Lowering a vette?
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 2,487
Likes: 10
From: Palm Beach Florida
St. Jude Donor '12
Lowering a vette?
I've seen a couple of 75's and 77's that have been lowered a inch or so. They look good, BUT is there anything detrimental that could arise from this? How is it done on these vettes? I would assume the front has shorter coils. But the back? Would they take a leaf spring out of the original? Just curious.
Safety Car
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 3,558
Likes: 4
From: Oakland California
For the back, you just have to buy longer bolts for the spring. You can also buy a composite rear spring that will come with the longer bolts so that you can adjust the ride height. A lot of the supporting vendors sell them. As for the front, some people just cut the springs, or you could buy some new springs from VBP that will lower your car about an inch and a half or so.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 2,136
Likes: 62
From: West Kingston RI
The backs are lowered by putting in longer bolts at the meounting end of the springs. Fronts are done by cutting the spring. I have heard that using a 550LB spring in the front will lower it by about 1" but don't know for sure on that.
Safety Car
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 3,558
Likes: 4
From: Oakland California
Link for front springs:
http://www.vbandp.com/C2-C3-Corvette...l-Springs.html
Link for longer bolt kit:
http://www.vbandp.com/C2-C3-Corvette...2-1997-05.html
http://www.vbandp.com/C2-C3-Corvette...l-Springs.html
Link for longer bolt kit:
http://www.vbandp.com/C2-C3-Corvette...2-1997-05.html
Team Owner
Joined: Feb 1999
Posts: 34,455
Likes: 665
From: Republic of Texas
cheap way is to cut your front springs, but keep in mind with this alter the spring rate thus alter the ride quality. Best way is to purchase #550 springs.
Last edited by Corey_68; Oct 5, 2010 at 02:30 PM.
Safety Car
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 3,558
Likes: 4
From: Oakland California
Burning Brakes
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 955
Likes: 50
From: Jersey Shore
My car just barely tucks the top of front tire inside the fender and the rear has about 1" between the top of the tire and the fender lip. My front air dam is 3" off the ground. If you are careful, you can keep it pretty low
I actually lowered it just a touch more after this picture was taken. No problems, just have to watch out for large potholes and dips.
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Le Mans Master
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 7,353
Likes: 72
From: Graceland in a Not Correctly Restored Stingray
In addition to good looks, a properly lowered C3 also gains some handling advantages. FWIW, at Chevy Power book RR heights my Hooker sidemounts clear all but the tallest speed bumps with only minimal finessing. That said, the lower you go the more likely you may need stiffer springs to reduce/eliminate excessive bottoming, but IMCO if you're after improved cornering you'll probably need them anyway. In any event, it's a good idea not to lower so much that the odd manhole lid takes out your oil pan (
).
TSW
).TSW
Last edited by TheSkunkWorks; Oct 5, 2010 at 05:36 PM.
