Re: front end alignment
[Re: bad543dart]
#914901
01/27/11 12:27 AM
01/27/11 12:27 AM
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Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 36,041
Lincoln Nebraska
RapidRobert
Circle Track
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Circle Track
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 36,041
Lincoln Nebraska
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I'm not a drag racer but I think you'd want the toe in and the camber both to be near zero for the least rolling resistance
live every 24 hour block of time like it's your last day on earth
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Re: front end alignment
[Re: RapidRobert]
#914902
01/27/11 12:41 AM
01/27/11 12:41 AM
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Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 10,542
BROOK PARK, OH
WILD BILL
Senior Member of the Junior Dragster Club
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Senior Member of the Junior Dragster Club
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 10,542
BROOK PARK, OH
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With drivers race ready weight in the car and the car raised 1" or so to simulate down track body lift at speed
Camber, 0 to -.5 degrees, the same on both sides if possible. (if not, as little split as poss)
Caster, as much as you can get. Again, keep the split as close to 0 as poss.
Toe, 1/16th " in on each side for a total of 1/8" toe in.
This is of course after ride height is set and the rear end/thrust angle is set if possible.
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Re: front end alignment
[Re: bad543dart]
#914905
01/27/11 01:24 AM
01/27/11 01:24 AM
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Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 36,041
Lincoln Nebraska
RapidRobert
Circle Track
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Circle Track
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 36,041
Lincoln Nebraska
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Welcome aboard & I would have the UCA cam bolt nuts and the LCA tapered shaft nuts barely snug then set your weight in barbells in the dr seat then the ride height where you want it (jounce it after each adj) then when it's at the shop pull the weights back over to the dr seat b 4 after you drive it on the rack. Tell them to leave the ride height (tbars) where it's at & when they are done & tightening everything to esp tighten the UCA cam bolt nuts TIGHT
live every 24 hour block of time like it's your last day on earth
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Re: front end alignment
[Re: RapidRobert]
#914906
01/27/11 01:32 AM
01/27/11 01:32 AM
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Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 10,542
BROOK PARK, OH
WILD BILL
Senior Member of the Junior Dragster Club
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Senior Member of the Junior Dragster Club
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 10,542
BROOK PARK, OH
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My apologies,
I didn't realize you were a new member
I am a drag raceer and I do alignments for a living 
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Re: front end alignment
[Re: WILD BILL]
#914907
01/27/11 02:23 AM
01/27/11 02:23 AM
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Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 6,591
Canton, Ohio
Sport440
master
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master
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 6,591
Canton, Ohio
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Quote:
With drivers race ready weight in the car and the car raised 1" or so to simulate down track body lift at speed
Camber, 0 to -.5 degrees, the same on both sides if possible. (if not, as little split as poss)
Caster, as much as you can get. Again, keep the split as close to 0 as poss.
Toe, 1/16th " in on each side for a total of 1/8" toe in.
This is of course after ride height is set and the rear end/thrust angle is set if possible.
What are your thoughts on a Heavy Cement truck/Oil rig. More toe in. Those are my thoughts. Sorry for the Hijack. But it does apply to the concept to toe in., mike 
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Re: front end alignment
[Re: Sport440]
#914908
01/27/11 02:55 AM
01/27/11 02:55 AM
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Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 10,542
BROOK PARK, OH
WILD BILL
Senior Member of the Junior Dragster Club
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Senior Member of the Junior Dragster Club
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 10,542
BROOK PARK, OH
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Quote:
What are your thoughts on a Heavy Cement truck/Oil rig. More toe in. Those are my thoughts. Sorry for the Hijack. But it does apply to the concept to toe in., mike
Ya know Mike, Heavy equipment isn't really my forte 
But I would think that since they are mostly run loaded down it would be better to align it loaded.
It would really depend on just how much the chassis settles when loaded as to happens to the toe angles. It may not change at all.
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Re: front end alignment
[Re: WILD BILL]
#914909
01/27/11 11:50 PM
01/27/11 11:50 PM
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Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 6,591
Canton, Ohio
Sport440
master
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master
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 6,591
Canton, Ohio
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Quote:
Quote:
What are your thoughts on a Heavy Cement truck/Oil rig. More toe in. Those are my thoughts. Sorry for the Hijack. But it does apply to the concept to toe in., mike
Ya know Mike, Heavy equipment isn't really my forte
But I would think that since they are mostly run loaded down it would be better to align it loaded.
It would really depend on just how much the chassis settles when loaded as to happens to the toe angles. It may not change at all.
Thanks for the input, I aqree. mike 
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Re: front end alignment
[Re: Sport440]
#914910
01/28/11 01:18 AM
01/28/11 01:18 AM
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Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 10,542
BROOK PARK, OH
WILD BILL
Senior Member of the Junior Dragster Club
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Senior Member of the Junior Dragster Club
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 10,542
BROOK PARK, OH
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Was that a test of my alignment knowledge
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Re: front end alignment
[Re: WILD BILL]
#914911
01/28/11 02:44 AM
01/28/11 02:44 AM
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Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 6,591
Canton, Ohio
Sport440
master
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master
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 6,591
Canton, Ohio
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Quote:
Was that a test of my alignment knowledge
No just your thoughts about the heavier vehicals. Im sure your alignment knowledge is fine.
