[DeTomaso]   Alignment Specs.....revisited

MikeLDrew at aol.com MikeLDrew at aol.com
Thu Aug 4 21:06:18 EDT 2011


In a message dated 8/4/11 12 30 40, jb841 at cox.net writes:


> "the stock '71 Pantera can be
> adjusted with its stock shim package to give a maximum of -2.6 degrees of
> caster"
> 
> The early cars didn't have adjustable caster.  There weren't any shims.
> 

True.   And unfortunately the chassis was manufacturered incorrectly (or 
arguably, the A-arms were manufacturered incorrectly) so that in practice, it 
was impossible to achieve the factory specified caster measurement.   That's 
why 1972 and later cars were issued with different upper front A-arms, 
which allowed for more caster (although still not enough).

At a minimum, you should mill .100" off the back side of the upper ball 
joints.   This enables the spindle to be tilted rearwards, increasing caster.   
On a '71, that gives you 'almost enough' and on a later car, that gives you 
'barely enough'.

Mike (living for the moment with 'barely enough'; with milled ball joints 
on my '72 I have 3.0 degrees on one side, 3.1 on the other)


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