Alignment help please!
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Tuned
Joined: Sep 2015
Posts: 482
Likes: 51
From: Lincoln, Nebraska
Alignment help please!
Help please! This is a 72 2wd body on a 72 4x4 highboy chassis stock differentials and springs. I got the bed bolted on as straight as possible within a 1/16” side to side, no shims between bed and frame, and I’m under the understanding that I align front end to bed.
Cab is on DC rubber bushings. I remember reading something about their including some extra washers for 70-72. On passenger side, cab is higher than bed and bed is slightly proud of cab. On drivers side, cab is slightly under bed and cab sits proud of bed.
I know the bushings can be crushed a little bit to bring them down, washers can be added,etc. Should I be shaving down the cab mount rubber. I have all body bolts loose until I have a better alignment. I’d like to dial in alignment so it’s perfect as possible.
dropbox pictures:
https://www.dropbox.com/sc/q81p2xth4...w-rA64isNePw-a
I thought a number of the members on this forum might have been down this road before. Thanks for any help and for your experience!
Sam Lincoln NE
Cab is on DC rubber bushings. I remember reading something about their including some extra washers for 70-72. On passenger side, cab is higher than bed and bed is slightly proud of cab. On drivers side, cab is slightly under bed and cab sits proud of bed.
I know the bushings can be crushed a little bit to bring them down, washers can be added,etc. Should I be shaving down the cab mount rubber. I have all body bolts loose until I have a better alignment. I’d like to dial in alignment so it’s perfect as possible.
dropbox pictures:
https://www.dropbox.com/sc/q81p2xth4...w-rA64isNePw-a
I thought a number of the members on this forum might have been down this road before. Thanks for any help and for your experience!
Sam Lincoln NE
Lead Driver
Joined: Jul 2017
Posts: 9,545
Likes: 1,156
From: San Jose, CA
I always thought that in this situation, if it was more than say 1/4" off, that it would be better to shim the bed than the cab. Not that Ford didn't shim the cabs often, and my '79 had multiple thin shims on the right front and right second mounts. But those only totaled maybe 1/8" at the most.
So not sure of an answer for you, but interested to hear what the experts say.
Paul
So not sure of an answer for you, but interested to hear what the experts say.
Paul
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Jan 2014
Posts: 1,946
Likes: 118
The cab mount rubber pads have tubular spacers that limit the crush of the pads. If you want to drop the cab corner you will have to shave the tube. To lift, you will have to add spacers or washers. It doesn’t look too bad and you might be surprised how much difference a washer or so, will make. Trial and error...you can always take them out. Just lift the cab or bed with a pry bar or jack and see how it looks.
Thread Starter
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Tuned
Joined: Sep 2015
Posts: 482
Likes: 51
From: Lincoln, Nebraska
Thanks resonateur! I didn’t think of this until now.
I had drilled out the 4x4 dimples for the rear mounts but hadn’t put crush spacers in until yesterday. There is a cavity between the rear cab floor and underside.
Thanks 1tonbasecamp! I loosened the front two bed bolts and jacked the bed up 1/4” and it lined up. The bed had been wrestled around in a past life with a camper bolted on the top of the bed, so I’m dealing with a little distortment. It seems as though this alignment session is getting components to hinge up or down. My OCD is definitely firing up as I get the front fenders on then adding the bump trim.
I had drilled out the 4x4 dimples for the rear mounts but hadn’t put crush spacers in until yesterday. There is a cavity between the rear cab floor and underside.
The cab mount rubber pads have tubular spacers that limit the crush of the pads. If you want to drop the cab corner you will have to shave the tube. To lift, you will have to add spacers or washers. It doesn’t look too bad and you might be surprised how much difference a washer or so, will make. Trial and error...you can always take them out. Just lift the cab or bed with a pry bar or jack and see how it looks.
Thanks 1tonbasecamp! I loosened the front two bed bolts and jacked the bed up 1/4” and it lined up. The bed had been wrestled around in a past life with a camper bolted on the top of the bed, so I’m dealing with a little distortment. It seems as though this alignment session is getting components to hinge up or down. My OCD is definitely firing up as I get the front fenders on then adding the bump trim.
I always thought that in this situation, if it was more than say 1/4" off, that it would be better to shim the bed than the cab. Not that Ford didn't shim the cabs often, and my '79 had multiple thin shims on the right front and right second mounts. But those only totaled maybe 1/8" at the most.
So not sure of an answer for you, but interested to hear what the experts say.
Paul
So not sure of an answer for you, but interested to hear what the experts say.
Paul
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