Wheel Alignment

I need to have my 1971 big block aligned.  In the service manual, the camber setting for the front wheels is +3/4 degree +/- 1/2 degree.  Positve wheel camber .

Has anyone experimented with camber and toe settings for the front and rear?

I am not too concerned with tire wear, I drive about 5,000 miles a year, but want a solid feel and little wandering.

Thanks for any info.

John Beam

Service manuals give you a wide range of specs. If you make your camber close to 0-1/4 degree negative,caster 2-1/2 degrees positve, make sure caster is equal on both sides or you will get a pull to one side. Set toe to 0. Vette Brakes has a good set up guide on alignment check it out.

   Dave

A positive camber creates a very stable condition.  Negative camber will improve the responsiveness and cornering ability, but can be a tad twitchy.

The more positive caster, the more stable as well, and this will offset a bit of twitchyness.  But the more positive caster creates more steering effort.  Not an issue with power steering, but slow speed with a manual really get to be a bear.  Negative Caster is VERY touchy and twitchy, but the steering response is remarkable, if you can keep it under control.

Caster is not a tire wear factor. Camber is.  So is toe.

Moving just a bit negative and reducing caster toward negative, but staying positive will make the car more responsive, but might be unpleasent on a highway cruise.  The slight steering corrections may wear on you.  Just depends on how far you go.  If you are somewhere within the factory range, even at the far limits, tire wear won't really be a factor.  Out side that range it becomes an issue

Many high end exotics use alingment specs that chew up tires fairly quickly, but the handling is remarkable.