Can't seem to get castor/camber angles right

[UKPlymouth]

Bit of a puzzle with this one. I thought there was a default setting as a starting point where when adjusting the upper control arms it was to have the rearmost adjuster pushed in towards the inner wing and the forward adjuster levered out so as to be away from the wing.
However, having done this I still have a degree or so of positive camber ie wheel leaning out.

Have I got my approach wrong?

 

[Hemi Rebel]

Is your ride height adjusted properly? Depending on where torsion bars are set will dictate camber adjustment.

 

[UKPlymouth]

Ok, good point. I'm not sure if it's factory correct, but it's certainly not lowered and there is space above the front tyre before the wheel well is visible. Is there a correct factory ride height?
I know where to measure but not what the correct height should be, thanks.

 

[Hemi Rebel]

Ok, good point. I'm not sure if it's factory correct, but it's certainly not lowered and there is space above the front tyre before the wheel well is visible. Is there a correct factory ride height?
I know where to measure but not what the correct height should be, thanks.

Im sure thereb is. What are we working on?

 

[UKPlymouth]

Sorry, should have made that clearer:icon_lol:
1973 340 Roadrunner
Stock set up
Just poly bushed the k frame isolaters, sway bar and strud rod bushes.

No play in UCA or LCA

Just a bit stuck as I thought I had it in the ball park!

 

[43tutor]

The front suspension should be adjusted in this order.
1. Front suspension height
2. Caster and Camber
3. Toe-in

The front suspension height is measured while the car is sitting on a level floor. The full weight of the car must be resting on all four tires. Make sure the tires are fully inflated. Measure the distance from the bottom side of the torsion bar socket, on the lower control arm, down to the floor. This is dimension A. Next, measure the lowest point on the lower control arm, just under the ball joint, down to the floor. This is dimension B. Dimension A must always be more then dimension B. The proper ride height is when Dimension A is 1 5/8" more then dimension B. The tolerance for this dimension +/- 1/8" for the height but 1/8" side to side difference maximum.

Camber (Left) + 1/4 to +3/4 degree (preferred 1/2 degree)
Camber (Right) 0 to +1/2 degree (preferred 1/4 degree)

Caster - Manual Steering 0 to -1 degree (preferred - 1/4 degree)
Caster - Power Steering +1/4 to + 1 1/4 (preferred + 3/4 degree)

Toe-in should be set to 1/8"

Information is directly from the 1972 Service Manual.

 

[charger360]

nice info!

 

[chargersb71]

The front suspension should be adjusted in this order.
1. Front suspension height
2. Caster and Camber
3. Toe-in

The front suspension height is measured while the car is sitting on a level floor. The full weight of the car must be resting on all four tires. Make sure the tires are fully inflated. Measure the distance from the bottom side of the torsion bar socket, on the lower control arm, down to the floor. This is dimension A. Next, measure the lowest point on the lower control arm, just under the ball joint, down to the floor. This is dimension B. Dimension A must always be more then dimension B. The proper ride height is when Dimension A is 1 5/8" more then dimension B. The tolerance for this dimension +/- 1/8" for the height but 1/8" side to side difference maximum.

Camber (Left) + 1/4 to +3/4 degree (preferred 1/2 degree)
Camber (Right) 0 to +1/2 degree (preferred 1/4 degree)

Caster - Manual Steering 0 to -1 degree (preferred - 1/4 degree)
Caster - Power Steering +1/4 to + 1 1/4 (preferred + 3/4 degree)

Toe-in should be set to 1/8"

Information is directly from the 1972 Service Manual.

Maybe be a stupid question. What if you don't have the engine in the car when you put your newly rebuilt front end back on. Just wait and set the height when you put the engine in are go ahead?

 

[dangina]

Maybe be a stupid question. What if you don't have the engine in the car when you put your newly rebuilt front end back on. Just wait and set the height when you put the engine in are go ahead?

I thought about this as well, shouldn't this be done with the engine in? its alot of weight without it in the engine bay...

 

[43tutor]

You will need the engine and tranny installed in the car. The full weight of the car be resting on all four tires. If you adjust the front suspension without the engine and tranny installed all the angles will change once the full weight is placed on the front suspension. I'm currently working on a complete front end rebuild on my car and I'm waiting until the engine and tranny is installed before making all the final adjustments.