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SAI and other alignment specs

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Old 01-23-2023, 01:54 PM
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Car: 91/89/85/82 Z28s, 88 TA, 88/88 SC
Engine: SBC and LS variations
SAI and other alignment specs

I have been doing a lot of work understanding alignment and setting up to do it myself. I have a lot of equipment at this point, and have been able to get overall good alignment going for camber, caster, toe, thrust angle, etc but not clear on what is acceptable SAI

on my LS swap in my 85 iroc i have detroit caster / camber plates, koni struts, umi k-member and a-arms, etc. to get good camber i ended up putting SPC cam bolts in both the upper / lower strut bolt locations... this has allowed me to get good camber without the detroit speed caster / camber running into the brake cylinder on the drivers side

i have about -0.7 deg camber each side and 4.8 / 5.2 caster on driver / passenger side. i decided to check my SAI and seems like i am in the ~21-22 deg range both sides... typically sai is used to diagnosis problems side to side when it is measured significantly, but at some point wondering if too much ends up also as an issue.

also have installed a lee steering box and will have good toe / thrust alignment so my only question is SAI... won't be able to drive until spring so just wondering if anyone has some practical experience on this as SAI isn't discussed much in detail anywhere

Old 01-23-2023, 05:13 PM
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Re: SAI and other alignment specs

It's forged into the spindle. Only way to change it is to bend the spindles.

IOW, it is what it is, if they're not bent.

In any case, in all the years I've been dealing with these cars (mine is a 83), it's never been something I've felt dissatisfied with.

Is there some tangible expressible improvement you think could be made upon it?
Old 01-23-2023, 05:20 PM
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Car: 91/89/85/82 Z28s, 88 TA, 88/88 SC
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Re: SAI and other alignment specs

thanks sofa, i am right now just trying to get my head around it and what is OEM spec and am i measuring it right. yes i understand to a large degree it is designed in. what i am wondering is though with the addition of the SPC adjustable camber bolts has that influenced the SAI... ie the same way if something would be bent, although this is in a controlled manner and i made sure i did equally on both sides

Originally Posted by sofakingdom
It's forged into the spindle. Only way to change it is to bend the spindles.

IOW, it is what it is, if they're not bent.

In any case, in all the years I've been dealing with these cars (mine is a 83), it's never been something I've felt dissatisfied with.

Is there some tangible expressible improvement you think could be made upon it?
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