Chevy II front end alignment

jaf2021 · 03-25-2022, 04:17 AM

Looking for front end alignment specs for a 66 Chevy II Super Stocker. Any info will be greatly appreciated. Thanks

Brian Fink · 03-25-2022, 09:27 AM

Way back in 1981 the National Dragster had an article regarding this very issue . The bottom line was camber should be 0 to1/4 degree positive and caster should be at least 3 degrees positive ( more is better ; try to achieve parallel with tie rods and control arms ).Keep in mind you may have to heat and bend the steering arms for the best result .

James Perrone · 03-25-2022, 10:04 AM

Go to an older experience Aligment guy
I had my 67 nova done recently
The modern alignment people don’t know what to do

prostockpete1 · 03-25-2022, 11:40 AM

maybe get ahold of Eddie Rezac from Wahoo Nebraska on this site .. he knows all the front end tricks including selling his reconfigured center link for chevy ll .s

Billy Nees · 03-25-2022, 05:32 PM

Alright look here's the deal, You've caught me under the influence or I wouldn't even bother.
Try and keep the camber positive. 1/4 positive is fine. For every 10 MPH over 100 MPH you should try and have 1* positive caster. If you're going 130 MPH, then you need 3* positive caster at least.
The modified center link is a good thing. You want to try and get the tie rod assembly to be roughly the same length as the lower a-frame.
I've bent steering knuckles before. Especially on Chevy IIs (not the best thing in the world). If you can lower the tie rod then drill out the steering knuckle for a 1/2" bolt. Put a rod end in the tie rod sleeve. Start putting spacers between the steering knuckle and the rod end (outer tie rod) and start checking for "bump" steer.
It's better if you can do it on an old mechanical machine because you're going to be raising and lowering the front of the car through it's travel.
It's very time consuming but worth it.

Now, back to Jose!

Mark Yacavone · 03-25-2022, 10:18 PM

Okay...Only had one beer with dinner so I hope I'm qualified.
You said S/S so I assume you have replaced the strut rod rubbers with heims. You can pull the lower control arms forward some to get enough caster.The upper arms can be shimmed back too...as long as you've got a fairly small front tire so they don't hit the headers.
As mentioned, ideally you want the tie rod ends to line up with the lower ball joint and inner pivot point, whatever that takes. The camber eccentric should be tacked in place, once set. Let's see..what else? Toe in an 1/8th..Standard stuff there.
Meanwhile, if you can limit the front end travel, go ahead then. The toe in gets really wacky at the top ;-)

G money · 03-26-2022, 07:43 AM

You will have to radius the lower front fender. I cut a pie shape out and push the return edge forward mig weld . I have 3 degrees and run a 27.5 front tire.

G. Walters F/SA 1770

Jim Parsons · 03-26-2022, 09:08 AM

Caution on modifying the drag link as I had one break “next” to the weld on our bracket car last year turning onto the track to make a pass…..! It had been welded by someone prior to our purchase who obviously didn’t understand proper procedure.

FYI: Recommend Eddie’s stuff as he knows what he doing and it works.

Alan Nyhus · 03-26-2022, 09:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jim Parsons

Caution on modifying the drag link as I had one break “next” to the weld on our bracket car last year turning onto the track to make a pass…..! It had been welded by someone prior to our purchase who obviously didn’t understand proper procedure.

Jim, that right there will increase the 'pucker factor'......

Hope to catch up with you soon. -Al

Tom Meyer · 03-26-2022, 02:52 PM

Eddie Rezac, 402 443 8424. He makes a kit for Chevy IIs. My car had been modified by Jack Argnew way back in the day, lots of wild stuff done to control arms. Global west makes a lot of good parts for early Nova front ends. Tom

03-25-2022, 04:17 AM	#1
jaf2021 Member Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: selmer,tn Posts: 110 Likes: 13 Liked 5 Times in 5 Posts	Chevy II front end alignment Looking for front end alignment specs for a 66 Chevy II Super Stocker. Any info will be greatly appreciated. Thanks

03-25-2022, 09:27 AM	#2
Brian Fink Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Posts: 173 Likes: 39 Liked 28 Times in 9 Posts	Re: Chevy II front end alignment Way back in 1981 the National Dragster had an article regarding this very issue . The bottom line was camber should be 0 to1/4 degree positive and caster should be at least 3 degrees positive ( more is better ; try to achieve parallel with tie rods and control arms ).Keep in mind you may have to heat and bend the steering arms for the best result .

