As some have may have seen from my prior posts I own a 68 camaro which has a noticable lean on the drivers side..(approx 1/2 inch)...I put the car up on stands on the fram rails just infront of the front leaf mounts..I measure from the ground to the rear frame in different locations and get even measurements...But if I measure from the floor to the top fender opening I am short 1" on the drivers side...If I measure from the fender lip to the center of the wheel I have 17 1/2" on the drivers side and 18 1/8 on the passengers side...Even with the rear supported on jack stands the car still looks like its leaning on the drivers side..My body man looked at it quickly and stated that the lines are to straight all around the car for there to be any twisting on the frame...Almost seems like there is something binding the rear leaf spring...But the front drivers side has the same lean..I am realy confused any ideas guys..Thanks in advance

If you have the car completely supported on jack stands (frame rails only, not on the axle tubes!) there should be no perceptable lean or inconsistencies in measurements if your body/ frame is straight.

Leaning under these circumstances may indicate a shifted body or a twist/ damage in the frame.

Without seeing your car in person it is difficult to pinpoint exactly what the problem is. It may even be possible that some body panels were replaced with poor reproduction panels (or mixes of manufacturers) which might explain the differences in measurements.

No disrespect intended to your body man, but I would suggest getting a second opinion from another frame/ body shop that also has significant experience with early Camaros and other classic cars. Also may be a good idea to insist on and have him/ them put the car on a frame machine to determine how straight it really is.

Just my .02




------------------
See my '68 RS/ZZ4 at http://www.100megsfree.com/choptop/camaro.html

Hold on, there is a thought brewing here...

Does your car make body or a rattling noise when driven?

Check your body mounts. If they are original and disintegrating they could be causing the body to lean.

Just one more thing to do....

Well I went back out and placed the car completely on jack stands both front and rear...I now have less than 3/8 inch difference..

The has been a trailer queen for the last 2 yrs since a frame off resto......New passengers side quarters, complete rear(were the lights go), front fenders,new floors,new rad suport,Door skins,hood,new poly bushing and complete interior...But still found some odd stuff like missing the front drivers shock and the leaf springs seem original..I am wondering about what you said...Since one quarter is original and the other is not wondering if what I am seeing is panel misalignment on the quarters and tail panel..Since the frame rails sit straight when on jack stands when measured from frame rail to ground I have equal measurements(+ - 1/8 inch) all around the car...I figure The lean is partly to blame on the 30yr old leaf springs...So what do you guys think...Thanks

If the leaf springs are original I would definitely consider replacing them! Metal fatigue has probably set in after years of use/abuse.

My '68 has a slight lean to the drivers side (only noticiable from the rear). I am 99.9% sure that the monoleaf springs I have are originals, are fatigued and are causing my car to lean.

I plan to (hopefully soon)convert mine to multileaf springs when I lower/ makeover the suspension with Hotchkis parts.

Best of luck to you!



------------------
See my '68 RS/ZZ4 at http://www.100megsfree.com/choptop/camaro.html

I've had a 3/4" lean to the drivers side on my car for years. Finally decided it was time for new shocks last week. I've had some Sears steady rider gas shocks in the car for 15 years. (Hey, it only gets driven about 2000 miles a year.) Took out the drivers side and it was dead, no gas pressure at all, passenger side was fine. Put in the new Bilsteins and lo and behold the lean is gone. Check your shocks.

I replaced my springs at the same time I put the old Sears shocks in. 4 out of 5 of the leafs were broken in two right above the axle centerline. The only one not broken was the long one with the front and rear eyes in it. 30 year old springs are most likely junk as well.


------------------
Mark Canning
1969 Indy Pace Car
350/300HP RPO Z11

If your springs ( front and/or rear ) are original or very old, I would suspect them. Shocks don't support the body weight unless they're air shocks. Also, a sag at one end will affect the other end and also diagonally across the car. Try jacking one corner and see the effect on the others.

------------------
Rick Dorion
69 RS Conv,355,M20,4.10's

High pressure gas shocks do provide some support to the rear end of the car. It takes probably 150 lbs of pressure to retract the piston on the Bilstein's I just put in. The old sears ones weren't that bad but they probably take 80 to 100 lbs of force to get the shocks to retract.

------------------
Mark Canning
1969 Indy Pace Car
350/300HP RPO Z11

Thanks for the clarification! I hadn't thought about the high gas pressure. Was thinking about the more traditional fluid damping jobs.When I put the Edelbrock IAS' in my truck, I missed the shock mount and had to compress them. What a job.

------------------
Rick Dorion
69 RS Conv,355,M20,4.10's