Alignment needed

[rpred]

FFR 3169 is ready to drive (minus paint). I need a front alignment Where are you western suburbites getting alignments done?? Are you happy with the service and price??

Thanks, Rick.

[ItBites]

You should do your own alignment. If you're careful, it will be superior to any you will get from an alignment shop. I do my own and find it much better than the service I've gottne in the past.

There are several resources on the web that have descriptions of home-grown alignment methods. A google search will turn up a few.

I do caster and camber with a calibrated 18" carpenter level and a feeler gage stack and use a little trig to get the angle.I set the toe on the front and rear with strings outboard of the wheels that are parallel to the car centerline and a 12" machinists rule. It usually takes me most of the day to do the alignment, but I find the results infinitely superior.

[Blas]

EXCELLENT

[RichMusson]

Rick
My gosh - I can see you made a lot of modifications and additions.
Dropped the passenger floor, added heater and defroster, added a glove box - I love the grab bar; that's a great idea.
Did you narrow the transmission tunnel? Never thought of that but there is more than enought room for a manual transmission. I am going through the pain of a seat upgrade now - that would really solve the problem.

Wonderful job.

As for an alignment - I had mine done in the City, so I do not know. There is a store I believe it's called 'performance shop' on Ogden west of Naper road on the South side of the street. I believe they modify those rock climbing jeeps & trunks. They would certianlly have alighment issues to deal with, they might tell you of a shop in the area.

I pick-up a Gearhead Magizine. They list some preformance companies - again, a call might get you a company name.

Under Preformance Parts: Shamrock Performance
9103 Ogden Ave. Brookfield, Il 708-387-2500

Under Auto Customizing: Factroy Look
10S 187 Schoger, Unit 56 Naperville, Il. 630-978-0228

Under Auto Sales: D&M Corvette
1804 Ogden Ave. Downers Grove, IL 630-968-0031

Under Performance Auto Repair: Tony's Fast Lane
7940 45th Street. Lyons, IL 708-442-4922

Rick, again it's only a suggestion; maybe a few calls will get you a Compnay. You know if all else fails; go the the Ford Dealer on Ogden and tell him you want their best people on the car. I'll bet they fall all over them selves taking care of you.
I know when I have stopped by the dealer to pick-up a part I get a croud around my car. Alll the salepeople and a number of the mechanics.

Good Luck,
So when do you want to go cruising?

Rich Musson

[Glen]

Rick car looks great!!!!!!!!!!!
I will be needing a 4 wheel alignment after paint, let me know what you find out and I will ask some buddies if they have any ideas - I live in Lockport and work in Naperville.
I have a Midstates, I will call Bob C. and ask him if they have spec's on the car but you might try FFR for yours.
Like Rich said let get'm rollin
Glen

[rpred]

Thanks for the ideas and compliments. Keep them coming!

Rich, I have done alot of mods and additions over the standard issue FFR. Some of which you saw when you came over. The trans tunnel was not narrowed. This is a Mark I chassis so it does not have the backbone in the trans tunnel area. These are the FFR supplied seats which are to small in my opinion. The small seats probably give the illusion of a narrow trans tunnel. The glove box door will be upolstered separately then attached to the face of the dash. There is no room behind the dash to make a functional glove box because of the heater.
Thanks for the list of shops!

Glen, where are you getting your paint done?? Have you heard of shop in Lockport called J&D Enterprises?? A friend of a friend told me to check them out. I will let you know what alignment shop I will use.

Thanks, Rick.

[RichMusson]

Rick
It is a very well put together car. With all that motor it should go like heck. Assuming you can get the tires to hook-up. What size rear end are you running?

Rich

[snake oil]

Rick congrats! It sure does look good!

Can't wait to see it up close and personal!

Looks like we'll have to snake our way out to Naperville again.

[rpred]

Rich,
Rear is an 8.8 Ford narrowed 2 inches per side. 327 gears. Works well during the first two test drives. Traction was not really tested yet. I,m still breaking in the motor.
Arsenio,
I will have a house crawl when the car is done. It will probably be in paint jail for a couple of months.
Rick.

[Ron Peterson]

Rick,
I had my ERA alignment done at the Tuffys auto repair center in Plainfield on route 59 and caton farm. They did the front end and also set the thrust angles for the rear on Jag unit. My car goes down the road straight as an arrow. I believe the cost for the 4 wheel alignment was 69.95 + tax.

Ron

[RichMusson]

Rick
With all that torque - that's probably a nice gear to use. Makes it driveable on the highway.
Mine is quite bit taller(?) shorter(?) I get confused. It's a 372. But then I have an all stock 289 that hits on 5 cylinders - as long as it is not raining- so I need the extra help getting it moving.

Will it really take that long to paint? When do you think you will be on the road?

Rich

[rpred]

Rich, I,m planning to start taking the car around for estimates toward the end of this month. I'm hoping it won't take that long for body and paint but you know how body shops can be. Maybe I can get the shop to agree to a latest completion date?? I don't want a rush job though.
Rick.

[got snake?]

GO RICKY!!! That BB must sound awsome!

sid

[RichMusson]

Rick,
You are 100% right. No matter what you have done on the build the paint job is what everyone remembers. You should take your time and be happy with the shop. I am not sure who in the area really has experience with Cobras.
I do not know anything about the shop that Ron Peterson chose but his car pictures look to be drop dead gorgeous.

What color combination are you going with?

By the way - you narrowed both sides 2" ? What size tires are you running? Your car is really going to heck at the drag strip.
I can not wait to see it run.

Rich

[rpred]

Rear tires are 275-50-15. Rims are 15x10" with 4.25" back space. I probably could run 295-50-15 but I risk tire rub on the fender flares on hard bumps. I didn't want to worry every bump so I went the safe route. For drag racing I really need to get some Drag radials if I plan to achieve any real traction with this beast.
Rick.

[tommyboy]

Take your car to:
Firestone Tire and Service
2888 East New York St.
Aurora, Il 60504
(630) 898-3118

I take my Superformance there. I forget the mechanics name but he came highly recommended. Because I do alot of track events with my car I purchased the lifetime alignment deal they offered (not expensive).
He does good work(I even Tip him). You drive your own car on the rack and they are careful around the car.

[rpred]

Tommyboy, thanks I think I will check them out.
Rick.