03-25-2022, 10:04 AM	#3
James Perrone VIP Member Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: LONG ISLAND N.Y. Posts: 1,654 Likes: 3,311 Liked 1,770 Times in 415 Posts	Re: Chevy II front end alignment Go to an older experience Aligment guy I had my 67 nova done recently The modern alignment people don’t know what to do __________________ james perrone 1290 STK

03-25-2022, 11:40 AM	#4
prostockpete1 Member Join Date: Mar 2012 Posts: 246 Likes: 3 Liked 82 Times in 49 Posts	Re: Chevy II front end alignment maybe get ahold of Eddie Rezac from Wahoo Nebraska on this site .. he knows all the front end tricks including selling his reconfigured center link for chevy ll .s

03-25-2022, 05:32 PM	#5
Billy Nees VIP Member Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: On a hilltop in Pa. Posts: 4,473 Likes: 3,564 Liked 7,594 Times in 1,718 Posts	Re: Chevy II front end alignment Alright look here's the deal, You've caught me under the influence or I wouldn't even bother. Try and keep the camber positive. 1/4 positive is fine. For every 10 MPH over 100 MPH you should try and have 1* positive caster. If you're going 130 MPH, then you need 3* positive caster at least. The modified center link is a good thing. You want to try and get the tie rod assembly to be roughly the same length as the lower a-frame. I've bent steering knuckles before. Especially on Chevy IIs (not the best thing in the world). If you can lower the tie rod then drill out the steering knuckle for a 1/2" bolt. Put a rod end in the tie rod sleeve. Start putting spacers between the steering knuckle and the rod end (outer tie rod) and start checking for "bump" steer. It's better if you can do it on an old mechanical machine because you're going to be raising and lowering the front of the car through it's travel. It's very time consuming but worth it. Now, back to Jose! __________________ Billy Nees 1188 STK, SS I'm OK..........it's everybody else. Last edited by Billy Nees; 03-25-2022 at 05:39 PM.

03-25-2022, 10:18 PM	#6
Mark Yacavone Veteran Member Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Miles From Nowhere Posts: 7,742 Likes: 2,843 Liked 5,001 Times in 1,901 Posts	Re: Chevy II front end alignment Okay...Only had one beer with dinner so I hope I'm qualified. You said S/S so I assume you have replaced the strut rod rubbers with heims. You can pull the lower control arms forward some to get enough caster.The upper arms can be shimmed back too...as long as you've got a fairly small front tire so they don't hit the headers. As mentioned, ideally you want the tie rod ends to line up with the lower ball joint and inner pivot point, whatever that takes. The camber eccentric should be tacked in place, once set. Let's see..what else? Toe in an 1/8th..Standard stuff there. Meanwhile, if you can limit the front end travel, go ahead then. The toe in gets really wacky at the top ;-) __________________ "We are lucky we don't get as much Government as we pay for." Will Rogers

03-26-2022, 07:43 AM	#7
G money Junior Member Join Date: Jul 2013 Posts: 47 Likes: 154 Liked 13 Times in 13 Posts	Re: Chevy II front end alignment You will have to radius the lower front fender. I cut a pie shape out and push the return edge forward mig weld . I have 3 degrees and run a 27.5 front tire. G. Walters F/SA 1770

03-26-2022, 09:08 AM	#8
Jim Parsons Member Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: Kearney Mo Posts: 196 Likes: 402 Liked 195 Times in 30 Posts	Re: Chevy II front end alignment Caution on modifying the drag link as I had one break “next” to the weld on our bracket car last year turning onto the track to make a pass…..! It had been welded by someone prior to our purchase who obviously didn’t understand proper procedure. FYI: Recommend Eddie’s stuff as he knows what he doing and it works.

03-26-2022, 02:52 PM	#10
Tom Meyer Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: Pierce NE Posts: 928 Likes: 73 Liked 350 Times in 119 Posts	Re: Chevy II front end alignment Eddie Rezac, 402 443 8424. He makes a kit for Chevy IIs. My car had been modified by Jack Argnew way back in the day, lots of wild stuff done to control arms. Global west makes a lot of good parts for early Nova front ends. Tom __________________ Tom Meyer 5240 SS Stock ??? Last edited by Tom Meyer; 03-26-2022 at 04:33 PM.