Ford vs Chevy Build-up

HandOverFist · 05-06-2015, 01:31 PM

Back from alignment. Alan could not do much with camber on this car...said even with camber kits it would still be far away from where he would like to see it. I'll make the first pass in it before handing it off to Kenny to ensure it doesnt act squirrelly at speed.

SSGT Mustang · 05-06-2015, 02:34 PM

I've got the same issue with my convertible street car even with caster camber plates. It drives fine, though. My race car is a hatchback, and doesn't have that problem.

I don't know if it's legal, but you may want to get a bolt on strut tower brace. It may help.

HandOverFist · 05-07-2015, 01:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SSGT Mustang

I've got the same issue with my convertible street car even with caster camber plates. It drives fine, though. My race car is a hatchback, and doesn't have that problem.

I don't know if it's legal, but you may want to get a bolt on strut tower brace. It may help.

I can't find any wording in the rule book that would prohibit a strut tower brace. I wonder if it could be used to correct a camber problem, or would it just prevent further movement? I'm thinking a mix of camber plates and those offset camber adjustment bolts would bring it into spec...no idea if it would be worth doing tho.

Kirk Morgan · 05-07-2015, 07:41 AM

There is a real simple fix for your problem. If you could call me at 12 CST iam at lunch and can give you the details.

Kirk 210-887-3331

SSGT Mustang · 05-07-2015, 07:42 AM

I think the brace is a necessity for the convertible, and you could make the case with any rational tech inspector that it needs to be there. You would have to get the car off the ground and probably use a jack and piece of pipe to push out the towers a bit to get the brace to fit. Once installed, the towers shouldn't move inward any more or at least not as much.

Dave Gantz · 05-07-2015, 10:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HandOverFist

Back from alignment. Alan could not do much with camber on this car...said even with camber kits it would still be far away from where he would like to see it. I'll make the first pass in it before handing it off to Kenny to ensure it doesnt act squirrelly at speed.
]

When I lowered my '87 (if lowering is the cause of your problem), I had to slot the holes that the plates mount on to get the camber.

HandOverFist · 05-07-2015, 11:31 AM

No doubt the car is lower with those 4-cylinder front springs not to mention all the wear and tear on the street all those years...these cars are made of nothing. I don't have the experience with them to say one way or another what the effect will be on the track. If its negligible I will put it out of mind and concentrate on other areas.

SSDiv6 · 05-07-2015, 11:44 AM

Convertibles had an upper tower brace and also a lower brace, from the front of the crossmember to the radiator frame.

HandOverFist · 05-07-2015, 11:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SSDiv6

Convertibles had an upper tower brace and also a lower brace, from the front of the crossmember to the radiator frame.

I had seen it mentioned somewhere that a tower brace was optional from the factory on these cars, but I have never seen one myself. That lower X-brace you mentioned would have little to no effect on camber in my opinion...just not located to be of any value in that area.

FED 387 · 05-07-2015, 12:05 PM

by trying to install the front tower brace if the car is sitting on the ground you will find that the holes on the brace will be off maybe as much as 1/2 the diameter of the bolt--- when you raise the car the towers will tend to sag outward and you can then easily install the brace as the holes will be perfectly aligned to the bolt and just drop down into position--- when you let the car down the flex you have been experiencing will have gone away due to the tower brace doing its job--- you might get those 2* camber back you are looking for-- plus it will stiffen the chassis/front end --FED 387

05-06-2015, 01:31 PM	#1
HandOverFist VIP Member Join Date: Oct 2013 Location: Gulf Breeze, FL Posts: 1,651 Likes: 8 Liked 33 Times in 16 Posts	Re: Ford vs Chevy Build-up Back from alignment. Alan could not do much with camber on this car...said even with camber kits it would still be far away from where he would like to see it. I'll make the first pass in it before handing it off to Kenny to ensure it doesnt act squirrelly at speed. __________________ Rich Taylor I/SA - 321

05-06-2015, 02:34 PM	#2
SSGT Mustang Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Jersey Posts: 359 Likes: 35 Liked 204 Times in 54 Posts	Re: Ford vs Chevy Build-up I've got the same issue with my convertible street car even with caster camber plates. It drives fine, though. My race car is a hatchback, and doesn't have that problem. I don't know if it's legal, but you may want to get a bolt on strut tower brace. It may help.

05-07-2015, 07:41 AM	#4
Kirk Morgan Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Posts: 230 Likes: 1 Liked 81 Times in 45 Posts	Re: Ford vs Chevy Build-up There is a real simple fix for your problem. If you could call me at 12 CST iam at lunch and can give you the details. Kirk 210-887-3331 Last edited by Kirk Morgan; 05-07-2015 at 07:41 AM. Reason: phone #

05-07-2015, 07:42 AM	#5
SSGT Mustang Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Jersey Posts: 359 Likes: 35 Liked 204 Times in 54 Posts	Re: Ford vs Chevy Build-up I think the brace is a necessity for the convertible, and you could make the case with any rational tech inspector that it needs to be there. You would have to get the car off the ground and probably use a jack and piece of pipe to push out the towers a bit to get the brace to fit. Once installed, the towers shouldn't move inward any more or at least not as much.

05-07-2015, 11:31 AM	#7
HandOverFist VIP Member Join Date: Oct 2013 Location: Gulf Breeze, FL Posts: 1,651 Likes: 8 Liked 33 Times in 16 Posts	Re: Ford vs Chevy Build-up No doubt the car is lower with those 4-cylinder front springs not to mention all the wear and tear on the street all those years...these cars are made of nothing. I don't have the experience with them to say one way or another what the effect will be on the track. If its negligible I will put it out of mind and concentrate on other areas. __________________ Rich Taylor I/SA - 321

05-07-2015, 11:44 AM	#8
SSDiv6 VIP Member Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Glendale, Arizona Posts: 3,045 Likes: 712 Liked 1,604 Times in 583 Posts	Re: Ford vs Chevy Build-up Convertibles had an upper tower brace and also a lower brace, from the front of the crossmember to the radiator frame.

05-07-2015, 12:05 PM	#10
FED 387 VIP Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Posts: 3,423 Likes: 538 Liked 333 Times in 180 Posts	Re: Ford vs Chevy Build-up by trying to install the front tower brace if the car is sitting on the ground you will find that the holes on the brace will be off maybe as much as 1/2 the diameter of the bolt--- when you raise the car the towers will tend to sag outward and you can then easily install the brace as the holes will be perfectly aligned to the bolt and just drop down into position--- when you let the car down the flex you have been experiencing will have gone away due to the tower brace doing its job--- you might get those 2* camber back you are looking for-- plus it will stiffen the chassis/front end --FED 387