'59 Lark alignment specs?

[Relark]

Would anyone have alignment specs for a '59 Lark? I thought it would be in the CD of the shop manual, but couldn't find it. It's going in tomorrow AM. I have the specs for a '55 w/259 eng., model unknown, probably get me in the ballpark. Any help tonight or early AM would be greatly appreciated.

Art Rigsby

[BobPalma]

Toe-In: 1/16" to 1/8"

Caster: (-1) degree to (-2 1/2) degrees (not more than 3/4 degree variation between wheels)

Camber: (0) degrees to (+1) degree (1/2 degree more camber favored on drivers side)

The above specs are directly from the 1959-1960 Shop Manual.

Today, many favor zero (or closer to 0) toe-in with radial tires, Art.

(The specs in the front of the Shop Manual are arranged alphabetically, so Front Suspension is between Frame and Gasoline, not back with Suspension, Steering, Springs, etc., where you might expect them to be.) BP

[N8N]

they are in the shop manual, but in the front specifications pages, not the suspension section. They're also on my web site hidden in the interchange list somewhere.

nate

[Relark]

Thanks Bob and Nate. The specs I had were the same, including toe-in, toe-out on turns, and kingpin angle, which I guess is a starting point. The shop has been in business over 40 years with many of the original people. Glad they're still around.

Art Rigsby

[StudeRich]

We had a Shop in So. Cal set up my son Dave's '57 Commander, and he had owned the shop forever, what he did was put some sand bags on the Driver's floor to simulate the Driver's weight after asking about how much!
When finished, that car drove like new even with a few marginal parts needing replacement soon.

[r1lark]

FWIW, just got done doing the front end alignment on my '54 sedan. Per a prior post by PackardV8, I did the weight on the driver's side as Rich suggested. Although I don't have the numbers handy, I checked it with and without the weight and it DOES make a difference.

As bob Palma notes, the camber for radials need to be more towards zero, or even slightly negative. Mine is set to -1/2 degree camber and drives pretty well, but I will have to watch the tire wear and adjust back a little if required.

[Relark]

Front end checked out tight, EXCEPT pass. side upper control arm pin and bushing. New parts on the way from AZ. Any tips on the install? Tech said just jack up the lower arm to take off the tension, should come right out safely. I'll ask him about sitting in the car during the alignment.

Thanks, Art Rigsby