marinez Posted August 12, 2016 Author Share Posted August 12, 2016 Thanks. Ugh. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
marinez Posted August 12, 2016 Author Share Posted August 12, 2016 Thanks. Ugh. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
74_5.0L_Z Posted August 12, 2016 Share Posted August 12, 2016 I would start by getting an unmolested crossmember and see if it will bolt up. If not, you may need to visit a frame shop. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NewZed Posted August 13, 2016 Share Posted August 13, 2016 Why not put a tape to it first? If the rails are bent, a stock member won't fit anyway. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RebekahsZ Posted August 13, 2016 Share Posted August 13, 2016 Is that the ride height you plan to drive/scoot the car? Or did somebody steal your wheels and tires? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
marinez Posted August 13, 2016 Author Share Posted August 13, 2016 They shifted it to clear the left hand motor mount. The rack mounts were not moved. Frack. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
marinez Posted August 13, 2016 Author Share Posted August 13, 2016 Correction...I meant to say left hand exhaust, involving the steering shaft. It looks like they cut it and slid it over about an inch and a half. This car has never been hit. No frame damage. Has the koni/Eibach 2" drop coils and struts on all four corners. I'm a 510 guy normally, so this Z isn't a stretch for me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RebekahsZ Posted August 13, 2016 Share Posted August 13, 2016 As a 510 guy, have you ever done your own alignment work? Can you take a tape measure and try to figure out if the toe is set correctly? You should be able to set the toe to zero, then adjust each tie rod to equal length, then fine tune the toe again? A set of Longacre toe plates are $149 if you can't borrow a set. Anyway, as a Z is lowered, it toes out. So, if that picture is taken at static ride height, with the crossmember on the dirt and the LCA angled up all goofy, your tie rods may be too long for that ride height. You have two lock nuts on the right side-you could remove one of them and gain some adjustment range there. If you have two lock nuts on both sides, that could be your problem-they gobble up about 1/2-inch of threads each. Wish you lived next door-we'd have you fixed up in a couple hours. I'm in N. Alabama if you wanna come on by. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
marinez Posted August 13, 2016 Author Share Posted August 13, 2016 No. The issue is the shifted crossmember. What someone did, during their v8 conversion, was to cut the crossmember and shift it to the left to allow clearance for the steering shaft. They didn't, however, realize that this would affect lock to lock steering. I will have to shorten the left hand tie rod to compensate. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Leon Posted August 13, 2016 Share Posted August 13, 2016 (edited) Or just install a good crossmember...? Edited August 13, 2016 by Leon Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
74_5.0L_Z Posted August 13, 2016 Share Posted August 13, 2016 (edited) Replace the crossmember and get the suspension geometry correct. If the steering shaft hits the exhaust, modify the steering shaft. The addition of an extra u-joint and constraint is well documented on this site. If you just modify the tie rods, you will have bump steer issues. The car will toe in on bump on one side and toe out in bump on the other side. Every time you hit a bump with both front tires, the car will try to turn. Take the time and fix it right. I have a stock front crossmember that you can have for the cost of shipping. Edited August 13, 2016 by 74_5.0L_Z Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
marinez Posted August 13, 2016 Author Share Posted August 13, 2016 Where are you shipping from Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NewZed Posted August 13, 2016 Share Posted August 13, 2016 You should to be able to find one out on this side of the slag pile. If shipping is huge. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
marinez Posted August 13, 2016 Author Share Posted August 13, 2016 I think I solved it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
marinez Posted August 13, 2016 Author Share Posted August 13, 2016 All figured out. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
marinez Posted August 14, 2016 Author Share Posted August 14, 2016 THANK YOU EVERYONE. SHE WENT OUT FOR HER FIRST DRIVE IN FIFTEEN YEARS!!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JoeK Posted August 14, 2016 Share Posted August 14, 2016 And what, pray tell, was the solution? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
marinez Posted August 14, 2016 Author Share Posted August 14, 2016 I took measurements and removed the rack mounts, shifted everything back CORRECTLY, and then tig welded everything back on. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NewZed Posted August 14, 2016 Share Posted August 14, 2016 The next owner is going to be so confused... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
marinez Posted August 14, 2016 Author Share Posted August 14, 2016 All documented. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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