Florida Corvette alignment shops
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jun 2018
Posts: 799
Likes: 529
From: Gainesville, FL
For what its worth, there is a vendor and contributor here who is a multiple national champion in SCCA autocross. He will tell you that rear castor is critically important. I live in Jacksonville and cannot find an alignment shop. Thank you for doing the legwork. Looks as though i'll be taking a road trip to Tampa.
Intermediate
Joined: Oct 2018
Posts: 28
Likes: 2
From: Miami Florida
Hello
I know it is a little far for you all but the best ever alignment I got was from http://www.apexalignment.com/
the guy who runs it is super nice and professional
before he start working on the car he will talk to you for 30 min or so about how you drive and what you use your car for then you will got for 5-10 min drive with him.
then he will do the alignment and you will be surprised what the difference he makes
I know it is a little far for you all but the best ever alignment I got was from http://www.apexalignment.com/
the guy who runs it is super nice and professional
before he start working on the car he will talk to you for 30 min or so about how you drive and what you use your car for then you will got for 5-10 min drive with him.
then he will do the alignment and you will be surprised what the difference he makes
Instructor
Joined: Sep 2018
Posts: 105
Likes: 16
From: Jacksonville, Florida
alignment
You and Null Pointer are both welcome to stop by my home in Gainesville on the way to Tampa, if you want to borrow my CH-47960 and CH-47960-10 tools for Vortex Motor Sports to use on your cars. I would just require cash deposit which will be returned to you when you return the tools to me on the way back to Jacksonville. The Tampa shop is pretty busy, especially with all the Porsche Cup car work they do, so I recommend calling well ahead of when you want to go - talk to Bob.
Exception ID 10T
Joined: Oct 2017
Posts: 1,031
Likes: 509
From: NW of Jacksonville FL
You and Null Pointer are both welcome to stop by my home in Gainesville on the way to Tampa, if you want to borrow my CH-47960 and CH-47960-10 tools for Vortex Motor Sports to use on your cars. I would just require cash deposit which will be returned to you when you return the tools to me on the way back to Jacksonville. The Tampa shop is pretty busy, especially with all the Porsche Cup car work they do, so I recommend calling well ahead of when you want to go - talk to Bob.
Drifting
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 1,668
Likes: 888
There never was a rear caster adjustment in any model until the c7
It makes my point on how minimal of an adjustment it is.
The general consensus of a snap oversteer spin I experienced in my 2015 C7Z is that it was due to improper rear caster setting as delivered from the factory.
https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...tting-sad.html
https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...tting-sad.html
Sep 25, 2015 - Older Porsches were heavily criticized for flipping around with snap oversteer and being unpredictable.
spend almost $1000.00 for a digital inclinometer and attachment just to set rear caster on a c7. not going to spend that kind of money and take 5 or more years just to break even.
These sets were sourced from two different Chevy dealers selling on ebay. That's right, Chevy dealers don't want to do this work and don't want to keep the tools around to do this work. So I don't know how many more sets are going to pop up for sale. One forum member machined the corvette adapter part and was selling it on the forum. The instructions for DIY have been posted (sorry couldn't find them while doing this reply.) I believe anything that measures degrees of angle can be used besides the Kent moore measurement box, leaving only the corvette adapter as the critical part.
You own a unique sports car and this is a tool for a critical adjustment unique to this sports car. Take ownership of this fact and consider getting a set of tools while they are selling for less than the price of one tire for the car. Sounded like a no-brainer to me.
Last edited by SilverGhost; Dec 28, 2019 at 11:27 AM.
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jun 2018
Posts: 799
Likes: 529
From: Gainesville, FL
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jun 2018
Posts: 799
Likes: 529
From: Gainesville, FL
Yep, you get it. Bought mine off of Amazon (both parts) for about $500. I am willing to loan them out for free to fellow owners in my area, with a refundable cash deposit when they return the tools to me. The other part of this equation is finding a shop that has the competency to perform the total alignment properly. I called DSC for help on that one after some misfires on my part (including EVERY Chevrolet dealership within about 100 miles of me). DSC told me to go to a Porsche shop in Tampa. Although it was a nice ride and the shop did an A-1 job, just pathetic how GM supports their "halo car."
After researching this problem of my own ill-handling '19 on the track and talking with both Bill Dearborn and Jim Mero about the issue, just ignored the "keyboard warriors" here who were talking out of their anus when it came to this subject.
After researching this problem of my own ill-handling '19 on the track and talking with both Bill Dearborn and Jim Mero about the issue, just ignored the "keyboard warriors" here who were talking out of their anus when it came to this subject.
Drifting
Joined: Dec 2013
Posts: 1,519
Likes: 212
From: FL
Look up Brian on facebook he does a lot of exotic cars and a collection is housed in the shop.The car club meets at the shop every Friday called "Thunder Road Classics" Keep trying to call as he is pretty much a one man operation. He also is Stingray Chevrolet in Bartow go to alignment person.
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Racer
Joined: Nov 2019
Posts: 452
Likes: 51
I live in Jacksonville as well.
And when it comes to body work, Elite Custom Body and Paint or Breitling Autoworks are probably the best bets. Stefan at Elite does an amazing job.
As far as alignments. If you have facebook, join the JAX LSX page, there are a few vette guys on there that know a few people.
And when it comes to body work, Elite Custom Body and Paint or Breitling Autoworks are probably the best bets. Stefan at Elite does an amazing job.
