Hot Rods I took the 56 chrysler in for a front alignment this morning

Brizo, I don't understand why you can't do an estimate on an old car, IF you know what you are doing, parts are either worn out or not....we should be able to see that on an old or new car. I would certainly give the disclaimer that there may be exerts charges if something dosen't come apart due to age, however in my experience you fight more with a five year old Chevy pickup then most old cars.


Sent from my iPhone using The H.A.M.B. mobile app

 

tb33anda 3rd, its been a real mild winter here in the 60 and 70s here. Been here 18 years and never seen weather like this during the winter, still some cold nights. I would like to get a total front end kit but its just not in the budget right now. Got to do some figuring what to do. Thanks Bruce.

 

Thanks tfeverfred, I do have a shop manual.I didn't even think of looking in it DUH.lol.Thanks Bruce.

 

Thanks Mr48 chevy.I have a Kanter mag. Seems like it would be cheaper to get the total front kit than by the piece.Thanks Bruce.

 

tfeverfred, I don't mind paying for the alignment, just tell me what it needed.Bruce.

 

Hey I am just a simple guy, but I am afraid I just don't agree with you.Bruce.

 

Flat six six.I am sure there are some parts that need replacing. I did have it up on jack stands. Now the king pins did seem tight and took grease.There were some 20 grease fitting on the front end. Now I did notice the tie rod ends rubber bushing were bad even though they took grease. In fact every fitting did take grease but I under stand they still may be wore out. The in side of the tires seem to be wearing and the tires are in real GOOD shape { thats why i thought the toe in and out might need looking at}and when I go over a set for tracks I it does feel a little loose. She does still go down the road pretty nice though. Guess I will have another good shop who works on tractor trailer and tractors look at it and I am sure they will tell me what it needs..Thanks for the information. Bruce.

 

I found a arm bushings for 50 bucks at advance for my old '59 Chrysler, fixed her...

 

Flat six fix .I will keep you updated. I do that with all my threads. It might take me a little while but I always let you guys know how I make out.Thanks Bruce.

 

Bruce, when I got my 35 Chevy STD with a Mustang ll front end and a Corvette rear together if I took my hands off the steering wheel the car would make a right turn. I mistakenly took it to NTB for an alignment. What a waste of time. They had no idea what to do. Naturally there is no alignment data for this type of set up.
Fortunately in the Louisville area there is a small shop with no rack or computers that has been doing alignments forever. When I got there the shop owner asked to drive the car so he would know what he's up against. He made all the necessary adjustments, charged me $29 and I left with a car that tracked perfectly straight. This was about twenty years ago but the same owner and shop is still in business. I met the owner at last years NSRA Nats and he told me he only works 3-4 days a week right now. Those of us in the Louisville area are spoiled as we actually have someone who can still work on our old cars and do it right. Don't know what we'll do once he fully retires. If anyone reading this and is interested on the shop location send me a PM.

Gary

 

Bushings !
Asked and answered

 

Claymart, like I said the Chrysler had some 20 grease fittings and I greased them all.Good thing I have a bucket grease gun.LOL.Bruce.

 

i have nothing helpful to add to this discussion , just wanted to get in before.....

 

Rush, I do know a shop like that its a little out of town and I should of gone there 1st.We get all our tires from him and step son always take his truck to get worked on there.I have my front ends done there before, just my fault I didn't go there 1st.Thanks Bruce.

 

Sunbeam, I did that when I checked the king pins.I will do it again and this time check the upper and lower control bushing.Thanks for the tip.Bruce.

 

There are some things you can do on the ground, and up on at least one jackstand.

Tie-rod ends: One person working the steering wheel, another on their back or belly watching the ends while it's planted all four on the ground - any visible motion is too much motion.

Same with kingpins, but on a jackstand (I'm guessing, unfamiliar with Chrysler fronts of that era): Lower arm resting on stand - get a pry bar (with tire off) and work the hub/spindle with it. Again, any sign of motion in the kingpin area is too much motion.

Ball-joint front ends are a different story: Some upper balljoints on some GM brands can have as much as 1/4" movement up or down & be OK - but that's later stuff and I have no clue what your machine has.

 

For old cars, go to the oldest shop around. Agree with the truck shop thing too. I have never aligned a '56 Chrysler but I can see it needing some parts and it has to be shaken down the old fashioned way. I aligned my Ford (day of my heart attack) and borrowed a friends rack in his shop. Anyone today would not know where to begin aligning it.

 

Fewer and fewer shops consider this to be a "value-added" ***et in their employees.

 

did anyone save the pics from this post?

http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/threads/precise-alignment-with-a-digital-level.413853/

 

Face it, these cars we love so much have OLD technology. You pretty much need to work on them yourself or find an old-school shop that can do it—and those shops are getting rare. If you’re not familiar with your local shops, finding one will be a trail and error process. $50 per trial is not unreasonable. As others have said, focus on independents, not chains. The guys who know this stuff gravitate toward employment at independents.

I’m lucky in this regard. Decades ago I worked in a service station and got to know the young guys at our vendors and compe***ors. A lot of those guys—the good ones—went on to own those businesses. Including my brother. Today they are the “enablers” of my old-car addiction.

 

Bruce before you get your From Kanter check out Other Places
Like NAPA or any other Place you have around you.!
a friend of mine was going to Get the Parts from Kanter
and called NAPA & got them a lot Cheaper

Just my 3.5 cents

 

Thanks a50merc, got a Napa store right in town.Bruce.

 

I just looked at Rock Auto... no front end parts for the '56 Chrysler. I checked PST and they have zilch. Does the HAMB have an old Mopar sub forum?

 

It doesn't but the Forwardlook.net forums would be a good resource for this.

56 was the last of the "old" in a lot of ways for Chrysler. A huge amount of things changed in 57 and the engineering was the basis for Chrysler corp cars well into the 70's.

 

There are some kits on ebay in the $500 to $600 range Napa parts are way above that.

 

FIX YOUR SELF

 

RMT. Agreed!Bruce.

 

Rcraft, I hope that's not a slam.My stepson is coming over tomorrow and work the steering wheel while I go under the old girl and check for any or everthing that might be loose.Bruce.

 

I've run into problems where they won't even look at my cars, since they are over 20 years old....they just don't want to mess with them, shaking their heads.........one guy told me he had NEVER opened a hood on a 25+ year old car, and he was the lead mechanic...times change, and I admit, I can't work on my wife's ''new'' car either...so I guess it balances out sorta.............I have learned, that if I want my old cars fixed properly and with correct methods...I really need to do it myself.

These old cars are not really in the mainstream anymore, and it's mostly old skills with a lot of labor....I kind of resolve myself to either ''learn'' to do it myself, and keep a good supply of repair manuals on hand for each of my cars....because more than likely, if I drive to any of the repair shops around my area, they won't even know how to fix it, and will recommend me to someone else, who won't know...I've had that happen couple times....the old school ways of mechanical skills is really becoming a lost art in the modern world...I would just buy the bushings and whatever else is needed, and do repairs myself....at least with my decades-old cars....otherwise, it ain't gonna get fixed.