Im helping refurbish a "Complete Overhaul" on a Cement truck chassis to a oil/swab rig conversion that was converted by a Texas company over 30 years ago.
My job was the electrical, but was asked about the front end toe alignment. The owner stated that the front caster and camber were fixed. But asked if I knew how to set the toe on such a custom rig.
My thoughts were on a heavy vehical like this maybe a little extra toe in would be better.
The owner pointed the tires forward and bolted up the tierods.
The tires are 48" tall and the max speed of the vehical is around 55 MPH+
IMO, after the initial adjustment Road manners may dictate the final adjustment. mike 
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Re: front end alignment
[Re: Sport440]
#914915
01/29/11 12:47 AM
01/29/11 12:47 AM
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Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 53
Jensen Beach, Florida
pressureangle
member
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member
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 53
Jensen Beach, Florida
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Quote:
Quote:
Was that a test of my alignment knowledge
No just your thoughts about the heavier vehicals. Im sure your alignment knowledge is fine.
Im helping refurbish a "Complete Overhaul" on a Cement truck chassis to a oil/swab rig conversion that was converted by a Texas company over 30 years ago.
My job was the electrical, but was asked about the front end toe alignment. The owner stated that the front caster and camber were fixed. But asked if I knew how to set the toe on such a custom rig.
My thoughts were on a heavy vehical like this maybe a little extra toe in would be better.
The owner pointed the tires forward and bolted up the tierods.
The tires are 48" tall and the max speed of the vehical is around 55 MPH+
IMO, after the initial adjustment Road manners may dictate the final adjustment. mike
Heavy truck suspension *is* my forte...I assume this is a straight-axle rig, no front wheel drive? Camber is built into the axle, but caster is adjusted with wedge shims between the spring and axle. With 48" tall tires, you're going to like a bunch of caster, 7-10*. Set toe last, and set to the minimum of spec-the more caster you have, the farther up from horizontal the closest points on the tires so less measured toe.
Honestly on something that big and slow, your toe can be all over the place and you may not notice. I'd spec the axle, or just go 1/8" and watch the tires over time.
Why do I torture myself so?
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Re: front end alignment
[Re: rbstroker]
#914916
01/29/11 02:28 AM
01/29/11 02:28 AM
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Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 3,378
Rancho Cordova, CA
Exit1965
master
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master
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 3,378
Rancho Cordova, CA
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Quote:
Anybody ever use one of the home alignment tools that are available on ebay and other places? With the cost of alignments, if they work, it seems that they would pay for themselves quickly.
I used this caster/camber gauge,
http://www.racerpartswholesale.com/product/1934/Caster_Camber_Gauges
and, my memory is going, so I can't remember if I actually used it (might have tried it then went old-school) but I have the harbor freight toe checker.
I tried masonite for the swivel plates but switched to floor tiles (grease between them either way) and that worked better. Was done in a couple of hours, my first time trying it, and I was surprised how well my car (67 Dart big block) drives and steers, which seems perfect.
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Re: front end alignment
[Re: pressureangle]
#914918
02/02/11 11:01 PM
02/02/11 11:01 PM
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Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 6,591
Canton, Ohio
Sport440
master
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master
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 6,591
Canton, Ohio
|
Quote:
Quote:
Quote:
Was that a test of my alignment knowledge
No just your thoughts about the heavier vehicals. Im sure your alignment knowledge is fine.
Im helping refurbish a "Complete Overhaul" on a Cement truck chassis to a oil/swab rig conversion that was converted by a Texas company over 30 years ago.
My job was the electrical, but was asked about the front end toe alignment. The owner stated that the front caster and camber were fixed. But asked if I knew how to set the toe on such a custom rig.
My thoughts were on a heavy vehical like this maybe a little extra toe in would be better.
The owner pointed the tires forward and bolted up the tierods.
The tires are 48" tall and the max speed of the vehical is around 55 MPH+
IMO, after the initial adjustment Road manners may dictate the final adjustment. mike
Heavy truck suspension *is* my forte...I assume this is a straight-axle rig, no front wheel drive? Camber is built into the axle, but caster is adjusted with wedge shims between the spring and axle. With 48" tall tires, you're going to like a bunch of caster, 7-10*. Set toe last, and set to the minimum of spec-the more caster you have, the farther up from horizontal the closest points on the tires so less measured toe.
Honestly on something that big and slow, your toe can be all over the place and you may not notice. I'd spec the axle, or just go 1/8" and watch the tires over time.
Thanks, Both you and Wild Bill.
I set it at a approximate fat 1/8" toe in. As it sat with the owners guess, it had a 3/8,s toe out.
Im going to check it again with it fully loaded. mike 
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Always start in the rear and adjust caster ,camber ,toe in that order and resett toe after any camber or caster changes before taking a sweep .
