Ride height
Thread Starter
Advanced
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 84
Likes: 0
From: Quebec
Ride height
In my quest to buy a nice chrome bumper C3, i found one in that could be the one!
One thing i noticed on the picture the current owner sent me is that the back of the car sit really high. From the pic their at least a 6 inch gap between the fender and the rear tire.
The guys told me he have put some new part on the rear suspension.
How can i lower the back of the car?
Here some pic of the car
One thing i noticed on the picture the current owner sent me is that the back of the car sit really high. From the pic their at least a 6 inch gap between the fender and the rear tire.
The guys told me he have put some new part on the rear suspension.
How can i lower the back of the car?
Here some pic of the car
Race Director
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 12,687
Likes: 3,139
From: Shamong, NJ
Usually that will happen when a new rear spring has been installed. I may be wrong, but from the pics, it doesn't necessarily look like a new spring. The spring mount bolts and cushions do look new.
Check with the seller and see if he has replaced the spring. You can buy longer spring bolts (8" long, stock ones are 6"), that will allow you to adjust the rear ride height.
Check with the seller and see if he has replaced the spring. You can buy longer spring bolts (8" long, stock ones are 6"), that will allow you to adjust the rear ride height.
Melting Slicks
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 2,590
Likes: 403
From: Nashville TN
St. Jude Donor '09
The easiest way would be to use longer bolts where the end of the springs attach. Don't know if you are handy with tools, but not a big deal to change out. I have 8" bolts on mine and will probably have to go to 10". Just be careful with the clearance from bolt end to tire. Also, I use Grade 8 bolts for all suspension parts.
You may be able to remove some leafs from the spring stack too which will soften ride and lower arc, but hopefully someone more knowledgeable than me will pipe in.
You may be able to remove some leafs from the spring stack too which will soften ride and lower arc, but hopefully someone more knowledgeable than me will pipe in.
Last edited by redman76; Oct 11, 2011 at 03:24 PM. Reason: grammer
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 31,302
Likes: 4,391
From: Westminster Maryland
Hi ff,
The car is sitting high for a reason. The longer spring bolts will allow the height to come down some but it's not addressing the actual cause.
Originally 68-72 cars had specific trim heights given in the factory Assembly Instruction Manual. An easy dimension to check is to measure from the ground to the center of the fender's wheel opening. It should be just under 28". Remember though, that the dimension was based on an F-70-15 tire that was about 27" tall.
Since it's not your car yet it might be good to know 'why', not just how to cover the problem up.
Regards,
Alan
The car is sitting high for a reason. The longer spring bolts will allow the height to come down some but it's not addressing the actual cause.
Originally 68-72 cars had specific trim heights given in the factory Assembly Instruction Manual. An easy dimension to check is to measure from the ground to the center of the fender's wheel opening. It should be just under 28". Remember though, that the dimension was based on an F-70-15 tire that was about 27" tall.
Since it's not your car yet it might be good to know 'why', not just how to cover the problem up.
Regards,
Alan
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 3,264
Likes: 3
From: Vero Beach FL
When you look at the bushings on the bolts you can see that they are new, these will compress some as the car is driven and sits for awhile. As Mike said you have another half inch or so left on the bolts.
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
Every 2027 Corvette Engine Explained
Joe Kucinski
Designer Imagines A Corvette That Looks More Like a Corvette Than the Corvette
Verdad Gallardo
10 Ugly Corvettes That We Still Kinda Love
Joe Kucinski
Top 10 Most Expensive Corvettes Ever Sold on Bring A Trailer
Brett Foote
10 Things Every Corvette Owner Needs (2026 Edition)
Michael S. Palmer
8 Most "Only Corvette Owners Understand" Quirks and Problems
Pouria Savadkouei
10 Reasons the C6 Z06 is Still A Performance Benchmark After 20 Years
Joe Kucinski
How Much Horsepower Every Corvette Engine "LOST" in 1972
Joe Kucinski
Top 10 DOs and DON'Ts for Protecting Your Convertible Top!
Michael S. Palmer
Le Mans Master
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 7,353
Likes: 72
From: Graceland in a Not Correctly Restored Stingray
That's the question I'd ask. 
FWIW, when checking ride heights by the book, the Z & D heights taken from suspension geometry aren't typically affected by non-OEM tires sizes as are measurements referenced from the body.
