Need Alignment Help
 

Just got my barn find 73T inspected, ride height set and new tires on the car. Ready for an alignment and tons of fun this summer. This morning I took it to the local Firestone who I've used for a lot for other cars, armed with Wayne's 101 book with the alignment project bookmarked and my 84+ Carrera Bentley manual. We talked about the books, the suspension (all newly rehabed), their Hunter machine has the specs, and I left feeling like it was in good hands.

got it back 2 hours later and have driven around for the past few hours having a great time, but I think the specs can be much better. Here's what they did:

Front
Camber: -.8 and -.9
Caster: 6.7 and 6.1 (they wrote: caster is not adjustable on the measurement printout)
Toe: .15 and .13


Rear
Camber: -.4 and -.6
Toe: .1 and .07

Here's what the car has:
19/26 bars
front 205/55 SO3's on 7x15 cookie cutters
Rear 225/50 SO3's on 7x15 cookie cutters

Ride height:
LF: 24.5
LR: 24

RF: 24.5
RR: 24

The rear quarter fenderwell lips are ground down and rolled over. The right rear I have contact/scuffing on accelerating through a left turn and in/out of drive inclines. the left is fine.

the right rear tire does look like it's coming out of the well more than the left.

So here's the net-net: other than the tire contact, the car drives great. Really solid, very planted, especially given the new tires and it's cold today. No, I didn't push it, but it just felt right. I got the "alignment for a lifetime" deal so I can keep bringing it back until they get it right. The Firestone guys were eager to please and if I bring them back specs, they'll set the car up.

What specs should I give them? What do I tell them about the front caster?

here's the car
http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1269721890.jpg



here's their printout
http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1269722043.jpg


http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1269722081.jpg

Here's my specs on my '71 Targa with 205/60's on 15x7's.

Front Left Right

camber -1.26° -1.26°
caster 6.47° 6.43°
toe 2.8mm 2.8mm


Rear

camber -1.42° -1.42°
toe 1.6mm 1.6mm


I'm no wizz on this subject but it is my understanding that there should be more negative camber in the rear than the front and I also can't address your caster question, BTW my suspension is stock, relatively fresh with Bilstein HD front and rear.

David

I wouldn't worry about changing your front caster setting.

• It's the least important setting
• .6 cross-caster is no big deal.
• You may like a bit of cross-caster if you drive on roads with a lot crown.
• Your caster settings are positive, which is good. When turning the front wheels will gain camber.

The net: Your caster is good enough.

Shaun, even though the fender ride height measurements are equal, has the car been corner balanced with your equivelant weight in the drivers seat?

David

Thank you David, I'll bring your specs with me when I go back in.

Rob, thank you for the confirmation on the caster, one less thing to worry about.

My friend has scales and we were going to corner balance after the alignment. What do you think?

I've got an '86 Cab with 225/45-15's all around... Last alignment was:

Front Left Right

camber -1.3° -1.4°
caster 5.9° 6.0°
toe .1° .1°

Rear

camber -1.8° -1.8°
toe .03° .03°

Corner balance, trunk empty, 1/2 tank gas with 175 lbs in the driver's seat:

LF: 555 RF: 555
LR: 886 RR: 834

Car w/o driver: 2654
Rack: 1°

Ride height: 23 rear, 24 front