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Alignment issue on 1957 Corvette

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jessemartin

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Discussion starter · #1 · (Edited)
Hello,
I noticed on my 57 project car that the passenger wheel sits further forward than the drivers side so much that it rubs the front lower panel when I turn sharp . I took some measurements and it looks like 1- 1/2 inch difference from the drivers side . There is no frame damage and it is a very clean frame. Could it just need an alignment ? Is there any adjustment on the lower control arm to move it back ?

 
#2 ·
#4 ·
I am moderately familiar with the early Corvettes (I have worked on these early front ends for over 60yrs), and I'm thinking SOMETHING is our of whack somewhere. But, I really cannot speculate without having hands and eyes on the car. EVERYTHING should be the same on each side.
 
#5 ·
Tom, do you think its possible that if someone had rebuilt the arms, they could have gotten the shaft on the wrong side? I was always under the impression that that scenario was possible with a trifive. Maybe with a vette also?
 
#6 · (Edited)
C1 Corvettes use the same front suspension and steering as the 54 passenger cars.
I wonder if it's possible to put the knuckle on the wrong sides and move one wheel forward and the other back? Edit: Never mind, the left and right knuckle are the same. :confused:
The wheel base should be 102 inches. Is either side correct? Check the wheel base to see if it frame or body.


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#7 ·
madmike said:

Alignment issue on 1957 Corvette - CorvetteForum - Chevrolet Corvette Forum Discussion

C1 & C2 Corvettes - Alignment issue on 1957 Corvette - I noticed on my 57 project car that the passenger wheel sits further forward than the drivers side so much that it rubs the front lower panel when I turn sharp . I took some measurements and it looks like 1- 1/2 inch difference from the...
www.corvetteforum.com
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Isn't it curious that this post is EXACTLY word for word the same, even with punctuation? Same guy from 2018, just never did investigate it?
 
#11 ·
I had not noticed the age of the question.
But here is what I will add.
The SPINDLES are NOT left and right. They fit either side.
The SPINDLE SUPPORTS (uprights) ARE left and right. So, if one is put on the wrong side, then the other one would also be on the wrong side (UNLESS, 2 rights or 2 lefts were used).
There are TWO versions of uprights: 49-52 pass car and 53-62 Corvette, and 53-54 pass car.
What makes the 53-54 pass car different is the position of the knuckle for the kingpin. The 53-4 pass car upright has the knuckle about 1in higher on the upright, which results in lowering the front end of 53-54 pass cars. SOME early day Corvette racers replaced the uprights on their Corvettes with 53-4 pass car uprights to lower the frontend, thus, lowering the center of gravity.

Here is a comparison of the 2 versions of uprights. The one with the knuckle higher up on the upright is the 53-4 pass car version. Both styles are 100% interchangeable. Bolt-on swap. BUUUUUUUUUUUUUT, if a car had one style on one side and the other style on the other side, the car would sit cockeyed.
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Gordon58
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