I don't remember if the holes were slotted or not when I had it out in last summer. The cradle that your motor mounts bolt onto that spans the front of the car.....can that be moved forward or back about a half inch or so?
I was hoping this might solve my wiper motor clearance problem with my Super Ram.
Also if the answer is yes...which I hope it is...any suggestions on how to shift it now with everything back in the car??

 

The only way is side to side.

Jerry

 

Not to question your F-Body knowledge, but you are certain right??

 

I just installed a tube front end and had to adjust it side to side.

Sorry about the bad news.

Jerry

 

Hey sweet picture bro. Installed a new "tube front end"? What does that mean? Ya have a new engine cradle and stuff? Looks pretty new. And how come ya needed a new front end?

Hmm.. I was thinking, one guy told if someone were to weld a new(or used) subframe in, if the subframe is off by an 1/8th of an inch the car won't "drive".

BUT.. being that you can adjust the subframe side to side, that actually wouldn't be a problem, cuz then you could just adjust it after its been welded on right? Then it would "drive" correct.

For a little background of my story, look at the posts, "My disabled IROC..." and "Hey guys, got a story to tell ya..."

 

Hmmm....maybe if I moved it towards the passenger side of the car then my wiper motor would clear. Any ideas on how to move it with everything in the car now??
Also about how far is the adjustment??

 

It's very eazy to do the only problem is if you move the motor over you will also move the front tires. If you move it to far it will look funny with one side tire out of the car more than the other. The side to side adjustment is to get the front tires centered on the car.

Jerry

 

Hmmn, been reading about your woes....

Gotta pop my hood to be sure, but is there achance you can re-mount the wiper motor closer to the firewall? Either redrill the mount holes, or adadt a bracket to the motor, then offset it?

 

I'm not sure yet how I'll be mounting the wiper motor....it's been an ongoing problem since October.

Nobody has offered any suggestions yet though on how to adjust the cradle easily. I never thought of the tire issue, but I'm sure mine are off because I didn't have them on when I put everything back in.

 

You could build offset engine mounts, but may have driveshaft length issues after that.

 

When I was at the body shop the other day the guy said that you can infact move the cradle forward. Who's not telling me the truth here????

 

Hello, I've a similar problem. I have to center the front wheels because the driver side is centred, but the passenger one is not. Can u tell me how to fix this problem? Because like you said the only way is side to side, what can I do? Thanks

 

Hello all!!

The cross member has two locating pins on the top of it, hopefully you have elongated holes to locate the pins into, or the cross member won't have any adjustment!!



By the way, the part number is 10081659 and your local Chevy/GM dealer can get you one, brand new, mine cost me $350.00 CDN approx!! There are still 19 brand new ones left in the world!!!

Sure, you can get them from the Junk Yard, but what condition is it in????

Has it been stuffed hard into something to bend it?????

 

Thanks for your reply. I saw it but nothing was bent. But Jerry said that can be adjusted side to side. What means?

 

Hello Garth Knight!!

I can't vouch for the holes being elongated or not, as I haven't taken my cross member off yet!!!

JERRYWHO has, by what he's saying about installing a tube front end!!

Since the cross member has these two locating studs, if it has elongated holes then you will have some adjustment, if it doesn't have elongated holes then it can't have any adjustment!!

These holes will either give you front to back adjustment, or side to side adjustment!!

Remember that the adjustment either way, moves both wheels front to back, or side to side equal amounts!!

If you have one side that's further out or in, check your car very carefully for accident damage!!

 

Thanks, I'll check better for damage

Can u tell me where in case to buy the crossmember?

 

If you have a super ram for a corvette it simply won't fit...don't ask how I know

The stock X member has no side to side adjustment at all. The bolts go through tubes, there is no adjustment. On top of that there are locating dowels for positively locating the whole thing.

 

Hello Garth Knight!!

Usually a shop with a laser frame checking machine can tell you if the crossmember is out of whack, it might cost you an hour's worth of shop time, but the machine tells you the truth, bent or not!!



If you really want to pay for a "brand new" crossmember, your local GM dealer can still get it for you, from "Vintage Parts" part # is 10081659 and it cost me approx $350.00 CDN!!



Twin_Turbo's post above confirms the fact of no adjustment!!

I have a 1989 IROC-Z with a slightly bent crossmember from having been "stuffed" into something years before I bought it, hence why I bought a new crossmember!!

My bent crossmember moves the passenger side wheel up, and to the rear enough to make some of my alignment specs (caster/camber) unobtainable!! Resulting in wheel rub on the passenger side only at the rear of the wheel well on lock to lock turns!!

My problem can be "fixed" without a new crossmember, but I don't like to "bandaid" the problem by drilling, and welding holes like the shop guy suggested doing to my lower control arm, as a cheap fix!!

 

Hello Twin_Turbo!!!

Did you powder coat these parts or spray paint them???



If you powder coated them, did you have any problems with getting your powder coat inside the "hard to reach" areas of the crossmember??

 

I think he basecoated them

 

Hello Timmie!!

Actually, I found the answer in Twin_Turbo's "Pulling apart my 1987 IROC" thread, under Members Camaros, and they are actually powder coated gray!!

 

really ? cool

 

I had them coated and blasted. used to do that myself but for what it costs I don't want to mess with it again, especially the blasting and the parts cure a lot better in a large industrial oven. As for reaching hard to reach places, no the guy seems to be able to get everywhere in the crossmember. There really aren't that many hard to reach places in there, you can stick the gun in through the spring pockets and spray the powder everywhere. There's a ground coat and a color coat on that stuff

 

Hello Twin_Turbo!!

Thanks for the info, I have a brand new crossmember out for prep, and powder coating, and the "painter/powder coater" guy told me it will be really hard to reach some of the interior areas of the crossmember, as the powder coating stuff tends to want to stick on the first metal that it comes into contact with........and that it doesn't really travel any distance........?????????

The guy does it for a living, but I'm just a little bit uneasy with what he said!!

 

Tell him to inspect the part and stick the gun into the hard to reach places first. Coat the part hot, that will help a bit too.

 

Hello Twin_Turbo!!

Thanks for the advice!!!