<VV> Recommended alignment specs

[Duane, Jim E.]

Hi Frank.


Interesting time yesterday.  Mixed Review...

On the plus side:  Got the rear and front camber done (and I was allowed to coach the tech).  I was right beside the machine :>)
On the minus side:  My rear toe was not able to be set because the "owner" of the car (OK, me!) neglected to loosen the stabilizing rod !!!  another date needed for that!

Another minus:   The bushing Kit I got from Clarks (or maybe it is my car) did not allow enough adjustment (ran out of threads) for front caster.  I need to look into that one...





________________________________
From: FrankCB [mailto:frankcb at aol.com]
Sent: Monday, July 27, 2009 4:49 PM
To: John O'Shea; virtual vairs; Duane, Jim E.
Subject: Re: <VV> Recommended alignment specs


In a message dated 07/27/09 12:12:15 Eastern Daylight Time, jco99 at cox.net writes:
Hi Jim,
I just had a 4 wheel alignment done on my LM.  There might be another thing
you could consider.  If you can, watch everything that's being done.  I had
just replaced all rear suspension parts and had made an eyeball adjustment
of rear toe and camber in my garage before I went to the alignment shop.
All suspension setting bolts and nuts moved freely.  As Frank recommended I
gave the tech the settings I wanted.

While watching, I saw the tech trying to set the rear camber.  The tech
loosened both rear camber nuts, then he put a long breaker bar with a socket
on one camber bolt and started pulling.  With the weight of the car on the
rear wheels the brand new bolt wouldn't move, so he applied more force and
it still wouldn't move.  I was ignored when I shouted from the distance
where I was allowed to watch, to take some weight off the wheel.

The tech left for a minute and came ba ck with an even bigger breaker bar
which would easily have applied enough torque to cause serious damage.
Fortunately I was able to get the manager's attention before harm was done.
Had I not been watching I wonder what would have happened.  I won't be going
back to that shop.  Keep a close eye on anybody working on your car.

----- Original Message -----
From: "FrankCB" <frankcb at aol.com>
To: "Duane, Jim E." <JDuane at advprograms.com>; <virtualvairs at corvair.org>
Sent: Monday, July 27, 2009 8:25 AM
Subject: Re: <VV> Recommended alignment specs


> Jim,
>     My recommendation is to copy the pages in the Shop Manual that show
> the exact location of the bolts/nuts/cams that must be used to do the
> wheel alignment, draw arrows pointing to each one and what it does and
> what setting you request and give it to the guy doing the alignment.  This
> is especially true for the REAR of the car.  He may never have even done a
> Corvair before and most cars of that vintage did not have independent and
> adjustable rears.  .
>     When I did this, the guy was very appreciative and said it made the
> job a lot easier.  Plus he used the settings I requested instead of trying
> to find them in some data bank.
>     Good luck,
>     Frank "not always conventionally aligned" Burkhard
>
>
> In a message dated 07/27/09 11:10:31 Eastern Daylight Time,
> JDuane at advprograms.com writes:
> Hi all.
>
> This afternoon my '66 is going in for 4 new shoes size 185-80 13 and a
> four wheel alignment.  I never had one done in the many years I had it but
> have rebuilt everything attached to the cross member last year and made
> sure the alignment bolts in for the rear are not frozen.  I have the
> numbers from the '66 factory manual and recall that there was some on this
> forum that had revised the specs based on radial tires, etc.  So, what say
> you?
>
> Jim Duane
>
> '66 180 Corsa CVT
> Colonial Corvairs
> CORSA
>
> P.S.  For any out there in the vicinity of Shrewsbury MA, Colonial is
> having its 13th (?)  VolksVair show at the Hebert Candy Mansion.  Come on
> down!
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