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 s...
To read the rest of this blog entry from The Garage Journal, click here.
- Thread starter Ryan
- Start date
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 s...
To read the rest of this blog entry from The Garage Journal, click here.
autoclassicnut
Well-known member
Wow they look like they are n great shape!
OP
They are damn near mint... and great for what we do...
marty_p
Well-known member
softailgarage
Well-known member
A sign shop? There's better ways to align the letters on a sign than on an alignment rack...
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!!!
gahrajmahal
Well-known member
How are they used?
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.
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.
DeucePhaeton
Member
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.
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.
yhprum
Well-known member
This would go nicely with the alignment plates:http://www.ebay.com/itm/Vintage-WEA...:g:WeEAAOSwHMJYF~8t&item=152301209525&vxp=mtr
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.
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.
Attachments
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.
Attachments
ttpete
Well-known member
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.