leaning corvette

[Scott42316]

Hi,

2 questions:

1. My 65 measures to be 0.5 inches lower on the front passenger side. I've measured to the A-frames on both sides and they are the same distance. However, with a level on the hood, the pass. side is lower. Measuring to the top of the wheel wells on both sides shows the difference as well.

I don't have much history on the car, so I'm not sure if it's had a frame-off. It's a California car as far as anyone knows, frame is solid, etc. I'm wondering it it's possible that a body bushing/mount could have collapsed, is missing, etc. The rear of the car measure correctly and is level; just the front pass. side is low.

Any ideas ?

2. The distances between the tires and the front and rear edges of the wheel wells is not the same from side to side; they're 0.5 - 0.75 inches different in some cases. I've chalked this up to imperfections in the fiberglass mfg and assembly process and that variances like this are normal. On my 65' the right front tire is closer to the front of the wheel well (~ 2.0 in) than the left front tine is (~ 2.5 in), distance measured from the bottom most point of the wheel well. Please confirm this is a correct understanding.

Thx.

Scott...

[Michael W.]

Re: leaning corvette

0.50"?
0.75"?

You got one of the good ones.

[Scott42316]

Re: leaning corvette

Hey Mike,

Thx for the reply; ouch. It's pretty noticable from the front-end view and I've not noticed it on any, until now that I own one. Part of the fun of owning a fiberglass car from Detroit made in the 60's I guess ?

[William V.]

Re: leaning corvette

Scott

Did you measure from the upper or lower A-arm? If the 1/2- 3/4 inch is from the upper a-arm then its the spring.

[Scott42316]

Re: leaning corvette

Hi Bill,

Actually, the distance on both sides to the lower and upper A-arms is pretty much equal side-to-side. That is, I mesure from the floor to the lower A-Arm and from the floor to the upper A-Arm on both sides; the distances are equal.

So the next thing I did was measure veritically from the floor to the top of the wheel wells on both sides and found the 0.5 in difference. I also put a level across the hood and confirmed the difference from drive to pass side is 0.5 in (lower on pass side).

Scott...

[Mike Cobine]

Re: leaning corvette

Because the body can sit on the chassis slightly off, you need to also check the frame to the floor if you are sure the floor is level. Not all are even in the typical home garage.

The a-arms will be pretty close since being connected to the wheel/tire, they don't move as much in relationship to the floor as the frame does.

Eight places to check are the frame near the radiator support, frame near front body mount/firewall, frame under door near trailing arm attachment, and frame at rear near gas tank.

It sounds like you are ok side to side in rear but not at front. This could be a slight frame twist (common) or a slightly weaker spring.