[DeTomaso] alignment specs

[JDeRyke at aol.com]

In a message dated 8/16/10 11:44:53 AM, boyd411 at gmail.com writes:

> The shop doing the alignment wants to know what alignment specs to use. 
> can anyone help me out
> with a base line to start with?
> 
It'll depend to some extent on the tires you're running and   how you'll 
use the car. Better coil-overs w/stiffer springs, poly bushings and 50-profile 
tires tighten the fronts up enough that you really don't need much toe-in 
(1/16" or so) or camber (0 or maybe 1/2 degree inboard) for decent handing. 
Caster should be maxed if you bought symmetrical poly bushings, because the 
most you can get is about -2.6 degrees. Offset poly bushings in the upper 
front a-arms will give around -4.2. Adding offset bushings also in the lower 
a-arms can increase caster to -6 and trimming the upper ball joint carrier 
on one side can give -1 more degree. I run -4.6 and others run -5 or above, 
for much more high speed stability. Corvettes run up to -7 degrees, but those 
wimps also have power steering; more caster = heavier low speed steering so 
you sort of try it and see what you prefer. My 5'4" wife likes our 
Pantera's camber at -4.2 degrees. 
In the back, about all thats adjustable is minimal toe-in of 1/16" or so if 
you run poly bushings, a bigger swaybar, 50-or smaller profile tires and 
good shocks. This assumes the standard collapse of the rear suspension pickup 
points which can produce up to 4 degrees of camber inboard, has been 
corrected back to zero somehow. There are several ways. Good luck- J Deryke