What are OEM alignment specs?... 72 Comet I-6

Discussion in 'Technical' started by whisky, Sep 17, 2009.

  1. whisky

    whisky Whisky

    Joined:
    Nov 26, 2007
    Messages:
    394
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    65
    Location:
    Vancouver, BC
    Vehicle:
    72 Comet I-6, 72 Comet V-8
    After last weekend at Mission Raceway my alignment seems to have gotten worse... it's too unstable to race on the track, but the 80 MPH I was doing on the highway has worn one front tire with a "feather edge" pattern...

    Can anyone point me to the original toe & caster specs on a 1972 Comet with a six?

    Tires are new, suspension is tight, no wiggles or clunks in tires or front suspension. One tire is alternately feather edged back and forth on the inside. I can feel the "toe" wobbling between the tires as I drive on uneven roads (standard steering).

    Steering wheel is centered, I had a mechanic do a "loose" alignment with the new tires last year and it was a noticeable improvement to reduce the wandering... but now it's wearing tires and starting to wander again.

    Hope this info helps... or someone can point me to a thread with the orig. specs. I'm planning on doing a home alignment with white paint stripe and a laser level. Anybody done that before?

    Thanks!
    Whisky
     
    whisky, Sep 17, 2009
    #1
  2. maverick75

    maverick75 Gotta Love Mavs!

    Joined:
    Mar 31, 2005
    Messages:
    9,014
    Likes Received:
    14
    Trophy Points:
    172
    Location:
    Riverside, California
    Vehicle:
    The mav is gone but i'm still here!
    My manual sais 1/2 deg negative for caster,and 1/4 deg positive for camber. 1/16 to 3/8 in toe in.
     
    maverick75, Sep 17, 2009
    #2
  3. whisky

    whisky Whisky

    Joined:
    Nov 26, 2007
    Messages:
    394
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    65
    Location:
    Vancouver, BC
    Vehicle:
    72 Comet I-6, 72 Comet V-8
    Thank you!... wow, those are smaller than I thought they'd be...
     
    whisky, Sep 18, 2009
    #3
  4. rthomas771

    rthomas771 Member

    Joined:
    Jan 22, 2008
    Messages:
    8,072
    Likes Received:
    962
    Trophy Points:
    498
    Garage:
    1
    Location:
    GA
    Vehicle:
    '74 Maverick 302 5-Speed.'60 Falcon V8. '63.5 Falcon HT
    If you're still running Polyglas tires then use factory specifications. Radial tires need different specs
     
    rthomas771, Sep 18, 2009
    #4
  5. whisky

    whisky Whisky

    Joined:
    Nov 26, 2007
    Messages:
    394
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    65
    Location:
    Vancouver, BC
    Vehicle:
    72 Comet I-6, 72 Comet V-8
    OK.. that complicates things. I have new radials but one is getting damaged.

    I measured front toe and it seems correct. Used a laser level to line up rear & front tires and the steering wheel is centered. Can't find a bad measurement, so I can't adjust anything.

    Guess I'll have to save up and pay $$ for another useless alignment. :huh:
     
    whisky, Sep 19, 2009
    #5
  6. Blown 5.0

    Blown 5.0 Hooked on BOOST MEMBER

    Joined:
    Feb 16, 2004
    Messages:
    784
    Likes Received:
    7
    Trophy Points:
    0
    Location:
    MS.
    Vehicle:
    1974 Maverick
    Instead of paying someone to do a "by the book" alignment, Why not get one of these and do it yourself. http://www.summitracing.com/parts/REB-320-8920/
    I used this and with the help of one of my dirt track racing buddies and a lot of reading, I have my Maverick driving better than when it was new. And like someone else said the book settings are for old school tires and roads. Here are my settings:
    Left Camber 0 degrees left caster1/2 positive
    Right Camber1/2 Positive Right Caster 1/4 Positive
    Toe 1/4 in
    Its been several years since i did this but i think that on the left camber that this was all the adjustment i had, I think it would have been better to have been like the right side. Anyway hope this helps.
     
    Last edited: Sep 19, 2009
    Blown 5.0, Sep 19, 2009
    #6

Share This Page