[V8] Finished RMS...a few tips

[CoultL at aol.com]

Finished the RMS job today and did my own alignment for the first time.  The 
whole job was pretty straight forward but I wanted to post a few tips.  
 
My procedure for the alignment is very similar to this one with a few 
amendments: http://members.aol.com/c1j1miller/align.html.  I bought a camber gauge 
from this place: http://www.racerpartswholesale.com/.  Most places sell the same 
one for $80, while RPW sells it for $40.  I used a 4 foot level with two 
equal length sockets firmly affixed (taped) to it.  These sockets allowed me to 
contact the wheel rim instead of the tire.  I set the level on jack stands, 
level with the center of the wheel.  I used a plumb bob and some trig as described 
in the above link to find toe angle.
 
I found it really tough to get the inner CV joint to flange bolts to start.  
The problem is that the joint boot is really stiff and it is very hard to 
manipulate the joint so that it is flush with the drive flange.  I tied a zip tie 
tight through the lower bolt hole.  I then rotated the axle 180 degree and the 
zip tie held the upper portion of the joint to the flange and the two were 
then flush enough to start the triple square bolts.
 
I found it best to leave the front torque engine mount in place.  It helped 
to keep the engine and trans level after the subframe and trans supports had 
been removed.
 
I really laged on getting the job done bc it was so cold here and I had 
another car to drive.  I think the rest of the job was pretty clear from the 
manual.