Corvette vs incline
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Mar 2012
Posts: 871
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From: Memphis Tennessee
Corvette vs incline
I'm currently looking to buy a new house. A lot of new constructions put the garage very close to the front of their properties and that can lead to a very steep driveway. With the long nose I think this could be a deal breaker. Anyone have to navigate their Vette up steep driveways? I've measured a few that come in at a 11 to 12 degree slope.
Team Owner
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 37,637
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From: Crossville TN
I don't think you can go from flat surface to an 11-12 degree slope without hitting nose/tail. Your driveway would have to be graded for a gradual transition. You could lay it out on paper and determine the max angle you can tolerate.
Intermediate
Joined: May 2012
Posts: 35
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From: Muscatine Iowa
Sounds like an excuse to drive your C3. Take your co-pilot and have her/him watch as you slowly try the incline. As a matter of fact, I think that sounds like a great afternoon. Hit the Parade of Homes in your community, or even come try ours!
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Mar 2012
Posts: 871
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From: Memphis Tennessee
Thanks for all the input. I would love to test it myself, but my car is still under construction. That and it is in Tennessee and I'm searching in Texas. We're having a heck of a te finding a house that can accommodate this project and has the frilly things for the wife.
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Mar 2012
Posts: 871
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From: Memphis Tennessee
May just have to avoid them all together. We got married with the understanding that she would not be able to park in the garage or use it for holiday decoration storage, but to convince her she has to park on the street so I can navigate the driveway may be the last straw.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jun 2005
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From: Palatine, Peoples Republic of Illinois
St. Jude Donor '09-'10-'11-12-'13-'14-'15-'16-'17-‘18
NCM Sinkhole Donor
Life is full of decisions. When I got married the first time I had a new '69 Vette which I loved. My new wife told me the vette was not a good family car so I got rid of the vette and kept the wife. It took me 16 years to get over that bad decision.
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Racer
Joined: Jan 2010
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From: Island Lake IL
Thanks for all the input. I would love to test it myself, but my car is still under construction. That and it is in Tennessee and I'm searching in Texas. We're having a heck of a te finding a house that can accommodate this project and has the frilly things for the wife.
You could measure the height of the tip of the nose, distance to the wheel and calculate your max angle. or take a photo of the front of your car (aiming low, from the side) and grab a protractor and measure it (you could even print out the protractor if you don't have one)
But, honestly - these cars have pretty huge ground clearance by today's standards...
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Mar 2012
Posts: 871
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From: Memphis Tennessee
Here is the car as it sits now.
Motor is in and tires are on, but the ride height will likely be tweaked in the future (especially the rear!). Interior is bare and bumper covers are not installed.
We are on the second and last house hunting trip paid for by my wife's company. If we don't pick a house this weekend then we may have to move into a rental for the time being.
Motor is in and tires are on, but the ride height will likely be tweaked in the future (especially the rear!). Interior is bare and bumper covers are not installed.
We are on the second and last house hunting trip paid for by my wife's company. If we don't pick a house this weekend then we may have to move into a rental for the time being.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 2,239
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From: Palatine, Peoples Republic of Illinois
St. Jude Donor '09-'10-'11-12-'13-'14-'15-'16-'17-‘18
NCM Sinkhole Donor
Looks like the only place you might have a problem is with the side pipes. I have the stock '69 side pipes on my '70 and had a problem with them scraping. Had to go into the drive on an angle.
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Mar 2012
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From: Memphis Tennessee
I wasn't even considering the side pipes. I was more concerned with the nose. What part of your pipes hit? I don't know how these compare factory side pipes. The collectors are the lowest part. The side tubes are more beside the frame rails than below them.
Team Owner
Joined: Jan 2006
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From: Crossville TN
As it sits now, the side pipes will not be a problem. But, with those 50 or 40 series tires, you are going to have some major work in back to get the car to sit down 4-5". THEN, there will be problems with the sidepipes
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 1,165
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From: Bellmore NY
I have a pretty steep driveway, and where the driveway apron meets the road, there is also a semi pothole developing in the road [pretty much full width of the apron].
I have a pace car spoiler on the nose, and it gets real close, but as suggested above, I take it on an angle, and real slow
I have a pace car spoiler on the nose, and it gets real close, but as suggested above, I take it on an angle, and real slow
Drifting
Joined: Aug 2009
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From: new iberia la
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 2,239
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From: Palatine, Peoples Republic of Illinois
St. Jude Donor '09-'10-'11-12-'13-'14-'15-'16-'17-‘18
NCM Sinkhole Donor
My side pipes would scrape half way between the front and rear wheels. The OEM pipes do sit a bit below the frame line but not by much.
Drifting
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 1,346
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From: new iberia la
yeah, I had to put up another building at my house,to put my 2-Post Lift in , and service for 220V ..and room for welding equipment
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Mar 2012
Posts: 871
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From: Memphis Tennessee
Tires are 275/40/18. Low profile but close to stock diameter. I doubt I'll lower it too much as I want to drive this thing. As for the large shop, I've always wanted an old downtown warehouse with a loft apartment above. But until I strike it rich ill have to stick to the burbs and the long commutes.