As far as alignments. If you have facebook, join the JAX LSX page, there are a few vette guys on there that know a few people.
Heel & Toe
Joined: May 2011
Posts: 21
Likes: 21
From: Sarasota, FL
Just wanted to drop an update on Vortex Motorsport, the shop NineVettes found in Tampa that actually knows how to align our cars properly. I just called and spoke to them, and they now have their own tool to adjust the caster - so for this particular shop you would no longer need to buy/borrow the tool. I will have my 19 GS there in a couple weeks. Big thanks to NineVettes for sharing his experience so the rest of us could benefit.
Advanced
Joined: Sep 2012
Posts: 68
Likes: 32
From: Cape Coral Fl
I just had alignment done at Vortex Motorsports and all I can say is WOW. 🙂. What a huge improvement over what I had. Car feels like it's on rails now. This shop definitely has my future business as they definitely are professionals.
Instructor
Joined: Jul 2017
Posts: 137
Likes: 13
From: FL
Had my C7 aligned at ERNIE BELLO MOTORSPORT, INC. http://www.bellomotorsport.com/
Great guys with the rear caster tool and plenty of knowledge. Got me more rear camber than anybody else has been able to and my majorly out of spec rear caster is now spot on. That rear caster measurement is important on the C7. An aggressive alignment in the rear can really throw it off if the mechanic doesn't know how to measure it and compensate. I know this from first hand experience with a well regarded alignment shop.
Great guys with the rear caster tool and plenty of knowledge. Got me more rear camber than anybody else has been able to and my majorly out of spec rear caster is now spot on. That rear caster measurement is important on the C7. An aggressive alignment in the rear can really throw it off if the mechanic doesn't know how to measure it and compensate. I know this from first hand experience with a well regarded alignment shop.
Last edited by Mr. Knowitall; Jul 13, 2021 at 07:22 PM.
Pro
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 661
Likes: 55
From: Miami FL
Steve over at Performance Alignment in Orange City was great with my car.
He asked all the right questions & knew exactly what to do.
https://www.performancetirewheel.com/
He asked all the right questions & knew exactly what to do.
https://www.performancetirewheel.com/
Heel & Toe
Joined: May 2011
Posts: 21
Likes: 21
From: Sarasota, FL
Ok for those of you in SW Florida, it looks like there is going to be another option. I had to keep looking because unfortunately I was never able to get in with Vortex in Tampa. Several months ago when I first called, they were unavailable due to a race they had in TX and told me to call back in a couple weeks. I never followed through until now. When I called a few days ago, Bob at Vortex told me he would call me back about whether he could still do it because he had concerns their GM alignment tool was broken or otherwise unavailable. He never called back, and after calling multiple times over the course of two days, I couldn't get Bob on the phone again. So it was back to the drawling board looking for another option that wasn't 200+ miles away.
This led me to a place in Sarasota called Lowe's Automotive Service. They do a lot of sports car alignments and when I brought up the rear caster adjustment on C7s, the shop admitted they didn't have the tool but would look into it. I didn't think I would hear from them again, but lo and behold, they called me back a few hours later and said they ordered the tool and would let me know when it arrived so I could bring my car in for alignment.
I will update the thread with my experience after the alignment is complete.
This led me to a place in Sarasota called Lowe's Automotive Service. They do a lot of sports car alignments and when I brought up the rear caster adjustment on C7s, the shop admitted they didn't have the tool but would look into it. I didn't think I would hear from them again, but lo and behold, they called me back a few hours later and said they ordered the tool and would let me know when it arrived so I could bring my car in for alignment.
I will update the thread with my experience after the alignment is complete.
Last edited by traumamed; Oct 14, 2021 at 06:41 AM.
Heel & Toe
Joined: May 2011
Posts: 21
Likes: 21
From: Sarasota, FL
Had my alignment completed at Lowe's yesterday. I am pleased with the result. I gave them the settings I wanted for front and rear camber and caster and they got me to within a few-hundredths or less on all of them. Turned out I also needed some toe adjustments because they were out of spec. I haven't had it out to the track yet obviously, but even with just a little spirited driving around town and on the freeway, this really woke the car up. I didn't go particularly aggressive on the settings since I only occasionally track, but the car definitely benefits from even just modest camber adjustments and dialing in the caster including the rear caster. Very glad to have a shop local to me now in Sarasota that can competently align the car.
Intermediate
Joined: Sep 2021
Posts: 26
Likes: 10
Same issue with vortex
I am in the same predicament with alignment. I have a 2017 grand sport and will be tracking occasionally. Since I live in Lakeland Lowe’s automotive sounds like a good option. Would you mind posting your settings for comparison.
Thanks
Thanks
Cruising
Joined: Jun 2021
Posts: 11
Likes: 3
I just got off the phone with Vortex, in Tampa. Their tool (that attaches to the wheel) is broken. They have another one on order from GM, but haven't received it yet. They're hoping it will be in shortly.
And there is a Youtube video on this exact subject. I wouldn't be surprised if the shop shown in the video isn't Vortex, and I'd imagine that the fellow doing that video is NineVettes. THANKS either way, NineVettes!
And there is a Youtube video on this exact subject. I wouldn't be surprised if the shop shown in the video isn't Vortex, and I'd imagine that the fellow doing that video is NineVettes. THANKS either way, NineVettes!
Last edited by PlumBob76; Nov 11, 2021 at 11:37 AM.
