Something strange with the front end
I’ve got a 73 dart sport with a 360. Was drag raced years ago then sat in a field. Previous owner never said anything about the car being in a front end collision. However, it’s starting to seem like it was in some sort of “collision” on the front drivers side.
I did a front suspension rebuild kit (1973 1974 1975 1976 Dodge Dart Red Polyurethane New Front End Suspension Master Rebuild Kit)
I also messed with the torsion bars and made them even, in addition to adjusting the tie rods.
So, my problem, the passenger side front tire is vertically parallel with the fender. However, the drivers side wheel is pushed in a couple of inches front the fender..
In addition to the wheels being off center in the wheel well, the driver side shock tower is not centered with the circle in the inner fender.
The metal support in front of the radiator is also bent inwards:
With all these discrepancies, is it far fetched to believe the frame may be bent or maybe the upper control arm is bent?
on the upper control arm, the bolts that attach it to the frame, are oval in shape. Meaning you can adjust how far the wheel juts out from the inner fender.
I made these nuts identical on the two sides and the wheels still didn’t match.
When searching the front suspension on the drivers side, I found this metal support piece seperated from the fender.
Could this bracket, in conjunction with the tie links and the the torsion bars, combine to yield my problem? Or is there possibly a bent frame?
The car is having a major engine overhaul currently so I can’t drive it to feel if anything is out of place, so I’m just looking for some rough ideas and suggestions.
Thanks.
I’ve got a 73 dart sport with a 360. Was drag raced years ago then sat in a field. Previous owner never said anything about the car being in a front end collision. However, it’s starting to seem like it was in some sort of “collision” on the front drivers side.
I did a front suspension rebuild kit (1973 1974 1975 1976 Dodge Dart Red Polyurethane New Front End Suspension Master Rebuild Kit)
I also messed with the torsion bars and made them even, in addition to adjusting the tie rods.
So, my problem, the passenger side front tire is vertically parallel with the fender. However, the drivers side wheel is pushed in a couple of inches front the fender..
In addition to the wheels being off center in the wheel well, the driver side shock tower is not centered with the circle in the inner fender.
The metal support in front of the radiator is also bent inwards:
With all these discrepancies, is it far fetched to believe the frame may be bent or maybe the upper control arm is bent?
on the upper control arm, the bolts that attach it to the frame, are oval in shape. Meaning you can adjust how far the wheel juts out from the inner fender.
I made these nuts identical on the two sides and the wheels still didn’t match.
When searching the front suspension on the drivers side, I found this metal support piece seperated from the fender.
Could this bracket, in conjunction with the tie links and the the torsion bars, combine to yield my problem? Or is there possibly a bent frame?
The car is having a major engine overhaul currently so I can’t drive it to feel if anything is out of place, so I’m just looking for some rough ideas and suggestions.
Thanks.
