Packard Forum Index » V-8 (1955-56)

Gents,

Having the frame resting on the suspension made all the difference in the world! The fender to frame holes align properly and both fenders are happily back on the Carib.
Thank you all for all the suggestions to get my project back on track.

I am now noticing the front wheels/tires have a negative camber attitude that will need to be corrected before I go much further. The Service manual describes the J-4691 adjustment tool to adjust the eccentric bushing, is there a modern day equivalent? Any tips on performing the camber adjustment?

Thanks in advance.
Robert.

Kip, glad you have that problem resolved. Do you have the bumper and all the front end back on the car yet? I don't think a camber/caster adjustment can be accurate until the car is complete. The adjustment tool is merely a large crowfoot, but you need to be on an alignment machine to do it accurately. Hunt up a front-end shop that has been around for a good while and talk to the alignment person. I had one of them tell me they could tell right away the number of shims needed. He just gave me a blank look when I said there are no shims and no place to put them. I looked for another shop. It may take a while, but you will find one.

Randy,
Thanks and great advice as always. I do not yet have the rest of the front end attached so I will wait as you suggested until the rest of the weight is back over the front end. I will begin my search for front end alignment shops and look forward to the blank stares ;)

Regards,
Robert.

Kip -

I'm just catching up online, but am glad to hear that things worked out with relative ease - that is, without any drilling, cutting, etc.

Remote diagnosis isn't easy, and I'm not always right, but I always like to give the least drastic measure a chance. In this case, the car is so long and heavy that the frame will flex, if only temporarily.

As for alignment, if you study the shop manual on this, you'll find that the upper outer pivot bushings are both threaded and eccentric to provide (first) caster and (then) camber adjustment. While the required adjusting tool resembles a crowfoot "socket", it has to be thin enough to fit between the uper control arm and knuckle and sized large enough to fit the hex of the bushing. Problem is, you won't find a crowfoot like that at Sears, and most modern shops will not have one, either.

So, heed Randy's sage advice and shop carefully for a good old alignment shop, but also watch out for any that want to jump in and bend the knuckle to obtain alignment right from the start.