Any one DYI align the front end with a tool like the one Moss sells? Or should I leave it to the pros?
Thanks

Hi Tahoe, The tool should work out ok. the only part of alignment that you can do on your LBC is toe adjustment. Unless something has been damaged (bent or Broke). The variable with a tool like that is mostly in the quality of the tires. Since it will measure at the edge of the tire tread which might have an error in the front to back reading. But I have done it with worse equipment, ie.. homemade. If you get it close but still off alittle you won't feel it but might see it in tire wear in about 500 to 1000 miles. If you want the best, take it to a shop. Usually when I put a front end together, I use my homemade set up, till I have time to take it to a shop. Sometimes I'm really on, sometimes not.
Good Luck.

I've tried every imaginable tool & method for setting toe in. Each time I check it gives a different result.

A good alignment shop with a good optical rack, only charged me $40 to set toe in & check rear axle alignment. they also recorded left & right castor & camber. The toe setting was different than anything I'd previously had with DIY. The car drives perfectly & shows no tire wear from alignment problems.

My vote is for the alignment shop.
D

I agree with Dave....go to the alignment shop. Also, the toe-in is different for the old bias ply tires versus the radials.
Patrick

So what should the toe-in be for radials?

Usually around zero to 1/16" toe in.
D

The book says 1/16 to 1/18 toe in. I had a well know British car shop do the camber and rebuild the steering box 5 years ago and assumed they did the toe in when they put things back together. Car always drove squairley a small amount. I changed steering wheels last week and was lining up the steering wheel to straight ahead. Then I noticed that I could visualy see a toe out.
Many tire shops cannot do it unless it is in their computer (Les Schwab and Big O).

Visual appearance of toe out on Big Healeys is an optical illusion. The shape of the front body curves inward as it goes forward ---substantially. This creates the visual effect of toe out.

I've built a toe caliper that works fine every time. When you use it to measure the difference between the front sidewall and rear sidewall it is accurate.

If this picture doesn't post correctly I'd appreciate guidance as I'm using the Forum's tool and pasting the link to my picture in the little window provided. The text below is the result.

[img]http://www.pbase.com/stevegerow/image/52792133[/img]

http://www.pbase.com/stevegerow/healey_tech

The only time that the toe in should be checked is after the car has been rolled in a forward direction. If it has been jacked up, steering wheel moved in either direction when the car is at rest,
rolled backward, etc, then roll the car backwards then forward a few feet to get all of the suspension parts back into normal position before doing any toe in checking or adjusting.
... Tahoe, our cars don't have any camber adjustment, just toe in. Did they also charge you for lubricating the muffler bearings on the same invoice ?

Funny. We all know it would just leak out. Those muffler bearings get too hot to be lubed. Every one knows you got to use bear grease on bearings....
They put in an adjustable, off center device so they could adjust it.
Tracy, it is beyond optical illusions but that's why I want to check it.

I used the Moss tool and it seemed to work OK. So far, anyway. I haven't put enough miles on the car to tell if there is any tire wear issues, though. I tried to find a shop here in San Antonio that would align it but not one that I contacted wanted anything to do with the Healey....I don't remember if they said it was because of their computer or what, though. That is why I purchased the tool from Moss. Good luck!

The Moss tool is junk. Way too flimsey. I will give you mine. You can do better with a tape measure and chalk.

I use these Long Acre toe plates with good results. Very easy to handle as a one-man job, and repeatable readings.

Available for about $50.00 wherever motorsports parts/tools are sold (Pegasus, Summit, Jegs, etc.)