[DeTomaso] Alignment

[John Donahue]

Mike:
Thank You ever so much. Good to know. I have 245/45 - 17 fronts - 335/35-17 rears, if that makes a difference.
John
4348
On Dec 14, 2014, at 12:24 PM, MikeLDrew at aol.com wrote:

> 
> In a message dated 12/14/14 11 11 58, demongusta at me.com writes:
> 
> 
>> While on the subject, I was going to take my car to an alignment shop for my front end, but do not know the specs - Camber, castor, toe. Do they know this? Or do I give them the specs? I don't know what they would be. Any help out there?
> 
> >>>Always!
> 
> First of two e-mails....
> 
> Modern alignment machines draw from an amazingly comprehensive database; believe it or not they have Pantera specs pre-loaded.  Attached is a scan from one of the times I had my car aligned.  Pay little attention to the 'before' or 'actual' numbers, and instead look at the 'specified range'  I think those numbers are a good target, generally.
> 
> Stock Panteras will almost never be able to achieve even the minimum amount of desired front caster; while the designers intended them to have as much as 3.3 degrees, stock cars often can't even get 2 degrees due to a manufacturing goof.  There are a variety of solutions to this.  Mine is pretty good now as you can see; this was achieved by removing the front ball joints and having a machinist mill .100" from the back side.  This requires adding .100" in additional spacers on the front side to compensate.  This has the effect of tilting the spindle back, and allows you to achieve the caster you want, which will aid in straight-line stability and returning to center when exiting a turn.  A very worthwhile mod if you have the time and are willing to take the effort, but definitely something that should be done before you have it aligned, if you choose to do it....
> 
> Mike
> <Pantera Alignment Rack specs (Mine).jpg>

-------------- next part --------------
   Mike:

   Thank You ever so much. Good to know. I have 245/45 - 17 fronts -
   335/35-17 rears, if that makes a difference.

   John

   4348
   On Dec 14, 2014, at 12:24 PM, [1]MikeLDrew at aol.com wrote:

     In a message dated 12/14/14 11 11 58, [2]demongusta at me.com writes:

     While on the subject, I was going to take my car to an alignment
     shop for my front end, but do not know the specs - Camber, castor,
     toe. Do they know this? Or do I give them the specs? I don't know
     what they would be. Any help out there?

     >>>Always!
     First of two e-mails....
     Modern alignment machines draw from an amazingly comprehensive
     database; believe it or not they have Pantera specs pre-loaded.
     Attached is a scan from one of the times I had my car aligned.  Pay
     little attention to the 'before' or 'actual' numbers, and instead
     look at the 'specified range'  I think those numbers are a good
     target, generally.
     Stock Panteras will almost never be able to achieve even the minimum
     amount of desired front caster; while the designers intended them to
     have as much as 3.3 degrees, stock cars often can't even get 2
     degrees due to a manufacturing goof.  There are a variety of
     solutions to this.  Mine is pretty good now as you can see; this was
     achieved by removing the front ball joints and having a machinist
     mill .100" from the back side.  This requires adding .100" in
     additional spacers on the front side to compensate.  This has the
     effect of tilting the spindle back, and allows you to achieve the
     caster you want, which will aid in straight-line stability and
     returning to center when exiting a turn.  A very worthwhile mod if
     you have the time and are willing to take the effort, but definitely
     something that should be done before you have it aligned, if you
     choose to do it....
     Mike
     <Pantera Alignment Rack specs (Mine).jpg>

References

   1. mailto:MikeLDrew at aol.com
   2. mailto:demongusta at me.com