roger ...
we're talking tr6 here right? it seems my 78 spit also has a slight
'kink' in the frame. it's kinked at the right-rear shock tower base
where the shock tower is bolted to the frame. it also happens to be
the spot where the frame is 'notched' to allow the tailpipe to clear
the frame. it looks to me like the DPO smacked the curb or ran over
something fairly large at speed. there is also some right rear wheel
wobble i'm assuming is associated with the event. it really bothered
me at the start, but i figure a good frame guy can fix it without too
much trouble. what is the likelyhood that the wishbone parts or other
front suspension parts are bent? is there a way to test things like
the sway bar or the steering rack?
-- michael - wanting my spit to run true ....
'78 spitfire
On Sun, 9 Feb 1997 rgb@exact.com wrote:
> >>NOTE: if there is anything bent in the shock tower region, you'll have
> >> problems installing the front ones.
>
> >Could you please elaborate on this last note - what does it mean? I suppose
> >that the shock tower region is the rear end of the car - or front? And what
>
> I have one car with front frame damage, the shock tower is "crooked"
> slightly, I've seen these on several cars, the rubber bushings have enough
> play to "bend", the nylatron doesn't. The correct answer is to have
> the frame straightened/fixed. This won't be a problem on most cars,
> but its worth looking. Any hit car will have:
>
> 1. broken spot welds at the front valance to inside fender joint
> (no one fixes these as they don't show from outside, its that last
> 12" that you can see under the hood near the spoiler)
>
> 2. The frame will spring just aft of the shock tower mounts, I call
> this the S portion of the frame. The frame was built out of flat
> steel, when the car is hit, this buckles, any frame machine will
> pull it out, but leave wrinkles on the lower surface of the frame.
> Look rear of the front wheels, just rear of the rear lower wishbone
> mount.
>
> (don't feel bad, about 1/3 of the cars have "pre-bent" frames)
>
>
> >> The rear nylatron kit needs
> >> the non-cut washers drilled out one size, try all on the bolt BEFORE
> >> starting..
>
> TRF or Good Parts' nylatron kit comes with various shim washers for
> the rear bushings. This is great to adjust for the varying width of
> the aluminum hinges. Just slide them all on the hip of the bolt BEFORE
> you attempt to use them and drill any he missed... I was using the BFH
> when I realized some of the washer holes were too small.
>
>
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