Front End Alignment

tonto1 · March 07, 2005, 03:23:54 PM

Well, I've finally gotten far enough to think about getting the front end aligned.
Does anyone know the numbers for a MustangII front end.
As always, I appreciate any help

phat46 · March 07, 2005, 04:06:28 PM

Quote from: "tonto1"Well, I've finally gotten far enough to think about getting the front end aligned.
Does anyone know the numbers for a MustangII front end.
As always, I appreciate any help

Are you going to do it yourself? The alignment shop that did mine musta had all the specs already. I used a stock Must II frontend.

I really like that Business coupe, Do you have a back seat in it?

tonto1 · March 07, 2005, 05:43:40 PM

Thanks, it's always been my favorite body style.
No, I'm going to have a shop do it. And your probably right. they will most likely have the numbers.

enjenjo · March 07, 2005, 07:27:12 PM

Have them crank in a bit more caster than the spec, about 4 degrees at least.

tomslik · March 07, 2005, 08:09:41 PM

Quote from: "enjenjo"Have them crank in a bit more caster than the spec, about 4 degrees at least.

yep, i've got 2 1/2 in mine and it still needs more...

ragdol · March 09, 2005, 11:45:14 PM

Is that pos. or neg. camber?

32coupe · March 10, 2005, 12:34:09 AM

About 3mm toe in, 1 to 1.5 deg neg camber and lots of positive caster.

tonto1 · March 10, 2005, 11:50:10 AM

Well, I went to the local tire shop this morning to get the front end aligned and he tells me he can't do it because the wheelbase is different than a stock MustangII.
I told him that wouldn't make any difference, but he says it won't come out right because his machine is computerized.
Is he giving me BS because he doesn't know what he's doing? Or is he right?

rooster · March 10, 2005, 12:09:50 PM

Quote from: "tonto1"Well, I went to the local tire shop this morning to get the front end aligned and he tells me he can't do it because the wheelbase is different than a stock MustangII.
I told him that wouldn't make any difference, but he says it won't come out right because his machine is computerized.
Is he giving me BS because he doesn't know what he's doing? Or is he right?

I went through the same thing here! The guy at first wouldnt do what I wanted him to do ! He has to understand that its " not correct" but it is "what works"! I wound up with about 5 1/2 degrees! The guy that did mine has the old shool machine that uses mirrors and light projected onto a srceen. $50.00 included any return for readjustment.

kb426 · March 10, 2005, 12:41:41 PM

Just for your bit of trivia for the day: on dragsters, I put in 7 degrees on slow cars, 15 on econorails and 22 on blown cars. I think 5.5 on a street car sounds great.

enjenjo · March 10, 2005, 09:40:20 PM

QuoteIs he giving me BS because he doesn't know what he's doing? Or is he right?

He doesn't know what he is doing.

Have him look up the 7 different wheelbases of S10 trucks, and see if the alignment specs are different.

My opinion, find another guy. I had to look for some time before I found one who would do it my way.

Fat Cat · March 10, 2005, 10:08:31 PM

Quote from: "tonto1"Well, I went to the local tire shop this morning to get the front end aligned and he tells me he can't do it because the wheelbase is different than a stock MustangII.
I told him that wouldn't make any difference, but he says it won't come out right because his machine is computerized.
Is he giving me BS because he doesn't know what he's doing? Or is he right?

Well you could ask him to look up the spec for a 41 Chevy with a Mustang II front suspension. Then have him set it up that way. When he tells you that he doesn't have a spec for that. Tell him that is why you asked him to use the other specs and then tell him you will find someone that knows what they are doing and go some place else.

47convert · March 11, 2005, 12:37:34 PM

Some of the newer machines won't even set up a car with different size tires front to back! I'd find a shop that's been around for a while with an older machine and a a mechanic that's been doing this stuff for a while.

DrJ · March 11, 2005, 02:38:40 PM

Look up a place like
"Chuy's Rimz and Alignment...
We install hydraulics and air ride.
All cars and trucks"

They can probably align it for you to your specs.

Or an older shop that does big trucks and cars.
There's one here in Garden Grove where I went to get my GMC beam axle aligned and I knew I was in the right place when I saw the '55 Chevy bgasser in the employee parking, a Peterbuilt on one rack a Corvette on the next a police squad car on one and a '41 Willys that was set up like a 60's gasser all getting aligned.
That was ten years ago and I haven't touched it or had any alignment caused tire wear since.
If you know any "lowriders" in town, ask them where they get their lowered Chebys lowered and aligned.
Look for that kind of shop.

tonto1 · March 11, 2005, 05:59:55 PM

Thanks for all the input. I called a shop yesterday that has an older machine, and he does street rods quite often. He said he'll align it however I want. The kind of guy I'm looking for.
I may be missing something, but I can't understand how wheelbase comes into play. I think the first guy isn't much of a thinker.