914 alignment specialist North Texas? Options

[technicalninja]

Looking for recommendations for a shop/technician that is experienced with 914 alignments.

DFW area is preferred.

Any suggestions?

Entire suspension will have been restored with new bushings, no issues but the rear set up looks like experience is very helpful.

[rhodyguy]

Source some extra control arm shims prior to the alignment.

[StarBear]

(IMG:style_emoticons/default/agree.gif)
@clayperrine (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

[ClayPerrine]

Call Mayo Performance in Euless or Zim's Autotechnic in Bedford for alignments. Both have the experience to align a 914 correctly.

If you need to get the car there without driving it, I would be happy to come get it with our truck and trailer.


Clay

[technicalninja]

Call Mayo Performance in Euless or Zim's Autotechnic in Bedford for alignments. Both have the experience to align a 914 correctly.

If you need to get the car there without driving it, I would be happy to come get it with our truck and trailer.


Clay

Wow! Thanks Sir.

I've got access to trailers down here but what an offer.

I can remember when it was "Zim and Mayo".

I'm going to try and align it myself initially, I'm pretty good with a digital level, and griding the car out with string/PVC pipes.
I also use 8' long florescent bulbs as well...
Makes setting toe so much easier!

Those Tangerine Racing adjustable rear trailing arm mounts look like they would make that job easier as well. Wish I had a pair. This car is staying stock but those will be incorporated in the 916 clone I have.

I should be able to get it close myself and I'm hoping to be able to drive to the alignment shop.

I will be robbing extra shims from my organ doner cars (2). I hope to have a varied selection.

Thanks for the recommendation and the transport offer.

Still need to come visit you but the next 8 weeks are my busiest weeks of the year.
I'm still wrenching this evening (and not on 914s (IMG:style_emoticons/default/betty914.jpg))

And I just found the "Betty" 914.
She's so cool she rates her own smilie!
Yep, want to meet her as well...

Thanks again
Rick

[ClayPerrine]

Call Mayo Performance in Euless or Zim's Autotechnic in Bedford for alignments. Both have the experience to align a 914 correctly.

If you need to get the car there without driving it, I would be happy to come get it with our truck and trailer.


Clay

Wow! Thanks Sir.

I've got access to trailers down here but what an offer.

I can remember when it was "Zim and Mayo".

I'm going to try and align it myself initially, I'm pretty good with a digital level, and griding the car out with string/PVC pipes.
I also use 8' long florescent bulbs as well...
Makes setting toe so much easier!

Those Tangerine Racing adjustable rear trailing arm mounts look like they would make that job easier as well. Wish I had a pair. This car is staying stock but those will be incorporated in the 916 clone I have.

I should be able to get it close myself and I'm hoping to be able to drive to the alignment shop.

I will be robbing extra shims from my organ doner cars (2). I hope to have a varied selection.

Thanks for the recommendation and the transport offer.

Still need to come visit you but the next 8 weeks are my busiest weeks of the year.
I'm still wrenching this evening (and not on 914s (IMG:style_emoticons/default/betty914.jpg))

And I just found the "Betty" 914.
She's so cool she rates her own smilie!
Yep, want to meet her as well...

Thanks again
Rick

Rick,
Send me your shop address. I would like to come visit. I have been to Grandbury a lot, so I know my way around.

Clay

[r_towle]

Alrighty, I smell an old trick.

How does having 8 foot fluorescent lightbulbs make setting toe easier

[technicalninja]

You hold it against the sidewalls of the tires and sight alongside the sides of the car.

Much easier to quickly end up with a centered steering wheel without multiple adjustments.

Probably cut time setting toe manually by at least 50% for me.

This is doing this stuff ghetto style.

I'm not on an alignment machine here.

Finding a really flat piece of concrete to do this on helps bigtime.

The shop I rent was my landlords first "playtoy" shop and he went to extra effort during the build to do everything ultra nice.
I have near-perfect floors...

Edit: Storing the 8 ft long fragile glass tube has its challenges.

The florescent tubes that I have checked against my 36" Starrett straight edge have all been ridiculously straight.
Straight enough to fill in for a real straight edge if you don't have one...

[ClayPerrine]

You hold it against the sidewalls of the tires and sight alongside the sides of the car.

Much easier to quickly end up with a centered steering wheel without multiple adjustments.

Probably cut time setting toe manually by at least 50% for me.

This is doing this stuff ghetto style.

I'm not on an alignment machine here.

Finding a really flat piece of concrete to do this on helps bigtime.

The shop I rent was my landlords first "playtoy" shop and he went to extra effort during the build to do everything ultra nice.
I have near-perfect floors...

Edit: Storing the 8 ft long fragile glass tube has its challenges.

The florescent tubes that I have checked against my 36" Starrett straight edge have all been ridiculously straight.
Straight enough to fill in for a real straight edge if you don't have one...

I just use these:

(IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/uploads_offsite/racecarsdirect.com-1143-1687795299.1.jpg)

Dunlop Optical Toe Gauges.

One of these days I am going to buy a pair of turntables and a steering wheel lock to use with them.

[technicalninja]

Nice!
I'd like to make turntables via air pressure (like an air hockey table).
No friction!

I've found steering wheel locks as useless. You always end up a tiny bit off.
I've not use them for 2 decades...

[ClayPerrine]

Nice!
I'd like to make turntables via air pressure (like an air hockey table).
No friction!

Right now I just use two pieces of linoleum with oil between them. Not exactly neat, but effective.

[mlindner]

I did it Clays way with string alignment. Worked great, never looked back.