Well, I followed the directions given and the steering wheel is now noticeably more centered than turned slightly left when driving straight ahead. (or as A. Dalton noted, the car now goes straight rather than to the right with the wheel centered). I will need more time and some varied roads to assess if it's as good as can be expected.
I did the following:
- First, I made a white mark on the threaded inner ends of both rod ball joints, directly opposite the slot in the rod tube. This was my reference, as received from the alignment job.
- I marked each rod tube with a white metal marker pen at 1/4 and 1/2 turn positions, relative to the slot.
- I turned both rods in a forward direction (as the road wheels would turn going forward)(easier to explain than 'clockwise from the right' or whatever) to the marked 1/4 turn position, and did a road test. No change. So I returned and advanced both forward to the 1/2 turn position. Road tested, again no change.
- I then turned both rods backward to the initial position, and rotated both backwards this time, to the already marked 1/2 turn position. The road test indicated a noticeable change in the wheel position, very nearly centered. I rotated both an additional 1/4 turn, and the wheel is now as centered as I can get it.
What I find mind boggling about this exercise is this left and right thread business. The service manual describes the trackrods (tie rods) as follows:
"Pitman arm side, lefthand threads mounted at the left in driving direction", and "Intermediate steering arm side, lefthand threads mounted at the left in driving direction". This is verbatum from the book, 46.5 - 540/1. Misprint? Or is the left rod thread on both sides left threaded, the rightmost rod thread right threaded?
More importantly, DID I DO THIS CORRECTLY? I now have no way to verify my toe settings, short of another alignment.
Lastly, with the engine running, wheels on the ground, there is less than 1/2" of movement at the rim before you can see the tire/wheel start to move. Doesn't feel 'loose' to me at all. And, I really couldn't see where any wrench or socket had been on the big nuts for the camber adjustment, the eccentric bolts on each side. Maybe the setting was within spec and didn't need to be touched? I think I got ripped off on this alignment job....
.....But if the correction has been done right, I'm happy for the learning experience.