offset frame? 67 camaro

[overZealous1]

this is an issue i knew about many years ago, but wasn't taking the car to the level i am trying right now before either.

seems the entire body of my 67 camaro (which rolled off assembly line about the 3rd day) is shifted to the passenger side roughly 1/4". this makes about a 1/2" difference in my tire to fender clearance each side. one can be flush, the other side 1/2" in. now this is the case in both the front and the rear. yes, subframe had been squared to rear.

i thought i remember years ago reading chevy did this to offset drivers weight for trans am series. not sure where, or if i read it, or even if that was just an explanation i came up with on my own.

in memory, all measurements came out correct, just the body shifted over the frame. all frame rails look good and straight with no repairs, so i see no signs of repaired damage.

is anyone else familiar with the predicament? i suppose the subframe holes could be enlarged then a thick washer welded back on and the front could be centered. but the rear would be a much tougher fix as you would have to relocate the leaf springs, which i am planning on keeping at this time.



so i guess my big question, is my car just a retard or is anyone else familiar with chevy setting up some of the very early 67's this way?

[BuzzKillian]

I had a similar situation with my '68 Camaro. There is enough play,slop, or whatever you want to call it in the Sub Frame mounts to correct that in the front.

The back is a different story... I replaced the quarters and wheel houses and made sure every thing was centered.

As far as Chevy doing that for any racing series... I don't believe they would do that to the productions cars. That sounds more like somthing a crew cheif would do for a particular setup.

(This is just my observation. I am not claiming this is always the case. )

[67zo6Camaro]

My 67 Camaro has a 1/2" driveshaft tunnel offset and so does the 67 Firebird my friend is working on. I have noticed that the fender alignment has varable measurements up down and side to side from 1/8" to 1/4". Basically I have been focusing on the frame alignment with the suspension. The slight body difference can be adjusted as necessary. However, the 1/2" driveshaft offset is addressed with the rear axel being 1/2" longer on one side.

Brett

[Rhino]

If I recall correctly, 1/4" was within factory tolerance at the time. The manufacturing tolerances of the body in those days were grossly over what we see in today's standards.