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Re: FRONT END PROBLEMS WITH B-BODY
[Re: JohnRR]
#1079606
09/22/11 05:28 PM
09/22/11 05:28 PM
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Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 936
OLD318
super stock
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super stock
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 936
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Quote:
Isn't ride height measured from the ground to the framerail ?
No, according to the FSM it is measured from the ground to the bottom
of the lower control pivot where the torsion bar inserts into the LCA.
While not as well known, the frames on these cars can be off a quarter inch
from side to side and still be considered "in spec".
FWIW, That's a country mile by todays standards...
Obviously, You can compensate for this by dialing up the LCA on the low side to even out the ride height.
I've personally seen cars (B-Bodies) where the LCA Bolt is
deep inside the LCA on one side and way outside on the other side (almost a full inch difference!)
and yet the car looks level and aligns!
But if this "difference" was noticable right after the ditch incident
you have either bent the frame or you seriouly smacked the LCA/torsion bar etc....
To rule out the frame, how do the fender to door gaps look?
Hood to fender? etc... Does the hood open and close easily and straight?
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Re: FRONT END PROBLEMS WITH B-BODY
[Re: 68HemiB]
#1079607
09/22/11 07:58 PM
09/22/11 07:58 PM
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Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 1,639
Brandon, Ms
cornet684me
OP
top fuel
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OP
top fuel
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 1,639
Brandon, Ms
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the front end was completely rebuilt about 5000 miles ago, i think hitting the ditch did in my LCA bushing, i do not see anymore visual damage, i have jack up and down on the front end looking for more trouble, i am taking to front end shop on monday i did find the Moog LCA bushing and yes it was a 2day wait, however worked out great, cannot get the car into front end shop till monday. thanks for all the help and cross your fingers that i may get by with just a bushing change and an alignment 
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Re: FRONT END PROBLEMS WITH B-BODY
[Re: OLD318]
#1079608
09/22/11 08:09 PM
09/22/11 08:09 PM
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Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 1,639
Brandon, Ms
cornet684me
OP
top fuel
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OP
top fuel
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 1,639
Brandon, Ms
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that picture of the car in the ditch looks worse than it was, i had just backed out of my drive way and i was about 2 houses down from mine in my neighborhood and i was creeping due to the fact i knew i already had a problem, i ran into the ditch at maybe 5 to 10mph. so i doubt that i have any frame damage or major damage. all the door , hood , fender gaps are fine. the only way i found the 3/4 to inch difference in the passenger and drivers side is, when i switched from 14inch tires and wheels to 15inch, i turned into a store and heard the driver's tire rub on the top of the front fender bracket. i then got out my yard stick and measured the height and found the difference. with the 14inch magnums i did not notice it, i have driven the car about 200miles since the ditch and no other problems were found, no noise in the front end, nothing, so maybe this will not be serious, but with my luck with this car it maybe something serious 
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Re: FRONT END PROBLEMS WITH B-BODY
[Re: cornet684me]
#1079610
09/23/11 11:46 AM
09/23/11 11:46 AM
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Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 936
OLD318
super stock
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super stock
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 936
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Quote:
does anybody have the factory specs on ride height for a 1968 dodge coronet R/T with 15inch wheels and tires? i have read that the 68'dodge coronet did come with an 15inch option
Ride height isn't a "spec" in the FSM.
According to the FSM it's measured as the difference between:
Point A: The distnace of the bottom of the torsion bar mount on the
lower control arm to the ground
Point B: The distance from the bottom of the lower ball joint
to the ground
With Point A always being greater than point B...
The exact measurement (difference) isn't stated,
they just need to be the same on both sides of the car to
within 1/8 of inch...
FWIW, you can also buy a ride height guage from summit etc
for around $30.00.... most people only need it once or twice though!
Basically your measuring the pitch on the lower control arms
under full load from the k frame to the lower ball join.
They should be pitched downward from the k frame.
Hope this helps...
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Re: FRONT END PROBLEMS WITH B-BODY
[Re: OLD318]
#1079611
09/23/11 02:31 PM
09/23/11 02:31 PM
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Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 1,271
Vista, California
67Satty
pro stock
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pro stock
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 1,271
Vista, California
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Quote:
Quote:
does anybody have the factory specs on ride height for a 1968 dodge coronet R/T with 15inch wheels and tires? i have read that the 68'dodge coronet did come with an 15inch option
Ride height isn't a "spec" in the FSM.
According to the FSM it's measured as the difference between:
Point A: The distnace of the bottom of the torsion bar mount on the
lower control arm to the ground
Point B: The distance from the bottom of the lower ball joint
to the ground
With Point A always being greater than point B...
The exact measurement (difference) isn't stated,
they just need to be the same on both sides of the car to
within 1/8 of inch...
FWIW, you can also buy a ride height guage from summit etc
for around $30.00.... most people only need it once or twice though!
Basically your measuring the pitch on the lower control arms
under full load from the k frame to the lower ball join.
They should be pitched downward from the k frame.
Hope this helps...
My old Chilton's book shows the spec as 1 and 7/8" difference between point A and point B (plus or minus 1/8").
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Re: FRONT END PROBLEMS WITH B-BODY
[Re: cornet684me]
#1079613
09/24/11 11:54 PM
09/24/11 11:54 PM
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Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 1,639
Brandon, Ms
cornet684me
OP
top fuel
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OP
top fuel
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 1,639
Brandon, Ms
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UPDATE*****the lower LCA bushing are not bad, the rubber i thought i saw was actually grass and mud from the ditch, i raised the left side torsion bar and every thing is even at 27inches, not rubbing, had a local front end shop look at the front end, they said front end look okay, everything is tight, so i dodged a bullet on this one, the frontend guy did suggest the larger bars, he sd the car wld handle better with the larger bars due to the big block> thanks for the input here 
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