Help! Going nuts with frame

[polevault1977]

I am starting to put front fenders back on and the passenger wheel is setting about 3/4 inch toward the rear in the fender opening. Drivers side OK. I had the frame completely apart to be sandblasted including taking the front crossmember out. Can't see any signing of wreckage to the frame. I am assembling this project out of pieces, it was not a complete truck to begin with. Everything seems to bolt back in properly, the passenger front wheel is just offset to the center of the opening. Any thoughts or ideas? Thanks in advance, danny

[67ChevyRedneck]

On the upper A-arm there should be a shim pack. It's was used by the factory and alignment shops to adjust the camber (tire alignment vs. verticle plane) they look like big flat "U"s with a tab in the middle (kinda like a mini pickle fork.) When you take your truck in for an alignment the shop should notice this immediately and shim it properly, if they don't, get your money back and take it elsewhere

[polevault1977]

I hope that is all it is. I put two shim on both studs just like they were orginally. Looks ok on drivers side. I didn't mention that I put 2.5 drop spindles w/ 1 inch drop springs. I am sure that changed the geomentry, but I didn't think it would be that much. If that is all it is-that's gravy. It just looks to be more. I'm going to make some changes and see what I can come up with. Thanks for the ideas. Danny

[67ChevyRedneck]

By dropping the suspension 1" with springs it probably pushed the tires inward towards the inner fenders, this can be fixed with shims since most of your drop was vertical with the spindles. You may want to check that your springs have settled into the perches properly. If I remember right, there is somewhat of a "stop" at the base of the Lower A-arm that the spring needs to be seated into completely, may just want to take a peek at that.

[72CSTC5]

Measure your wheelbase first with a tape measure. Center your steering wheel and measure center to center of each centercap and then do the other side as well. If everything measures out fine then I would say that your cab and front end were not centered when you bolted it all together. Measure from the frame to the inside of the inner rockers on both sides too front and rear and record the measurements.

[polevault1977]

I've been working on this problem and am maybe getting closer. Can anyone with 15 steel wheels give me their measurement from the backside of the fender(by the door gap) to the rear most point on the edge of the wheel itself. Hope that made sense! I am at 19" on the drivers side and 18'875" on the passenger side. I am still not centered in the fender. These are aftermarket fenders also. I still don't think they look right. May shoot a pic later. Thanks folks for the help. danny

[wibilly]

if the wheels aren"t perfectly straight or just not aligned properly it can make a huge difference. your talking about less than a quarter inch. get it aligned then if need be you can ajust cab alignment if nessasary

[polevault1977]

I guess i'm losing it!! after looking at several other trucks and pics, the center line of the front wheel is actually set back a small amount. I never realized that. Too much of a perfectionist-i'm kin to my mom!! thanks for all the ideas, danny

[67ChevyRedneck]

I didn't realize you were actually measuring to the inner fender. If you really want to see what's going on with it, pull the tires and measure the top of the rotor and the bottom of the rotor and compare, you can do the same front to back to set the toe. I did this to my truck when I redid the front suspension and when I took it in to the alignment shop the guy said he hardly had to touch anything, I then asked if I still needed to pay him He said yes

[polevault1977]

The centering that I was concerned with is the position of the centerline of the front wheel in relationship to the centerline of the outer front fender. danny