Ironracer
Gearhead
Kinda like " can't change it, it's fubar" n a sense, probably depends contextIt is an empty phrase ....similar to "Just Sayin" or at the end of the day.
Kinda like " can't change it, it's fubar" n a sense, probably depends contextIt is an empty phrase ....similar to "Just Sayin" or at the end of the day.
I dropped of my Swinger on Wednesday for an alignment. Got a call the next day asking what parts my front end came from. They could tell everything was new because I installed all new moog parts and new shocks. Upper control arm came from another dart and the LCA never came off the car. Zero after market parts besides the moog and one caliper. He tells me they can’t get it aligned but they are having someone else work on it the rest of the week. Got a call today and they said it’s as close as they can get. I asked for the numbers and of course they “couldn’t” get them to me after hours. Drove the car 2 miles home and it’s pulling to the right like crazy and I can see the difference in camber. They charged me $150. At this point I’m not taking the car back there but do I ask for my money back for such a trash job or be lucky that after working on it for so long they only charged me $150.
Your Right-On, 67' Dart. I had an alighment problem with my 72' Dodge Van many years ago and took it to several alighment shops that charged, but made no difference. I did take it to a local body shop that said the frame was bent. I was skeptical, but allowed them to correct the problem. The issue was corrected, finally. I also, and still do have the same problem with my 69' Dart. Have taken it to several Tire shops and each have told me, it is not correct, but it is the best they can do. I also have installed all new "MOOG" parts. Old timers all hard to find, that are willing or able to work. A solution may be, a directory of "OLD SCHOOL" mechanics, not just a part replacement guy.My lesson is, unless you are pretty crippled up learn to do it yourself. Unless there is some "really weird" problem such as something bent / broken that you haven't found, it is just not that hard
WHAT YOU NEED
1...A level place aka slab. I don't have, so I jack up my car trailer level after the car is loaded, and use it for a "rack"
2...An accurate way to measure tilt (degrees) reference to level. There are many ways to do that esp. with all the digi levels available, OR buy a caster/ camber gauge BUT YOU DON'T need one, just something to measure tilt
3...Something for "turn" plates and to allow the suspension to "settle". Many things (do a search, front end alignment turning plates) and there are ALL KINDS of solutions, including greased scrap sheet metal
4...You need something for toe. "Crackedback" says he just puts a pair of short 2x4's against the tires jacked up on soda cans and then measures between, front and back. I actually got myself a toe gauge (that I had to modify)
Listen, I'm 73. It would be MUCH harder for me now, than a few years ago, BUT I COULD. It would take all afternoon.
Other than that ?? an old school garage or even semi retired. Search around your area, even body men often are good alignment guys because some of them worked with frame racks and chassis straightening, etc
One of the best alignments I ever got "back then" was a body shop--I knew the owner and "first officer"
I always thought it meant, "what you see, is what you get". I say, "It's broke, fix it"!!!.What does this phrase mean?
It is what it is. Tonight I’m going back to Tire Discounters to talk this over with them. Then I head to my apartment to get another load of stuff over to the new house. Tomorrow I’m getting new glasses and more moving and laundry so I have cloths for the honeymoon. Wednesday I’ll be cutting the grass and moving some more. Thursday is the rehearsal. Friday evening I’ll be at the venue helping set up. Then honeymoon for two weeks and finally back to a normal life where I can hunt and work on my car.
That was in NJ. Here now in Florida. Have to go to car shows and ask who they use. The Ferrari guys know!!Even the independents here suck. Pretty much ALL of em.... grrr
Tampa Bay... I think they all are crap.That was in NJ. Here now in Florida. Have to go to car shows and ask who they use. The Ferrari guys know!!
The opposite of "It ain't what it ain't "What does this phrase mean?
When I got mine together, I took it to a local shop that often does race cars. They dialed in a lot of extra caster in my case. Look for a shop like that.
Bethel Frame is the way to go. I wish you'd have dropped me a PM first before going to Tire Discounters.
They (Amelia, Cherry Grove and Eastgate) used to send work to us because they couldn't handle anything older than 25 years.
Our alignment machine was only a couple years old, but we could take manual adjustments and load the measurements into the heads.
Greg out at Bethel Frame will do you a good job. I know he's back logged with work.
If he's to far out on the schedule, call Georgetown Tire and Service. Tell Denny you only want Jim doing any work. Jim used to work for me and knows Mopars like the back of his hand.
Southside does good work as well. I've never had an issue with them. Gary can get a little wound up, but I'm thinking he's not at the shop as much and Eric is running things.
Both places know cars. They know what they're doing and will stand behind it.
specs for a bias ply year? Probably have to supply your own ....Moog offers the offset bushings for more something.Always ask of they have the specs for your car. Some times they dont... and dont admit it and align it to a newer car.
Cest la vie, french for it is what it is, probably cant change itWhat does this phrase mean?
Doogie,
I took mine to Southside Auto in Bethel. They know how to do a old Mopar front end. Rob is the Man ask for him. Tell him I sent you, he will says something funny, but is VG at what they do. Decent rates and don't look to gouge you or kick you while you are down. They do a lot of Rods from the area and are reputable.
I want to say that one of the secrets of the Moog correcting Bushings is that they must go in "opposite" of the old directions due to bias versus radial tires. They still wont give the caster you need. I tossed all that crap and went with a set of QA1s now I have a perfect alignment. Then I bought the LCA stiffening plates from Mancini and boxed the lowers too for super cheap! Easy weld job for any shop. 15 minutes. They can do that at the same time.
FYI,
Marion
This would be a shame as a TON of GM trucks have alignment cams on the upper arms. If he doesn't know what to do with them he shouldn't be on the alignment rack!I'm sure whoever at Tire Discounters never seen UCA cambered bolts and knew what to do or even recognized what He was working on. Yes I said HE! lol
And it’s lowered too. Both help get positive caster.
Cest la vie, french for it is what it is, probably cant change it
Doogie,
I took mine to Southside Auto in Bethel. They know how to do a old Mopar front end. Rob is the Man ask for him. Tell him I sent you, he will says something funny, but is VG at what they do. Decent rates and don't look to gouge you or kick you while you are down. They do a lot of Rods from the area and are reputable.
I want to say that one of the secrets of the Moog correcting Bushings is that they must go in "opposite" of the old directions due to bias versus radial tires. They still wont give the caster you need. I tossed all that crap and went with a set of QA1s now I have a perfect alignment. Then I bought the LCA stiffening plates from Mancini and boxed the lowers too for super cheap! Easy weld job for any shop. 15 minutes. They can do that at the same time.
FYI,
Marion
Slip plates and alignment heads. I like it. You can do a pretty good job with those. Oh, I cam set toe with some string and a magic marker but it's a long way from being right.ive got 3+ deg caster and -1/2 deg camber with offset bushings. I also shaved 3/16” off the rear poly strut rod bushings
my car does not have any rear rake. And it’s lowered too. Both help get positive caster.
We just aligned this Hemi barracuda, and it’s got a bunch of rear rake and it got high ride height. With offset bushing we barely got 2 deg positive caster
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