Classic car wheel alignment

[Rollin]

I changed the track rods on my 1983 Mercedes yesterday after contacting a local Halfords about doing a subsequent alignment.
Unfortunately, when I turned up today, they were unable to do the job because the car wasn't in their alignment machine's system. Went to Kwikfit and got the same answer.

I didn't think this was going to be a big problem.
Does anyone know a place in the Manchester area which will be able to sort this?

[Allan L]

They both sound pretty unhelpful if they can't use the equipment freehand, so to speak.
I took my 1938 Lea-Francis to the local tyre shop and had a go on their rig and they were able to measure tracking, camber and caster for me (and to my satisfaction).
There were few silly things such as finding the centre for the steering by using the half-way point of lock-to-lock which led to recording different toe-in left and right! (Full explanation of why that doesn't find the centre available on application!) They managed to detect some camber on the rear wheels despite the efforts of a large rigid axle-casing.

[Rollin]

I have all the figures required from the Mercedes service manual.
Apparently, if the car model isn't in the machine then it can't be done.

[HustleRussell]

They're flipping lazy or clueless. I do not work in the motor industry but left alone with a Beissbarth alignment system for a morning I was able to successfully geo my Caterham which didn't exist in the system. You can muddle through without a program, you just don't get the pretty green and red colours to help you and you have to look at the numbers instead.

[Trev and Jules]

Have a 1972 lotus europa and have been told by two alignment centres that if I have the specifications it can be done. Suggest finding a smaller centre that may be more flexible.

[john2443]

Any half decent tyre place will be able to do it if you give them the figures.

(Kwik Fit and Halfords don't qualify as half decent!)