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Topic: 1st Alignment in more than 11 years!

in Forum: C3 Handling Components


1st Alignment in more than 11 years!

Posted: 9/14/12 6:11pm Message 1 of 8
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Vancouver, WA - USA
Joined: 8/25/2005
Posts: 869
Vette(s): 1976 Silver/Firethorn. L48, 4spd. Original 2 bolt, vortec heads, 9.4:1 CR, Speed Pro Cam: 224/224@0.050, 112 LSA, Eagle Steel Crank.
I took it to Carl's Alignment and Brake here in Vancouver, WA yesterday and had a four-wheel done, first time since I've owned it at least.  (And I rebuilt the rear suspension many years ago!)  Charged me $125, but it feels really good, steering wheel is straight and I knew this was the right place to go through word of mouth and I always see muscle cars, hot rods, hot trucks, and, yes, Vette's getting work done there.  They ended up having to adjust shims at all four corners.  They showed me what they did and pointed out a few things for me to address - a really good experience overall.  

One thing he pointed out was the rear-end's laziness and lack of damping going over bumps.  I've never liked the KYB GR-2's I installed years ago, and he agreed.  I really need something better, especially in back.  Would love Bilsteins, but not ready to spend that much.  I think I'm going to go with the good old white (Gas-Adjust?) KYB's.  I'm going to start with replacing the two in the back first and see how that feels.  The front feels pretty good already, but eventually I'll replace all four.  Any thoughts?




 

1976 Silver/Firethorn.  L48, 4spd.  Original 2 bolt, vortec heads, 9.4:1 CR, Speed Pro Cam: 224/224@0.050, 112 LSA, Eagle Steel Crank.
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Re: 1st Alignment in more than 11 years!

Posted: 9/14/12 7:37pm Message 2 of 8
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Duncanville, TX - USA
Joined: 11/8/2003
Posts: 20218
Vette(s): #1-1974 L-48 4spd Cp Med Red Metallic/Black deluxe int w/AC/tilt/tele./p/w-p/b/ Am-Fm/map light National/Regional/Chapter NCRS "Top Flight" #2-1985 Bright Red/Carmine Cp.L-98/auto Member: NCRS, NCRS Texas, Corvette Legends of Texas
I'm sorry....WHAT? Your rear end is lazy?!?!? Shocked
"What th' heck d'ya mean ?" LOL


Joel Adams
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Re: 1st Alignment in more than 11 years!

Posted: 9/14/12 10:58pm Message 3 of 8
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Former Member
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Vancouver, WA - USA
Joined: 8/25/2005
Posts: 869
Vette(s): 1976 Silver/Firethorn. L48, 4spd. Original 2 bolt, vortec heads, 9.4:1 CR, Speed Pro Cam: 224/224@0.050, 112 LSA, Eagle Steel Crank.
Yeah, yeah, I knew that word wasn't right, but I don't know exactly how to describe it.  It just kind of sways in an up and down fashion, going over bumps.  Doesn't feel crisp like it should.  In engineer-ese, I'd say the damping rate isn't sufficient.  The spring is the regular 9 leaf, about 8 years old, but not many miles on it.  



 

1976 Silver/Firethorn.  L48, 4spd.  Original 2 bolt, vortec heads, 9.4:1 CR, Speed Pro Cam: 224/224@0.050, 112 LSA, Eagle Steel Crank.

Re: 1st Alignment in more than 11 years!

Posted: 9/15/12 8:44am Message 4 of 8
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Duncanville, TX - USA
Joined: 11/8/2003
Posts: 20218
Vette(s): #1-1974 L-48 4spd Cp Med Red Metallic/Black deluxe int w/AC/tilt/tele./p/w-p/b/ Am-Fm/map light National/Regional/Chapter NCRS "Top Flight" #2-1985 Bright Red/Carmine Cp.L-98/auto Member: NCRS, NCRS Texas, Corvette Legends of Texas
Oh....so what ya really meant was yer rear end is floppy!
Your description sounds like the shocks are bad for sure, if it's just kinda floating when you hit a bump/dip or something.



Joel Adams
C3VR Lifetime Member #56    

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             NCRS

"Money can't buy happiness -- but somehow it's more comforting to cry in a CORVETTE than in a Kia"

Re: 1st Alignment in more than 11 years!

Posted: 9/15/12 9:09am Message 5 of 8
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While you're back there messing with your rear, consider dumping the heavy steel leaf spring and going with a composite spring.  The stock spring in my '73 weighed 36 lbs.

John



1973 BB 4-Speed Coupe Project Car
2009 Z06 Mostly Stock

Re: 1st Alignment in more than 11 years!

Posted: 9/15/12 9:35am Message 6 of 8
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Vancouver, WA - USA
Joined: 8/25/2005
Posts: 869
Vette(s): 1976 Silver/Firethorn. L48, 4spd. Original 2 bolt, vortec heads, 9.4:1 CR, Speed Pro Cam: 224/224@0.050, 112 LSA, Eagle Steel Crank.
Joel, yes, "floats" is a good word, thanks!

John, I've thought of the composite spring in the past as well as the 7 leaf steel (from the Gymkhana option, I think).   The one thing I've wondered about the composites: our cars are already front heavy, doesn't removing weight in the rear exacerbate the problem?  




 

1976 Silver/Firethorn.  L48, 4spd.  Original 2 bolt, vortec heads, 9.4:1 CR, Speed Pro Cam: 224/224@0.050, 112 LSA, Eagle Steel Crank.

Re: 1st Alignment in more than 11 years!

Posted: 9/15/12 11:43am Message 7 of 8
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Yes, taking weight off the rear hurts the balance a little.  The spring is relatively easy to replace, and just the thought of hauling that big lump of steel everywhere made it easy to get rid of it.  I like any kind of weight reduction :)

John




1973 BB 4-Speed Coupe Project Car
2009 Z06 Mostly Stock

Re: 1st Alignment in more than 11 years!

Posted: 9/15/12 7:07pm Message 8 of 8
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Morganville, NJ - USA
Joined: 1/25/2009
Posts: 92
Vette(s): 1971 350 270 hp roadster millivanilli red, black interior, white rag top, white hard top, I've had it 18 years and intend on giving it to my son for his 25th birthday(another 18 years from now)
best thing I've done to the car was to put Bilsteins on it,drives soooo much better
 



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