I am about 80% done with a complete body off resto on my 1969 coupe. After we got the body back on and replaced the front "clip" with  a new 1 piece surround, we noticed the right front wheel is about 3/4 inch aft of where it should be. I had the frame measured and straightened (3 times in fact) and am now absolutely sure the it is right. After many expert consultations, the only thing we can come up with is that the lower control arm is bad. This is a reconditioned arm that I bought to replace the original (the car had been hit right front). Is it possible this new arm is bad? It's been so long now that I don't remember where I bought it and can't find an invoice. Does anyone have any other ideas before I tear this thing apart once again?

Thanks!

Where are you compairing it to?  If it's the wheel opening, although the body lines up and looks good, it could be off by that much.

With the front wheels turned straight ahead, measure from the center of the rear wheel to the center of the front wheel.  Measure both left and right sides, then make the compairison.  It may be off that far, but may not.   See what you come up with. 

If it is in fact off, it is probably a control arm.  Don't forget to check the bushings first.  Also look at the amount of shims in the upper control arm.  This is how the alignment is adjusted, and the wheel could easily be off 1/2 inch due to adjustments.  Properly aligned, it may be okay.

The specs actually allow up to 1/2 inch difference between sides.

Thanks for your reply! That is how we measured it so we are sure that it is off. It's just that we didn't notice it until the clip was on.

I have talked with many past owners and our cars meaning c3's; are notorious for being all over the place dimensioninally.  So i'm not sure i would get too tore up about it the whole matter.

Betwen mounting the body to the frame, bonding the the front clip to the main body, and the suspension component alignement its very possible for it to be off. and may be next to impossible to make exactly perfect.

there have been many things I have had to tweak on my 72 trying to combine aftermarket with NOS parts and nothing has been dead on.  In my own opinion it just comes with the territory.  If you want to beat yourself trying to figure it out you might go insane.