4 wheel alignment, lowered car

[Steve Richards]

Is there any way to do a 4 wheel alignment on a lowered car without taking the front clip off? Or are there any shops around that still do 2 wheel alignments.

Apparently the lazer will not fit under my Xenon air dam according to 2 alignment shops.

[charged92]

I had a four wheel alignment done on my lowered car last week, but that was at a dealership in Mount Bridges, which is 40 minutes west of London. I realize that would be a long drive for an alignment, but they didn't remove the front clip if that is any help.

[007_SuperCoupe]

The front bumper cover takes literally like 5 minutes to remove and another 5 minutes to install. If you have to do that, then do it. I'll probably have the same issue myself.

You have to take each turn signal off, then behind them is a bolt and then the other bolts (3-4 on each side depending on how many are in the fender well) are easy to get to to remove the bumper. Two of them are where the bumper cover runs parallel to the ground below the fender, and the other 1-2 are in the lip of the fender itself. Very easy to take off and install. An extra set of hands may help since the bumper is bulky. Other than that it's easy. I know, I've put 3 new bumpers on my SC in the last year.

[tbirdsc357]

http://www.wheelandtirezone.com/performance.asp

Wheel & Tire Zone (Mississauga)
1116 Mid-Way Blvd, Unit #9

Tel: 905-461-1577
Tel: 905-624-1577

[SeanMatteson]

Don't the lasers mount outside the wheel? How is the front clip even getting in the way?

I've had a 4-wheel alignment done on my SC twice since initially lowering the car without any problems concerning the path of the lasers. It was done at Eastgate Ford in Hamilton both times.

How's that beast running anyway, Steve? ...Long time no speak. We need to get together and catch up, pal! I'm glad to hear that it's back on the road again.

Regards,

Sean

[Steve Richards]

"Don't the lasers mount outside the wheel? How is the front clip even getting in the way?

I've had a 4-wheel alignment done on my SC twice since initially lowering the car without any problems concerning the path of the lasers. It was done at Eastgate Ford in Hamilton both times."

The lasers mount to the wheels and the head of the laser in the front extends forward in front of the tire for about a foot and is supposed to pass under the front clip to beam the other wheel, then another beam goes to the back wheels, then a beam goes across behind the rear wheels. My Xenon clip gives very little clearance in the front (3 to 4 inches?). In fact it is getting scraped every time I park in my driveway, go over train tracks or speed bumps, climbing ramps etc.

The car runs better with my latest file, more km in the break-in, and a new tach. Well at least the tach is registering more reasonable numbers - I don't think it sends a signal back to the PCM. The idle is still rough and I hope will be corrected when I increase the fuel pressure and adjust the idle screw on the throttlebody. I have no vacuum leaks as best I can tell, she runs much cooler with Steve N's double IC, and the non-locking high stall torque converter takes a while to get used to. I am getting a whirring sound in the front end which is either the blower or alternator. The power is not as I had expected - surprise surprise - and she certainly slurps a lot of gas. At least she's running. I was looking a 4 piston brembos but I don't think I have the clearance with stock rims. A/C works, cruise does not.

Annie runs well now.

I have not decided what to do with Annie2 - body is solid, starter is shot. At least I replaced the badging that was stolen from Annie, the seats are in great shape, and I should be able to salvage a lot of parts. I would prefer to store Annie2 intact incase anything happens to the other two.

Let me know when you are available. I can drop by on my way from Kitchener.

[tbirdsc357]

The power is not as I had expected

Is it faster than you expected? If not....might just need a good tune :confused:

[Steve Richards]

I do not think its the tuning. It actually felt quicker with the original engine however a lot has changed since then so I do not have a good basis for comparison. My daily driver is quicker than what I had before. Stiffer suspension. Headers. Higher stall torque converter. Wide ratio gear set in a rebult transmission. The power band moved up so the wheels do not break loose as much at lower rpm but accelerates harder at higher rpm where I don't need the power. Fear of breaking it results in more cautious driving.

At some point, I will have to take it to the track or dyno to find out but I still have some issues to work out before hand.

[tbirdsc357]

Ahhh....I actually have simillar conditions with the AR, the power really kicks in at the higher RPM, and as you said, the tires don't break loose as before. I have the stock converter in my car, might need to change that.

I haven't seen any pics of your car completed, last I saw was the ones when it was being painted, if you have some....post em, I'm sure some of the guys, including myself, would love to see the car.

Maybe we should see if Dave can make it up here for a tuning session. I know he's pretty busy but if you need a tune, and I believe Sean would like one also, I need one.....thats 3 right there.

[SeanMatteson]

Maybe we should see if Dave can make it up here for a tuning session. I know he's pretty busy but if you need a tune, and I believe Sean would like one also, I need one.....thats 3 right there.

Provided we could work out a date where I'm actually available (and I would try my best to make myself available), then I am definitely in! ...I really need to get Dave to play with it on the dyno where we can gather good data in a safe environment. ...Tuning on the street/highway is just not at all easy when you hit 120 km/h that quickly.

My car has been running great, but I'd still prefer to push it hard on a dyno with full data logging for the first time, rather than at the track or on the street without data logging.

I'm sure having Dave actually work your car over on the dyno would help, Steve. Actually, that goes for both Steves. ;)

Cheers,

Sean

[tbirdsc357]

I guess it depends on Dave's schedule and if there's enough interest to make it worth while for him to make the trip.

Hopefully he'll see this .....

[tbirdsc357]

Spoke to Dave last night.....seems that if he is going to make a trip up here it won't be before the shootout.

[ALS35]

Try Appleton Motors at Derry and Airport roads. He has a Bean alignment rack that doesn't shoot lasers all around the car. He's been looking after the tough jobs on my cars for years and is very good and honest.
Alan

[Greg Coleman]

October would be nice.:rolleyes: