crooked ERA

[ogasman]

I have a strange question for you. I just bought ERA 002. The previous owner said he recently changed the tire size, and with tight turning there was some mild tire rub. After I purchased the car (of course), I started to investigate the rub. The body of the car is not in line with the chassis. If you sit in the drivers seat, you would need to turn the body a good 3/8 inch clockwise to get it to align. Both the front and back tires are not aligned in the wheel wells. Is this a common problem, or did I get took. I called ERA, and they said some misalignment is common. This seems like a lot out of align to me. ERA also said there was really no way to fit it. The passangers side tire is proud of the fender about 3/8 of an inch, the drivers side is in about the same amount. The tire size is 275x60x15 on the old ERA centerline/halibrand look alikes. The car drives and handles great. I can't see any obvious damage to the frame or suspension. The rear tire combo is out the same amount in the opposite direction, like the body was twisted on the chassis. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

[427Aggie]

First thing I would do is get the specs for an alignment and get one done. Its not uncommon if you look at cars as you drive that many seem to be driving straight but they aren't necessarily facing straight.

Do the alignment first and then see if you have a problem.

Matt

[daltondavid]

I e-mailed that guy about that particular car as it looked like a great buy. He said it had been wrecked and that it was sent back to ERA for repairs. You may want to contact them and see if they have any knowledge of doing a repair on that car. Kind of why I avoided the car. I hope it is something simple and stupid that gets straightened right out for you.

[Excaliber]

Just about every replica I've "measured" has been out of alignment in some respect. One side higher than the other, or the body off to one side in realation to the tires. Wheel well clearance different from one side to the other, etc.

In that respect it IS a "common problem". I hate it! And short of taking the body off and "shimming" here and there it is impossible to make it perfect.

There is a way to measure the frame for straight. Front to rear both sides and them diagonally like an X. The frame is the thing to measure, use a "plumb bob" on a VERY level surface and the front and rear should be the same height. Take your measurments from EXACTLY the same place, front or rear on both sides. The measuements should not be more than 1/8" "out". However, 1/4" or more is common!

I BET your frame IS straight. It's the BODY where it mounts on the frame that is "crooked".

Ernie

[gsharapa]

If you look at the the older Mustangs and Cameros you will also notice they seem off center one side to other in the rear end also.

[82ACAUTOCRAFT]

Get a Kirkham, it will be straight! even more than the real thing!

[Excaliber]

Good point 82A,,,,,,, I bet the original Cobras were NOT that "straight"!

Ernie

[mrvinylman]

I also emailed this guy but was affraid of the high mileage. Hope all works out for you. Its also a shame when you ask club members for help, there is always someone who is going to post some stupid remarks to make you feel worse

[A Snake]

Get an expert opinion from one of the Kirkhams, but if I remember right, the "originals" could be off as much as an inch in length from front to rear of the body.

If I remember my Kirkham "history", they had the Poles scan one side and made the opposite side a mirror to match. They ARE the same on both sides.

Contemporary was supposed to be one of the "good ones" in it's day. Mine was off enough that even with a real expert doing the set-up of the body and chassis, it still wasn't square. Contemporary used an original S/C for their molds and I think ERA did too. That said, it ain't gonna be perfect, no matter what you do. It just shouldn't be off as much as you indicate. Chassis to body fit does sound like the culprit.

Al

[rdorman]

I have seen the car you are refering to in person, however, I did not look at the 'issue' you are refering to. It is however common for the cars to appear to be out of whack. Some manufacturers, like mine, took the molds right off an original car. As CS put it, these cars where beat out by hand under a bridge. There will variences. Looking at the rear of my car, the car looks like it is sitting about an inch low on the drivers side. But if you measure the frame, the car is level. Never measured the tire clearence, but I would imagine that there are similar issues.

Four wheel alignment just to be sure. I guess it would be possible to mount the body so that is was not square but not sure how you would fix it.

275/60 is a very tall tire. A 295/50 may be better for you.

Rick

[Chaplin]

Originally posted by rdorman


Looking at the rear of my car, the car looks like it is sitting about an inch low on the drivers side.

