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#26 |
Registered User
Join Date: Aug 2013
Location: Cary, NC
Posts: 60
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Re: Alignment Shop Fail
Well, I built a string box with colored catfishing line and jack stands to do the toe. I measured it with a precision woodworking ruler that allows me to measure to the 1/64th of an inch.
Then I used the SPC performance Caster/Camber tool since the Quick Trick tool was on back order. It has bubble levels instead of digital but it worked ok. I got as close as I could to Lattimer's specs above. I really think I nailed the alignment. The truck runs straight as an arrow and turns great. The only problem was how mad I got thinking how much money I have spent on alignments over the years. And the best part of it is, I understand aligning the truck enough that I can make a change in 10 minutes anytime I want.
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Carmen Black Build 1971 SWB - Base Model |
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#27 | |
Registered User
Join Date: Jan 2013
Location: Mickleton, NJ
Posts: 1,776
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Re: Alignment Shop Fail
Quote:
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Shawn 1970 Chevy C-10 SWB, 350, TKO 600 5 speed My build http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=559881 |
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#28 |
Too many projects
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: Fargo, ND land of the flat hills
Posts: 1,147
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Re: Alignment Shop Fail
Glad to hear it turned out good. I may need to invest in those tools to do my own. The local Fleet Farm will do them but continually mess up appointment times and I'm thinking it would be nice to do my own on my air ride-equipped truck.
Random story: When I had my 63 Chevy II aligned I watched from the waiting room (big window) and the guy kept starting it to turn the wheels. So I asked the counterman to let his guy know it has manual steering, no column lock, and to please stop starting it. The blank stare on his face explained everything so I had to walk in the shop and tell the tech myself. Once again I was speaking a foreign language until I had him turn the wheel without starting it and it felt the same.
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Andrew 84 GMC C1500 SWB 6.2 Diesel/700R4/3.42 "Grandpa's odd duck" |
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#29 | |
Registered User
Join Date: May 2013
Location: Oregon
Posts: 328
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Re: Alignment Shop Fail
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#30 |
Too many projects
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: Fargo, ND land of the flat hills
Posts: 1,147
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Re: Alignment Shop Fail
I knew why he was doing it, but assumed letting him know it was manual steering would have made more sense. But I guess manual steering is rare now-a-days. I was nice about pointing it out and once it clicked for him he smiled and carried on with the job.
To his credit he did align the suspension to my brought in specs (suspension manufacturer has different specs than factory).
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Andrew 84 GMC C1500 SWB 6.2 Diesel/700R4/3.42 "Grandpa's odd duck" |
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#31 |
Registered User
Join Date: Jul 2012
Location: Jonestown, TX
Posts: 471
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Re: Alignment Shop Fail
Don't mind me, just tagging this thread for later reference, good info....
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#32 |
Registered User
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: Redmond, WA
Posts: 6,332
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Re: Alignment Shop Fail
I had my '69 Pontiac 2+2 (same chassis as Impala SS) aligned a couple of years ago and when I picked it up they said they could get it close but not all the way because there were no more shims to remove.
Thing is, on that car, you don't use shims! The lower control arm is held in by a huge cam bolt that walks the lower arm inwards and outwards as it is rotated in its pocket. You would imagine if you do alignments all day every day that you'd know this. But I'm finding that unless it's a speciality shop, anything old now you pretty much have to hold their hand through the process.
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1970 GMC Sierra Grande Custom Camper - Built, not Bought 1969 Pontiac 2+2 427/390 4-speed Coupe 1969 Pontiac 2+2 427/390 4-speed Convertible |
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#33 |
Registered User
Join Date: Mar 2001
Location: Paradise TX USA
Posts: 1,200
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Re: Alignment Shop Fail
I did alignments for many years with old school non computerized equipment where you actually had to have the knowledge of how to properly set up a front end. I had a steady supply of customers who brought their vehicles to me after the local chain stores either messed them up, or told them that they couldn't be aligned.
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"Negative people always seem to have a problem for every solution" |
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#34 | |
Registered User
Join Date: Jun 2013
Location: Somewhere
Posts: 3,077
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Re: Alignment Shop Fail
Quote:
Radial tires I think like different camber and that's the big difference, but I know little. Eddie, You're right there, with the needing to understand what caster, camber and the numbers mean, rather than just reading what the machine says. |
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#35 |
Senior Member
![]() Join Date: Dec 2013
Location: Gods country East,Tn
Posts: 8,545
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Re: Alignment Shop Fail
It's sad when we've come to the stage that even a suspension mechanic has no clue what to do unless they are lead by the hand of a computer .
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#36 |
Born Psycho
![]() Join Date: Feb 2001
Location: brentwood,cal,usa
Posts: 4,884
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Re: Alignment Shop Fail
my employer has two shops here in town, we don't do alignments at my shop but every time i send an older vehicle to his shop my employer has to align it-his hot shot "alignment guy" can only do it if it's in the computer. he's a little punk a$$ know-it-all but he can really set up a honda-woo hoo. he told me i should scrap my solid axle front diffs and install IFS front diffs, says they ride better and work better off road. he even offered to help me set them up
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jerry moss 72 cheyenne super K20- tilt,tach,vacuum,speedwarning,buckets,shoulder belts,am/fm,tow hooks,bumper guards,toolbox,aux. fuel tank,posi front and rear,plus other goodies!!! SOLD 69 suburban K20-tilt,tach,vacuum,speedwarning,buckets,shoulder belts,am/fm,4 inch all spring lift,4 speed, 14 bolt full floater, dana 44 HD,warn winch,posi front and rear,tow hooks,plus other goodies. 73/80 chevy/gmc K20 SB400,turbo 400,205,tilt,a-c,gas hog. 77 K/5 cheyenne blazer-daily driver/beater. SON HAS IT NOW BRENTWOOD,CALIFORNIA |
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#37 |
Local Detroit diesel nut!
