I recently had some front end work done to my newly streetable '57. The allignment guy said that the car had hit something sometime and couldn't be alligned to specs. Take it to a frame straightening shop, he said. That's a bit scary to me. I'm concerned about bending my newly painted car, anywhere! Any advice or are my concerns unwarranted? I appreciate any advice or comments.
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Re: Frame Straightening
if frame damage enough to disallow proper alignment of front suspension, then i'm afraid you are going to have to take the car to a body shop with a frame machine. Most shops will be bright enough to loosen all body to frame mounts which should prevent any stress cracks in your newly painted body as the frame is bent back to alignable specs. good luck, mike -
Re: Frame Straightening
Mike is correct make sure ALL body bolts are loose.The body being damaged depends on how bad the frame is ?If you replaced any body pnls and lined them to a bent frame thats not good. To pull a frame it needs to go past where it should be. I would take it to a shop with a lazer measuring system. For about 2 hours labor they can tell you exactly where it is bent and how bad. With this system you dont need to worry about wrong pulls or pulling to far. I would suggest any one restoring a car that has been wrecked. Or any solid lifter big block,should have the frame checked or measured BEFORE body & paint work..good luck ...BillComment
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Re: Frame Straightening
I assume that to find a shop with such equipment you just call and ask if they have the "laser measuring system"??? Any other questions to ask?Comment
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Re: Frame Straightening
In addition to the good advice you already regarding any body damage, make sure the shop you use has the specs for your frame and the proper machine to do any straightening. I previously owned a '67 that I took to a shop that insisted they had the proper equipment to straighten my frame, and the specs. Ask to talk to the guy that will be DOING the work and to see the machine they will be using. I found out after my work was done, by talking directly to the guy that did it, that it was simply chained to the ground and evened it out, and he never had the specs. He actually made the undamaged side match the bent side. I finally provided them the specs and had it re-straightened properly. Very few shops actually have the equipment to measure and straighten these cars, but don't want to turn away the work.Comment
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Where did you get the specs? *NM*
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Re: Where did you get the specs?
In the frame section of the chassis service manual there are are diagrams with the specs and measurements.Comment
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Re: Frame Straightening
Yes just call some body shops and ask if they have a laser measurer. There are several companys that make them .Ours is made buy Chief . it is fully computorized and has specks for all cars back to the 30s.??? I would call one of the large insurance companys (state farm) and ask who does the best frame work in your area. BillComment
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It won't hurt to check the frame but ...
are you sure your alignment shop knew HOW to make the alignment? Most don't. Check the archives for information on how to set caster & camber. Take your manuals with you when you visit the alignment shop. This car employs a configuration that most alignment shops haven't seen in forty years so if the mechanic is under fifty, he may never have seen one. If he's not removing a grease plug to get at the adjustment, it may be that he just doesn't know how to do the job correctly.Comment
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