RE: IML: Need alignment after '67 steering gearbox swap?

["Hall, David" <Dave.Hall@xxxxxxx>]

I've done this exact same thing in my 73 a few years back.  I was told
that a wheel alignment would straighten out the steering wheel.  But, lo
and behold, when I went to have it aligned they told me they couldn't
get the steering wheel to straighten out.

With all of the 100+ other things I need to fix on the car the steering
wheel crossbar angle was immediately considered immaterial, for now
anyways.

Dave Hall
73 Imperial LeBaron
The Sleeping Giant

-----Original Message-----
From: iml@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:iml@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx] 
Sent: Tuesday, December 28, 2004 2:49 PM
To: mailing-list@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: IML: Need alignment after '67 steering gearbox swap?


I'm hoping you mechanically knowledgeable folks might do a "sanity
check" for me...

I recently had my mechanic swap out my '67's leaky power steering
gearbox with a rebuilt one.  It works, but now the steering wheel
crossbar is at a 45-degree angle to the right when the wheels are
straight ahead.  Also, the car pulls slightly to the right now.  My
mechanic (actually his assistant) tells me there was only one way for
the gearbox to go on, so it's not a matter of making any adjustment to
his installation -- instead, I should get the car aligned.

Does all of this sound reasonable?  Should I get the car aligned, and
can I expect that to help?

Some details:

-- I ordered the replacement gearbox from Murray Park, and specifically
had him send me a '67 Imperial gearbox, since that's one of the few
parts that the '67 and the '68 don't share.

-- I then had the gearbox rebuilt by Steer & Gear in Ohio.

-- I've used this mechanic for years, and I trust him, though his new
assistant is the one who did all the work.  This shop doesn't do
alignments, by the way, so they're not just trying to hook me into more
billable hours.

-- I've owned my Imp for 5 years and have never had it aligned.

Thanks for any advice!

Tim Klein
'67 Crown 4DHT




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