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Weaver Degree Alignment Plates

Posted by 141drew Posted onNov 11, 2016 at 4:44 PM and filed under Reviews & Features
Updated onUpdated on May 28, 2021 at 11:37 AM


I thought you guys would get a kick out of the above… Essentially, they are 1940’s era degree alignment plates made by Weaver. My buddy found them at an abandoned sign shop of all places and they are now hard at work in his hot rod shop.

I love stuff like this.


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phred

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Id trust those more than the fancy computer alignment gear. I can't remember the last time I had one of my vehicles and alignment shop. I cant get everything set in the shop with a tape and level. Id love a pair of those plates!!!
 
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F124C

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They're positioned under the steered wheels and measure no. of degrees steered/turned by the wheels. These alignment plates have built-in turntables. The other/rear wheels need to be raised and supported by the same thickness as the A. plates.

They're used to check 'toe-out-on-turns', steering angles left/right and when measuring castor angle etc. You also need castor/camber/kingpin inclination gauges and tracking (toe-in/toe-out) gauges to do a full wheel and suspension alignment.

All the above has now afaik been supplanted (learned a new big word, been waiting a while to use it!) by the modern computerised alignment rack with laser sights?

Al.
 
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DeucePhaeton

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When I was living in Texas I worked for Overseas Motors in Ft. Worth,a British Leyland dealership. We used these to align Rolls Royce, Jaguar, MG and Triumph as well as whatever else we would get in, and this was 1978/79.
 
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F124C

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Chaznsc said:
Pics of the underside / mechanics of these?
Click to expand...

Just remembered, they also have a slider mechanism built in because you shouldn't drive up onto them and when you lower a car down on a floor jack the wheels tend to move outwards as the suspension is compressed.. the track of the front wheels also changes as the wheels are steered.

Al.
 
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F124C

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Not of Weaver Degree Alignment Plates but here's some pics of something similar.
Photo 1 - Plate with locking pins removed
" 2 - Plate with locking pins in place (for transport or driving onto)
" 3 - Underneath of plate showing sliding mechanism, up/down/l/r.
" 4 - Enlarged view of slider mechanism underneath plate. Upper plate
rotates c.40 degrees left or right on bearing in centre of shot.
Al.
 

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F124C

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F124C said:
They're positioned under the steered wheels and measure no. of degrees steered/turned by the wheels. These alignment plates have built-in turntables. The other/rear wheels need to be raised and supported by the same thickness as the A. plates.

They're used to check 'toe-out-on-turns', steering angles left/right and when measuring castor angle etc. You also need castor/camber/kingpin inclination gauges and tracking (toe-in/toe-out) gauges to do a full wheel and suspension alignment.

All the above has now afaik been supplanted (learned a new big word, been waiting a while to use it!) by the modern computerised alignment rack with laser sights?

Al.
Click to expand...

yhprum said:
This would go nicely with the alignment plates:http://www.ebay.com/itm/Vintage-WEA...:g:WeEAAOSwHMJYF~8t&item=152301209525&vxp=mtr
Click to expand...

Pics of similar Castor/Camber/KPI gauges. Including mounting frame to attach to wheel rim. There are also alternative mounting types e.g. magnetic/ for spoked wheels/ clamp onto hub nut.
 

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ttpete

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F124C said:
Pics of similar Castor/Camber/KPI gauges. Including mounting frame to attach to wheel rim. There are also alternative mounting types e.g. magnetic/ for spoked wheels/ clamp onto hub nut.
Click to expand...

The ones I used were magnetic. You pulled the wheel bearing cap and they seated on the flat end of the hub. You read camber direct and then set the caster bubble level with wheels straight ahead, then turn the wheel hard out and read caster.
 
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F124C

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ttpete said:
The ones I used were magnetic. You pulled the wheel bearing cap and they seated on the flat end of the hub. You read camber direct and then set the caster bubble level with wheels straight ahead, then turn the wheel hard out and read caster.
Click to expand...

Ya' got it! :thumbup:

(The type I showed is really only good for steel rims.)

Al.
 
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