Rick [/b]

That's probably because the springs on that side of the car are fatigued. Have you considered a diet?

[rdorman]

Originally posted by Chaplin


That's probably because the springs on that side of the car are fatigued. Have you considered a diet?

You a funny man!

Rick

[Traveller]

I have ERA #003 and do not have these alignment problems.

Everything sits level and square (at least to my calibrated eye).

That being said, these are still hand built cars and each one will vary.

I used to be an engineer working for McDonnell Douglas on their MD80 final assembly area. The assembly methods of aircraft have changed little 70 years. They are mostly hand built.

If my memory serves, the tolerance on the overall length of an MD80 was 147 ft...... +/- 2 ft.

[CHRIS POTTER]

My Lone Star is off a bit, too. The front wheelwell lips are off about 5/8". I measured the chassis, it's exactly the same on both sides. I will be shimming the body to compensate. As to your ERA, I don't think you can move the body in the direction you want, as I understand it's "bonded" to the frame. If the 4-wheel alignment doesn't clear it up, you may look into having 1/4" milled from the wheels that are too close. Check to see if the wheels have enough material, and check your caliper clearance. Not the coolest thing to do, but it would minimize the uneveness. As Ernie said, these cars are handmade, and are not perfect. Please update us as to what you find.

[daltondavid]

Originally posted by CHRIS POTTER


Check to see if the wheels have enough material, and check your caliper clearance. Not the coolest thing to do, but it would minimize the uneveness. As Ernie said, these cars are handmade, and are not perfect. Please update us as to what you find. [/b]

I would not shave the wheels. to dangerous. and what about someone forgets and rotates the tires...Fix the car properly. I would send it back to ERA as I feel they are more qualified than anyone to gauge and correct this issue. as far as these cars being "Handmade", I would think that would lead to an even better car......

[cobred]

Originally posted by ogasman


I have a strange question for you. I just bought ERA 002. The previous owner said he recently changed the tire size, and with tight turning there was some mild tire rub. After I purchased the car (of course), I started to investigate the rub. The body of the car is not in line with the chassis. If you sit in the drivers seat, you would need to turn the body a good 3/8 inch clockwise to get it to align. Both the front and back tires are not aligned in the wheel wells. Is this a common problem, or did I get took. I called ERA, and they said some misalignment is common. This seems like a lot out of align to me. ERA also said there was really no way to fit it. The passangers side tire is proud of the fender about 3/8 of an inch, the drivers side is in about the same amount. The tire size is 275x60x15 on the old ERA centerline/halibrand look alikes. The car drives and handles great. I can't see any obvious damage to the frame or suspension. The rear tire combo is out the same amount in the opposite direction, like the body was twisted on the chassis. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

[cobred]

I saw this car on EBAY and the first thing I noticed was the front tires looked huge for the wheelwells. Maybe ask the previous owner what size was on it before the change or ask ERA what size the car is designed for . Dont get sick worrying about the 3/8 of an inch, switch to a smaller size tire and enjoy your new car.

[hercf16]

Traveller,

I fly the MD-80. What were you guys thinking?
Rube Goldberg comes to mind. Ya gotta like the
dead battery bus reset porcedure.

RD

[Matt GRX]

Hey,
If the car drives and handles well........sss'allll good!
If you are concerned about the looks , you may want to think about adding spacers behind the Driver front and Passenger rear wheels to move them out to compansate. Be careful of the wheel balancing though. These things can screw things up if not centered on the rotor. Try gluing them in place! Make sure you have adequate stud remaining.
Have you checked to see if your front and rear end have been substantially shimmed on the 2 corners? Do you have an IRS rear end? An alternative to adding spacers is shimming the front driver and rear pass control arms.
I have a 289 Aurora that had been rolled and I had to deal with many of the same problems you are encountering.
Matt GRX

[Turk]

If it is 002, it could be as old as 20 or so years. I am not so sure they were bonding the bodies to the frame then., I thought that is a more recent practice. I may be wrong.

TURK