Vehicle Height/AIM
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 112
Likes: 1
From: San Diego/Pontiac CA/MI
Vehicle Height/AIM
I am trying to determine the proper height for my 64 convertible so I can order a new rear spring from
Eaton. The current leaf spring is a HD 330 spring rate (made in mexico stenciled)and I want a softer ride.
According to AIM the front frame rail should be 8.6 at 30.5 inches from the center of front hub. My car is 7 inches both sides. The rear is supposed to be 8.8 at 24 inches from center of rear hub and my car is at 8 inches. Therefore my car sits lower than it is supposed to and I need a 1" lowered leaf spring on the rear to make it level. I couldn't imagine my car sitting 1.6 inches higher in the front and almost 2 inches higher in the rear as stated in the AIM manual. The fenders would be well above the tires. My fenders are about 26" in the front measured from the concrete up through the center of the hub and 26 1/2 in the rear. Would someone with a proper stance measure your distance for me? I would really appreciate it.
Thank you
Eaton. The current leaf spring is a HD 330 spring rate (made in mexico stenciled)and I want a softer ride.
According to AIM the front frame rail should be 8.6 at 30.5 inches from the center of front hub. My car is 7 inches both sides. The rear is supposed to be 8.8 at 24 inches from center of rear hub and my car is at 8 inches. Therefore my car sits lower than it is supposed to and I need a 1" lowered leaf spring on the rear to make it level. I couldn't imagine my car sitting 1.6 inches higher in the front and almost 2 inches higher in the rear as stated in the AIM manual. The fenders would be well above the tires. My fenders are about 26" in the front measured from the concrete up through the center of the hub and 26 1/2 in the rear. Would someone with a proper stance measure your distance for me? I would really appreciate it.
Thank you
Race Director
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 17,724
Likes: 3,708
From: Central Arkansas
There's another method of checking ride heigth in the AIM and the service manual - from memory on the front it's the difference in measurement from ground to centerr of lower a-arm shaft bolt and the measurement from ground to the bottom of the lower ball joint. This takes the tire size out of the equation. The rear is similar. A single measurement from ground to frame or body lines is completely dependent upon tire diameter and tires today are of lower profile and not as tall as originally.
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 112
Likes: 1
From: San Diego/Pontiac CA/MI
There's another method of checking ride heigth in the AIM and the service manual - from memory on the front it's the difference in measurement from ground to centerr of lower a-arm shaft bolt and the measurement from ground to the bottom of the lower ball joint. This takes the tire size out of the equation. The rear is similar. A single measurement from ground to frame or body lines is completely dependent upon tire diameter and tires today are of lower profile and not as tall as originally.
Team Owner
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 38,897
Likes: 1,926
From: Washington Michigan
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According to AIM the front frame rail should be 8.6 at 30.5 inches from the center of front hub. My car is 7 inches both sides. The rear is supposed to be 8.8 at 24 inches from center of rear hub and my car is at 8 inches. Therefore my car sits lower than it is supposed to and I need a 1" lowered leaf spring on the rear to make it level.
According to AIM the front frame rail should be 8.6 at 30.5 inches from the center of front hub. My car is 7 inches both sides. The rear is supposed to be 8.8 at 24 inches from center of rear hub and my car is at 8 inches. Therefore my car sits lower than it is supposed to and I need a 1" lowered leaf spring on the rear to make it level.
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 112
Likes: 1
From: San Diego/Pontiac CA/MI
Gary