![]() Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: Burlington, WI
Posts: 175
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Re: Alignment Shop Fail
I align a ton of older vehicles on a routine basis. We usually set the machine as a S10 pickup and don't bother with the red/green gauges, just look at the numbers and align it to what we think they should be. We usually try to shoot for 0 degrees or slightly negative on the camber, 1/16 toe in and as much caster as we can get out of the suspension. Set the steering wheel center and it's usually golden. Haven't had a complaint yet!!! Nothing to it, just most chain alignment shops are lazy!
Mike
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Nothing cool anymore, I am old and boring.... |
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#38 |
Registered User
Join Date: Feb 2014
Location: Los Angeles area :(
Posts: 499
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Re: Alignment Shop Fail
yep, best alignment I've ever had came from a guy with a level 4 post hoist, tape measure, and bubble levels. He's done my S10 twice now. Pepboys and another local store with computer stuff couldn't get it right.
I did my Blazer, had to, who the hell's going to work with spindle shims and 38s? Drives great
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'68 C10 SWB '85 K30 Blazer |
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#39 |
Registered User
Join Date: Dec 2012
Location: Bell Gardens Ca
Posts: 151
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Re: Alignment Shop Fail
For the proper alignment your looking for you need to find a shop with a hunter alignment machine they date back to the 50's on the software they only reason
I know I've done alignment for the past 5-6 years and ill suggest Firestone and buy the lifetime alignment it's worth the investment as long as you own the vehicle I purchased it for all my vehicles when I worked with them now that I've moved in to the dealerships I don't reall need to purchase the lifetime alignment since I have everyday access to a machine but I do recommend it to everyone |
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#40 |
Registered User
![]() Join Date: Jul 2015
Location: 2nd left past the stump on a dirt road.
Posts: 2,629
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Re: Alignment Shop Fail
Not to be demeaning to anyone one here who is a mechanic, yet to the ones who are worth their salt I say, " If you need a computer to tell you how to fix one of these trucks you may need to have a close look at where you received your education from."
In needing a computer as in Its going to tell me how to fix it. These vehicles existed, prolonged, endured and survived and won long before the computer has been utilized as an aid. |
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#41 | |
Local Detroit diesel nut!
![]() Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: Burlington, WI
Posts: 175
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Re: Alignment Shop Fail
Quote:
I NEED to have a computer to get me a wiring diagram of any late model car so I can understand how a circuit works or where a short could be. Now, to work on an older car/truck, you don't need a computer to tell you anything for them. A little common sense can go a long way with them.A computer can help get some wiring diagrams, but you still have to know how to read them! Now regarding alignment machines, they give you the same info that a tape measure and an angle finder can. If you don't know how to interpret the data you have with either method of alignment, you should take the truck to someone who can, plain and simple!!! Just my opinion! Mike
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Nothing cool anymore, I am old and boring.... |
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#42 |
But Found Her 25yrs Later!
![]() Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: Oregon City, Oregon
Posts: 10,525
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Re: Alignment Shop Fail
Saved for reference..
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I lost my 65 - Found it 25 years later: http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=426650 66 C20 Service Truck: http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=428035 |
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#43 | |
PITbut
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: monroe washington
Posts: 3,052
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Re: Alignment Shop Fail
Quote:
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New project. 1971 Twin Turbo blazer http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=676047 My new YOUTUBE channel.. Videos of my truck and a current walk around. Lyrikz74 Youtube channel DONE! SOLD! ![]() My 1971 stepside build thread My Build Thread UPDATED 6/11. DONE and sold. |
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#44 | |
Registered User
![]() Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: Ozark, MO
Posts: 4,887
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Re: Alignment Shop Fail
Quote:
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'20 Silverado Trail Boss ~ '17 Tahoe ~ '79 K15 Sierra Grande ~ '76 Blazer 2wd ~ '71 Cheyenne swb ~ '55 Pontiac Safari ~'50 3100 bagged ~ '80 Wife ~ Late model kids
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#45 |
Registered User
![]() Join Date: Jul 2015
Location: 2nd left past the stump on a dirt road.
Posts: 2,629
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Re: Alignment Shop Fail
Hey Nigel, that video you did is pretty interesting. Since everything is on the other side of the road do you guys still get some Octane in you fuel over there?
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#46 | |
PITbut
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: monroe washington
Posts: 3,052
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Re: Alignment Shop Fail
Quote:
Agreed, it doesnt take long to look up specs on a vehicle. A vehicle like that i would charge 2 hours and if i was done sooner, i would pass that on to the customer. That normally gets people to say no and try and find somewhere else. THEN they come back after that other shop didnt do it right or couldnt do it. lol
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New project. 1971 Twin Turbo blazer http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=676047 My new YOUTUBE channel.. Videos of my truck and a current walk around. Lyrikz74 Youtube channel DONE! SOLD! ![]() My 1971 stepside build thread My Build Thread UPDATED 6/11. DONE and sold. |
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