Having alignment issues (caster)

[chevyrestoguy]

Originally Posted by MARTINSR

I have to say, I am an alignment specialist correcting collision damage nothing more, just getting stuff back to specs and knowing by the numbers what is damaged (often you can't see at all) and I am blown away at how little some of these guys at the alignment and tire shops known. It is mind boggling how many will say "There is no way to align it" because the computer doesn't have the correct info, they MUST have the computer tell them how to do simple adjustments! They will have ZERO understanding of the simple geometry!

We have to send stuff out every once in a while because our rack is tied up with a car or something like that and I am always amazed at the stupid stuff that they will say.

VERY few of these guys have the basic understanding of the angles they are working with every day.

Brian

I agree 100%. We have an alignment shop in town that has been in the same family for over 50 years, and that's all I use. People complain that they're too expensive, but a few extra bucks for an alignment that's done right is worth it. They take the time to do it right. They don't do 20-minute alignments like the average shop does. They'll spend 2-3 hours and get it dead-nuts.

[Tahiti or Truck]

Does anyone know how hard it is to add 67 and newer lower control arms to a 66 and older? I do have pretty good fab skills.

[Oldtruckfanatic]

The saddles the lower control arm pivots go into are riveted to the crossmember. The front one has the rivet head sticking up higher than the radius so the locating hole in the pivot will center on it. While its a matter of cutting the rivets and sending you the u bolts and saddles etc. You woild have to use bolts to mount the saddles and make provisions for the locator recess to do its job. I have all this stuff and am happy to send it to you I feel it would be far easier to just bolt in the entire crossmember and I have like 3 of them. If you want just the saddles and u bolts and lower arms I will give them to you but you will have to cover shipping.

[Oldtruckfanatic]

Here is one of the front saddles for reference

[SCOTI]

Originally Posted by Oldtruckfanatic

Here is one of the front saddles for reference

You can just drill out the holes for the larger u-bolts (9/16 vs 1/2"). The arms are basically the same from 67-72. The bushings & bumpstops changed starting in 73 but even those arms will work on a 66.

[Oldtruckfanatic]

He has the old style cast pivots on his 66 they arent the same

[69chevytrucker]

btw when you get it back together the caster can be ajusted by the amount of shims useed front to back

[Oldtruckfanatic]

I also have this 72 front suspension

[Tahiti or Truck]

Originally Posted by Oldtruckfanatic

The saddles the lower control arm pivots go into are riveted to the crossmember. The front one has the rivet head sticking up higher than the radius so the locating hole in the pivot will center on it. While its a matter of cutting the rivets and sending you the u bolts and saddles etc. You woild have to use bolts to mount the saddles and make provisions for the locator recess to do its job. I have all this stuff and am happy to send it to you I feel it would be far easier to just bolt in the entire crossmember and I have like 3 of them. If you want just the saddles and u bolts and lower arms I will give them to you but you will have to cover shipping.

PM sent

[Oldtruckfanatic]

Back at ya.