear alignment questions. (paul67)

I picked up the vete this afternoon. It turns out that the guy I worked with over the weekend just didn't know. The mech that is there during the week HAS done work on vettes AND KNOWS that the rear end is adjustable & how to do it. He pointed out that at this time an alignment woud do me virtually no good because all of the control arm bushings need to be replaced. Plus this mech, an older guy says that he was into rebuilding muscle cars & back in 73-74 worked for GM in Chicago. (don't know if all that is BS, but who knows, maybe I have found a good mech).
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Old Mar 8, 2004 | 06:17 PM
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Default Re: Rear alignment questions. (paul67)

Thanks for the help.


[Modified by Skruball73, 5:20 PM 3/8/2004]
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Old Mar 8, 2004 | 06:39 PM
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Default Re: Rear alignment questions. (Skruball73)

OK, but the control arm bushings are in the front. But glad to be of some assistance. And good luck!




[Modified by paul67, 6:43 PM 3/8/2004]
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Old Mar 8, 2004 | 11:41 PM
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Default Re: Rear alignment questions. (Van Steel)

I could of said 63-82 but I probably would have been corrected my many. 63-82 do pretty much have everything the same. Only 63-64 have drum brakes. 65-74 ALL have 2 1/2" 1/2shafts. 75-79 use 3" shafts. BB did not come any different. GM actually put larger diameter shafts on when BB stopped coming in vettes. 80-82 use different strut rods & 1/2 shafts. the 80-82 1/2 shafts have no flange and they are shorter.
The big blocks did have one noticeable difference in the drivetrain that is normally used to quickly spot an original big block car. That's the capped u-joints on the half shafts vs the band style ones on the small blocks, albeit I'm not sure if the 70-72 LT-1's carried band style or capped style but they would be the exception.


:cheers:
Pat Kunz
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