Alignment
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Dec 2016
Posts: 1,255
Likes: 698
What makes wheel alignment difficult as compared to modern cars/trucks is that in order to adjust wheel camber, you have to bend the I-beams. Considering the primitive tools used to do it, it's really pretty simple. Considering the methods though, most home shops wouldn't be able to do it. Heck, most wheel alignment shops can't do it.
Laughing Gas
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 1,062
Likes: 78
From: Edmonton, Alberta
Waaaaaaaaaay back in about 2011-2012, a fellow slick owner in GA posted on the H.A.M.B. about having his truck lowered/aligned by G&S Auto Muffler in Marietta, GA. Not sure how far that is from you, as your profile only lists the state your in,......but if the distance is tolerable might be worth checking to see if they're still around.
Alternatively, look for a shop closer to home that's been around forever, and has the required equipment to bend the beams.
HTH
James
Alternatively, look for a shop closer to home that's been around forever, and has the required equipment to bend the beams.
HTH
James
Logistics Pro
Joined: May 2015
Posts: 4,462
Likes: 951
From: Tri Cities, TN
Alignment
If you go to a shop print this and take it with you because 99% of the tech's have never seen a twin I beam suspension. Also make some blocks to take because it's guaranteed they won't have any.
Front Wheel Alignment Specifications - FORDification.com
Lead Driver
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 5,629
Likes: 957
From: Near Yosemite CA
In all of the 34+ years I've owned Ford trucks, I have yet to have to have the I-beams bent to align one, new king pins, bearings, tie rods, shocks,, all I've ever done was toe-in/out and have never had an issue, now once you raise or lower the front end... different story.
It's fairly simple to do, it's math, measure exactly 1/2 way up your tires, mark front and rear, measure width, frt/rr and mark, measure distance between marks frt and rr, if my memory serves me correctly, I believe it's 1/8".
The only old Ford I have taken for an alignment was my 77 F150 4x4 SB after I changed the front springs and C-bushings, and it was spot on, the guy felt bad charging me for checking it.
It's fairly simple to do, it's math, measure exactly 1/2 way up your tires, mark front and rear, measure width, frt/rr and mark, measure distance between marks frt and rr, if my memory serves me correctly, I believe it's 1/8".
The only old Ford I have taken for an alignment was my 77 F150 4x4 SB after I changed the front springs and C-bushings, and it was spot on, the guy felt bad charging me for checking it.
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Dec 2016
Posts: 1,255
Likes: 698
Best bet is to find a shop that works on larger trucks and go from there. Luckily for me there's a couple of old school shops around here that can still do things the right way. After I rebuilt my front end I took it for an alignment. They most certainly needed to bend the beams. I am currently doing the '75 front end swap and will be heading back to same place again when done. I agree that it takes a lot to throw things out of whack but in 50+ yrs we really have no clue what these trucks have been put thru.
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Jun 2019
Posts: 1,898
Likes: 234
From: Southern California
When I bought my truck it drove pretty straight, but everything was worn out so I rebuilt the front end; springs, kings, shocks, and bushings, and it drove like a dog turd.
I went to nearly every alignment shop in San Diego and got no help but a toe set and a confirmation that my caster was way out, and my ride height was proper. Finally found a guy at a specialty shop that spoke Ford. He gave me about ( degrees of caster, got the camber in, and set the toe. It was VERY expensive, but I can go down the highway at 90 with no hands. Worth every penny.
I went to nearly every alignment shop in San Diego and got no help but a toe set and a confirmation that my caster was way out, and my ride height was proper. Finally found a guy at a specialty shop that spoke Ford. He gave me about ( degrees of caster, got the camber in, and set the toe. It was VERY expensive, but I can go down the highway at 90 with no hands. Worth every penny.
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Logistics Pro
Joined: May 2015
Posts: 4,462
Likes: 951
From: Tri Cities, TN
Just for reference my truck got 1979 I beams, spindles and radius arms with all new kingpins and bushings. For $43 at the shop they set the toe and centered the steering wheel loosened and retorqued the I beam pivot bolts at ride height. Without bending anything it was, caster 4.17 left, 4.10 right, camber .88 left, .48 right, well within Fords specs. I had them set the toe at 1/16 because of the radial tires instead of the original bias type. If you run radial tires you will have to play with the tire pressure to get it to track. The original tire pressure recommendations don't play well with radials.
Last edited by Crop Duster; Dec 31, 2020 at 08:59 AM. Reason: Fixed bad typing
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Cargo Master
Joined: Jan 2016
Posts: 2,669
Likes: 371
FWIW, some new cars have no way of adjusting camber or caster. The camber and caster on my wife's 2005 volkswagen (per the shop manual) can only be adjusted by shifting the subframe. Obviously, this moves both front tires at the same time. For her car I just adjust the toe and monitor tire wear.
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