[Tigers] Tiger Handling

[Buck Trippel]

I doubt any local alignment shop knows, much less ever followed the involved 
Rootes factory alignment procedures for which the the factory specs were 
provided. (make "Gap Gauges" following the drawing in the manual, make a 
front platform, insert Gap Gauges front and rear and then add about 300# 
onto the front platform and maybe a bit more into the trunk. Bottom the 
suspension on the Gauges and you're ready to begin.

The lesson here is the Tiger alignment changes as the car is loaded. The 
factory estimated a loading (ride height) and provided specs for that 
height. However in the next 45 years springs sagged, rubber isolators rotted 
and countless variables were introduced into individual cars making that 
procedure with it's related specs increasingly inaccurate and somewhat 
obsolete.

I've had great luck by...
- loading the Tiger as I normally would for a road trip (including driver, 
passenger and all gear),
- setting tire pressures to 40-45 cold,
- setting camber around 1/2 degree negative and
- caster as close to 4 degrees as I can get it with some
- toe-OUT (no more than 1/8').
(Side to side weighed Caster should be as close to equal as possible: I have 
off the shelf alignment shims in various thicknesses down to 1/32 but at 
times I've even custom ground shims to even up the side to side caster 
numbers.

good luck,

Buck Trippel

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Dave Munroe" <dave at munroe.ca>
To: <jliny5 at cox.net>; <tigers-bounces at autox.team.net>; "Tom Parker" 
<tkparker1941 at gmail.com>; <CoolVT at aol.com>; <tigers at autox.team.net>
Sent: Wednesday, September 01, 2010 8:06 AM
Subject: Re: [Tigers] Tiger Handling


> Jim;
>
> Your tire size change is not that radical, but for what its worth, when I 
> went to 15" wheels and wide tires that maintained the same o/a diameter as 
> the stock 13" tires, I had my car's front end alignment set at the spec 
> numbers.
>
> After 8,000 miles, the outside edges of the front tires were near the wear 
> bars, and I replaced them.
>
> According to my alignment guy, this is usually caused by too much toe-in, 
> but mine was set at 1/8", (stock spec), and remained in adjustment until 
> the tires were removed. We agreed to set the toe at 1/16", and changed the 
> camber to bring the top of the tires closer to the top a-frame pivot. 
> (Less camber). I don't remember the exact number.
>
> I have a tire wear gauge, and am going to keep a close eye on the wear 
> pattern across the tread, and if it shows signs of wearing on one side of 
> the other, we will adjust it.
>
> That might be a good idea for you to do as well. Tire wear gauges are 
> cheap and easy to use, and available everywhere.
>
> Good luck with your change!
>
> Dave
>
>
>
> Sent: Tuesday, August 31, 2010 7:55 PM
> Subject: Re: [Tigers] Tiger Handling
>
>
> Good Evening (at least on the east coast)
>
> Thought I would make another call regarding my post from yesterday 
> regarding the affect a change in tire size might have on alignment. My new 
> tires (205/60x13) get mounted Thursday.  Wear looks pretty even on the old 
> tires (175/70x13). For the time being I guess I will stick with the 
> existing alignment specs.
>
> Thx, Jim
> _______________________________________________
> Tigers at autox.team.net
> Donate: http://www.team.net/donate.html
> Archive: http://www.team.net/archive
> Forums: http://www.team.net/forums
> Unsubscribe/Manage: 
> http://autox.team.net/mailman/options/tigers/bucktrippel@verizon.net