FWIW, when checking ride heights by the book, the Z & D heights taken from suspension geometry aren't typically affected by non-OEM tires sizes as are measurements referenced from the body.
Thread Starter
Advanced
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 84
Likes: 0
From: Quebec
Thanks guys for the quick answer! this forum is full of knowledge.
The owner of the car got this car from his brother. The vette was owned by his brother who let the car sit for a while. The car was in their family for 30 + years.
He worked on the car to refresh it and drove it a little bit, less than 100 miles this year.
He is 67 yo and have another project in the garage so he doesn't have time for the vette.
He told me he think he dont like how the car handle since he put new tire on it. But i dont think its the tire that cause the poor handling, probably the bad suspension setting.
I plan to rebuilt most of the rearend anyway mostly to gear it 4.10 and handle some hp
The owner of the car got this car from his brother. The vette was owned by his brother who let the car sit for a while. The car was in their family for 30 + years.
He worked on the car to refresh it and drove it a little bit, less than 100 miles this year.
He is 67 yo and have another project in the garage so he doesn't have time for the vette.
He told me he think he dont like how the car handle since he put new tire on it. But i dont think its the tire that cause the poor handling, probably the bad suspension setting.
I plan to rebuilt most of the rearend anyway mostly to gear it 4.10 and handle some hp
Last edited by Fastfrank_z28; Oct 11, 2011 at 07:18 PM.
Instructor
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 201
Likes: 1
From: Taunton Ma
I have a similar issue with my car and i'm real hesitant about adding the longer bolts. It looks to me like my car and this car will probably need the 10" bolts for a nice look. I think that will take the bottom of the bolt passed the bottom of the rim. What happens if you get a flat tire? Will this bolt tear up the tire and if so would it then be possible that the bolt would contact the road which would be catastrophic? There has to be a better safer way.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 6,506
Likes: 139
From: Butler Pa
I have a similar issue with my car and i'm real hesitant about adding the longer bolts. It looks to me like my car and this car will probably need the 10" bolts for a nice look. I think that will take the bottom of the bolt passed the bottom of the rim. What happens if you get a flat tire? Will this bolt tear up the tire and if so would it then be possible that the bolt would contact the road which would be catastrophic? There has to be a better safer way.
Instructor
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 201
Likes: 1
From: Taunton Ma
I would have to look at it again that might be exceptable. But i would rather have the stock bolts with springs with the correct specification with a height that is appealing to the eye. From what i have read here no mater if you get a replacement compisite or metal you need longer bolts. They even sell the springs saying that you will need longer bolts.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 5,727
Likes: 39
From: Fremont CA
Who cares about ride heigth? Those trailing arms and halfshafts look really crusty to my eyes. Have you looked at the Vette in person, checked it out really well for frame rusting problems? Do a search on this forum about rust problems, then do a thurough inspection before you part with your $$$$
Thread Starter
Advanced
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 84
Likes: 0
From: Quebec
I didnt see the car in person yet. The car sat for almost 20 year inside a garage and the current owner decides to restore it before he got bored with the car and decided to put his energy on a 65 barracuda.
From what the guys told me the frame is in really good shape, no rust issue. He sent me picture which seem to confirm what he say.
The guys seem to be an older gentlemen from the discussion we had.
Only problem is that car is 10 hour drive from me...
I will send one of my friend who build car for living. He know those corvette really well. He recently found and sold 7 of them for a local collector.
My plan is to build a high 10 small block street car so im already planing to work on the back of the car. I have seen some thread of you guys doing super 10 bolt rear end! As long as the car is solid ill be in business.
Here is some of the other pic he sent me. Tell me what you guys think!
From what the guys told me the frame is in really good shape, no rust issue. He sent me picture which seem to confirm what he say.
The guys seem to be an older gentlemen from the discussion we had.
Only problem is that car is 10 hour drive from me...
I will send one of my friend who build car for living. He know those corvette really well. He recently found and sold 7 of them for a local collector.
My plan is to build a high 10 small block street car so im already planing to work on the back of the car. I have seen some thread of you guys doing super 10 bolt rear end! As long as the car is solid ill be in business.
Here is some of the other pic he sent me. Tell me what you guys think!
Thread Starter
Advanced
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 84
Likes: 0
From: Quebec
he jacked the car to take pic but didnt move it afterward...