Contemporary Front End Alignment

Denny S. · #1 (**permalink**) 04-30-2003, 02:49 PM

My Car has coil over penske adjustables. I took it to an alignment shop. They set the caster & Toe, but couldn't figure out how to set camber. Neither can I ..... HELP... Do we shim the upper arms ? THe car has too much negative camber and wears tires quick.
I understand a bit of negative is good for handling , but this is too much...

Tom T. · #2 (**permalink**) 04-30-2003, 05:05 PM

Denny,

You may be able to get some help from Don Borders at Image Motor Works--he used to build Contemporary cars and is now making a very similar car with Boyd Coddington. I think you can get the phone no., etc., just by putting the company's name into a search engine. I do believe it's shims--that's what I have to do with the torsion bar front end, anyway. But Don's an expert.

TT

KobraKarl · #3 (**permalink**) 04-30-2003, 08:22 PM

Denny,
Just did this myself ,had a lot of neg camber and I thought it was week torsion bars ,and was going to adjust them . before I did I took it to a local old Jaguar specialty shop , they were very interested in the build and very familiar with the suspendion. The owner immediatly pointed out that I had a lot of toe out ( more than a half inch) I asked about the torsion bar adjustment I was considering , and he pointed out that would only lift the front of my car two or three inches ,and the camber was set only with shims.

good luck ,Karl

Dominik · #4 (**permalink**) 04-30-2003, 11:31 PM

karl,

do you know what it would take to trasform the torsion bar suspension into a coil over?
just putting coil overs in? the coil over probably does not fit through the upper wishbone.

dominik, cape town

KobraKarl · #5 (**permalink**) 05-01-2003, 10:22 PM

Dominik,

Don borders at Image Auto Works in southern california makes a conversion kit with all parts neccesary including a weld in "x" brace and tubular "a" arms that are bolt up .. I have considered it ,but since im not not a real serious track guy, I am focusing my funds on other parts of the car.

KK

Dominik · #6 (**permalink**) 05-01-2003, 10:49 PM

thanks karl,

I have the x-brace already, so it would be thewishbones to change.

dom, cape town

Denny S. · #7 (**permalink**) 05-05-2003, 09:22 AM

In case anyone else wants to know. After a call to Don Borders at Image. We
unbolted the upper control arms and put in 1/8 shims behind them. Took my over 1 inch lean in back to less than a half inch.
We made shims with holes instead of slots so they can't fall out. I understand you can use Jaguar alignment shims also.
My car still has negative camber, but nothing as severe as it was.