1969 Control Arm Alignment Shims

[Edgemontvillage]

Working on a few engine compartment and suspension details and I've not been able to locate a reference for the correct, factory installed, control arm alignment shims used on Norwood built '69 Camaros.  The parts houses sell the style of shim in the first photo below in bright zinc with a hole in the top and the size ( 1/32" or 1/16" ) stamped on one side, as correct for all 1967-1969 Camaros. The second photo is of a shim that I pulled out of a '69 that I can't say was original to the car however it shows significant age. It has the same general shape however lacks the hole and has no size stamping.  Would appreciate some help to identify the factory correct version(s).    

[BillOhio]

Mine look like the bottom one. If you clean it up, it should have a stamp on it that looks like arocket. I didn't look close enough but there might be something in the middle of the rocket

[69Z28-RS]

Mine also were of the type shown in your bottom photo (the old rusty one)..

[ZLP955]

My VN car also has the same shims as the bottom picture. I recently stripped an original '67 Firebird, and it too had the bottom type of shims on the control arm shafts.

[tmodel66]

Your first set of shims are body shims. The hole in top was to keep them on a wire so they don't separate when you are putting them in a blind spot or hard to get to place. I'd find an old front end shop stuffed off in a corner somewhere and get shims from them.

[camaronut]

I found an exact set on eBay....changed-out my rusty ones. 

[Edgemontvillage]

I found an exact set on eBay....changed-out my rusty ones. 

I like rusty ones!

[JohnZ]

Your first set of shims are body shims. The hole in top was to keep them on a wire so they don't separate when you are putting them in a blind spot or hard to get to place. I'd find an old front end shop stuffed off in a corner somewhere and get shims from them.

I'll disagree - they're just aftermarket alignment shims, identifiable by the zinc plating and the hole in the tab; the factory shims were either natural or phosphated, with no hole in the tab area.

[bcmiller]

I agree with John.  I have never seen any originals that were zinc plated.

[tmodel66]

I didn't mean these were factory body shims. These are aftermarket body shims is what I meant or at least that's what I used in the shop for years. No the original shims were not zinc. Sorry for the confusion but he did say he bought them at a parts house so I took it for granted he understood they sold him body shims instead of front end alignment shims. Maybe these are alignment shims that they use now. I've been out of the business 20 years.

[Edgemontvillage]

I didn't mean these were factory body shims. These are aftermarket body shims is what I meant or at least that's what I used in the shop for years. No the original shims were not zinc. Sorry for the confusion but he did say he bought them at a parts house so I took it for granted he understood they sold him body shims instead of front end alignment shims. Maybe these are alignment shims that they use now. I've been out of the business 20 years.

For clarity the bright zinc shims in the photo at the top of this thread are currently being marketed by the parts houses as factory correct control arm alignment shims for 67/8/9 Camaros...I didn't purchase them.  

[69Z28freak]

Rusty goodness!

[KevinW]

I just went and checked my stash of shims.  A repro shim set I got from Ricks many years ago was actually pretty accurate, same shape as originals, stamped x-116, same as originals (but zinc plated).  But they were only the thinner versions.  and that part number RC-416, shows lloyds picture (not the same as what I got originally) and said they are discontinued.  The thicker shims with the rocket ship on them have a slightly taller top than the x-116 shims.  I have to be on the look out for these at the next swap meet Kevin

Here is an ebay auction of the repro set that looks like what I have

http://www.ebay.com/itm/55-77-CHEVY-IMPALA-CHEVELLE-UPPER-CONTROL-ARM-SUSPENSION-ALIGNMENT-SHIM-KIT-/370644531922?pt=Vintage_Car_Truck_Parts_Accessories&hash=item564c22bad2&vxp=mtr#ht_800wt_932

[Edgemontvillage]

Very helpful, thanks Kevin.  

[KevinW]

lloyd, do you need pics?