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Old Mar 29, 2009 | 06:47 PM
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Default Ride height

I took the exhaust off of my car from the cat back because i have to drop my gas tank to run new hard lines. anyways i thought i knew what my ride height was from memory BUT i was wrong. anyways here is what i measured and i was wanting to know what everyone else has and what is the stock ride height suppose to be.

highest point of front wheel well to ground = 25.5"
highest point of rear wheel well to ground = 28.75"

lowest point of frame just before it kicks up behing front wheel = 5.5"
lowest point of frame directly in front of rear wheel = 6.75"

what are you getting and where is the most correct spot to measure if i didnt use the correct spots.

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Old Mar 29, 2009 | 07:09 PM
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Hi LD,
For 71 coupe factory was.... rear 27.91" and front was 27.91". Varied a little with A/C. At the high point of the wheel well opening.
Regards,
Alan

Last edited by Alan 71; Mar 29, 2009 at 07:12 PM.
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Old Mar 29, 2009 | 08:38 PM
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From: Graceland in a Not Correctly Restored Stingray
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The most correct height specs by which to go are, first and foremost, the Z and D chassis heights, which are not effected by incorrect tires or body/chassis mount irregularities. Until you know where you are on these two fundamental specs, it's hard to accurately quantify any other height measurements other than for appearances, IMHO.


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Old Mar 29, 2009 | 10:39 PM
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Originally Posted by TheSkunkWorks
The most correct height specs by which to go are, first and foremost, the Z and D chassis heights, which are not effected by incorrect tires or body/chassis mount irregularities. Until you know where you are on these two fundamental specs, it's hard to accurately quantify any other height measurements other than for appearances, IMHO.


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TSW
i can probably get my D reading BUT there is no way for me to get the Z reading on my car without getting it on a full lift and measuring it from under the car. the stock front spoiler on my car is 4" from the ground in the center and 4.5" from the ground on the ends which makes it impossible to get under my car from the front. so right now my P reading is 25.5" and the R reading is 28.75". i will have to re-check these reading because i just got the car off of the ramps and didnt move it so it is sitting higher than usual.
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Old Mar 30, 2009 | 02:51 AM
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From: Graceland in a Not Correctly Restored Stingray
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Well, from where you are currently, it's fairly obvious you've got adjustment(s) to make anyway. Shy of starting with Z & D, I suggest taking into account any variation between OEM tires and what you have now to arrive at "corrected" P & R heights to get you into the ball park without significantly throwing off suspension geometry.
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Old Mar 30, 2009 | 08:21 AM
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Originally Posted by TheSkunkWorks
Well, from where you are currently, it's fairly obvious you've got adjustment(s) to make anyway. Shy of starting with Z & D, I suggest taking into account any variation between OEM tires and what you have now to arrive at "corrected" P & R heights to get you into the ball park without significantly throwing off suspension geometry.
im actually lowering the car from stock. i have the front where i want it and once i get the new rear suspension in i will be setting it up for 26.5" so that i have a 1" rake in the car. oh and that is after i get the new body mounts in as well which will be more towards the end of the year i think ............ maybe sooner. i was just curious what the stock height was suppose to be to know how much i have lowered it. my body mounts are pretty much gone so i know the will affect my ride height if i go by the fender measurements so once i get it all said and done with new body mounts my goal is to get the front at 25.5" and the rear to 26.5"
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Old Mar 30, 2009 | 01:18 PM
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From: Graceland in a Not Correctly Restored Stingray
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For lowering purposes, especially since your mounts are "gone", the Z & D really are the right specs, as you are altering suspension geometry, intentionally or not. To end up with ~1" P to R rake after new mounts you'll be at ~0.5-0.6" Z to D difference. FWIW, the Chevy Power RR recommended specs of 1-1.25" Z & 1.25" D result in from ~1/2" to ~3/4" P to R rake, so you won't be far from that.

However, unless you've very short tires, your current P of 25.5" indicates you've really slammed the nose. Two things to watch for out back when lowering very much are not to end up with the diff so low that 1) the half shafts sit at or below level from the outer stub axles towards the diff, as with any suspension travel in squat or bump dynamic alignment will move towards toe out under acceleration or during cornering; an undesirable condition, or 2) U's bind and break in squat or bump... Compensating for these issues is why you see occasional threads about raising the diff in the chassis.


Last edited by TheSkunkWorks; Mar 30, 2009 at 01:20 PM.
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Old Mar 30, 2009 | 03:04 PM
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Originally Posted by TheSkunkWorks
For lowering purposes, especially since your mounts are "gone", the Z & D really are the right specs, as you are altering suspension geometry, intentionally or not. To end up with ~1" P to R rake after new mounts you'll be at ~0.5-0.6" Z to D difference. FWIW, the Chevy Power RR recommended specs of 1-1.25" Z & 1.25" D result in from ~1/2" to ~3/4" P to R rake, so you won't be far from that.

However, unless you've very short tires, your current P of 25.5" indicates you've really slammed the nose. Two things to watch for out back when lowering very much are not to end up with the diff so low that 1) the half shafts sit at or below level from the outer stub axles towards the diff, as with any suspension travel in squat or bump dynamic alignment will move towards toe out under acceleration or during cornering; an undesirable condition, or 2) U's bind and break in squat or bump... Compensating for these issues is why you see occasional threads about raising the diff in the chassis.

im running 245/45/17 up front and 255/50/17 in the rear. once i get the new rear suspension in the car my plan is to get the rear end setup so that the differential will sit just above level on the half shafts so when i do things like you expained i dont get toe out which does cause unwanted stress on the differential and half shafts. i wanted to put off redoing the rear suspension till next spring becuase i was planning on ordering offset trailing arms and doing it all at once but since i have my gas tank out again so that i can run a new hard line for the gas i think i might take out the current suspension and replace it with the new stuff that i already have.
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Old Mar 31, 2009 | 08:55 AM
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Your front is really low...at that height, you might rip off the fender lip. (I know, because I did it.)
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Old Mar 31, 2009 | 10:34 AM
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Originally Posted by American Psycho
Your front is really low...at that height, you might rip off the fender lip. (I know, because I did it.)
my tires clear my fender lips the tops of my tires are just above the lip right now and i can stick my hand between the tire and the lip.
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