C3 Tech/Performance V8 Technical Info, Internal Engine, External Engine, Basic Tech and Maintenance for the C3 Corvette
Sponsored by:
Sponsored by:

1968 ride height problem

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old May 22, 2017 | 11:51 PM
  #1  
Youngvettehunter's Avatar
Youngvettehunter
Thread Starter
Instructor
 
Joined: Apr 2016
Posts: 166
Likes: 6
Default 1968 ride height problem



i just finished getting the body installed on my new (1975) chassis and it's a 1968 body. The ride height is one of the last problems I'm dealing with so I can get it aligned and on the road. Any suggestions as to why it's sitting so high? The rear spring was on the chassis when I got it and I think it's aftermarket. I have the original 1968 7 leaf and front springs, should I just put those in?
Reply
Old May 23, 2017 | 07:12 AM
  #2  
Easy Mike's Avatar
Easy Mike
Team Owner
Supporting Lifetime
20 Year Member
 
Joined: Jun 2000
Posts: 38,923
Likes: 1,482
From: Southbound
Cruise-In II Veteran
Default

Has the suspension settled since body drop? Have you driven the car?
Reply
Old May 23, 2017 | 07:17 AM
  #3  
blue by you's Avatar
blue by you
Burning Brakes
15 Year Member
 
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 1,179
Likes: 100
From: cranford nj
Default

what size tires do you have on your car, it's has nothing to do with the height, but they look like they are low profile
Reply
Old May 23, 2017 | 08:01 AM
  #4  
Rescue Rogers's Avatar
Rescue Rogers
Is my vette stock?? HAHA
Supporting Lifetime Gold
Veteran: Navy
10 Year Member
Community Builder
Loved
 
Joined: Oct 2015
Posts: 20,210
Likes: 9,349
From: Im not allowed to tell you
2020 C3 of the Year Finalist - Modified
2020 Corvette of the Year Finalist (performance mods)
2019 C3 of Year Winner (performance mods)
2016 C3 of Year Finalist
Default

you need longer bolts for the springs at the tires. My mono spring is level with the rim on the bottom. Yours is up at the disc. I would do that first. Cheap and easy.


I had 235 60 15 and they looked alot closer than that

Last edited by Rescue Rogers; May 23, 2017 at 08:03 AM.
Reply
Old May 23, 2017 | 11:12 AM
  #5  
sullyman56's Avatar
sullyman56
Drifting
10 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
 
Joined: Nov 2013
Posts: 1,547
Likes: 282
From: Scottsdale Arizona
Default

It would help if you remove the shipping bands from the rear spring.
Reply
Old May 23, 2017 | 11:39 AM
  #6  
MelWff's Avatar
MelWff
Race Director
20 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
 
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 18,734
Likes: 2,582
Default

There is no interior and no firewall, I can seen the engine looking through the interior, so the car hasnt been driven. You cannt make any determinations until the car is completed and has a full tank of gas and as been started, remove the shipping bands from the spring.

Last edited by MelWff; May 23, 2017 at 02:32 PM.
Reply
Old May 23, 2017 | 02:28 PM
  #7  
Youngvettehunter's Avatar
Youngvettehunter
Thread Starter
Instructor
 
Joined: Apr 2016
Posts: 166
Likes: 6
Default

Originally Posted by Easy Mike
Has the suspension settled since body drop? Have you driven the car?
yes ive driven it it and yes the picture is after it settled
Reply
Old May 23, 2017 | 02:29 PM
  #8  
Youngvettehunter's Avatar
Youngvettehunter
Thread Starter
Instructor
 
Joined: Apr 2016
Posts: 166
Likes: 6
Default

Originally Posted by blue by you
what size tires do you have on your car, it's has nothing to do with the height, but they look like they are low profile
255/45/17 almost stock wheel diameter
Reply
Corvette Stories

The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts

story-0

10 Ugly Corvettes That We Still Kinda Love

 Joe Kucinski
story-1

Top 10 Most Expensive Corvettes Ever Sold on Bring A Trailer

 Brett Foote
story-2

10 Things Every Corvette Owner Needs (2026 Edition)

 Michael S. Palmer
story-3

8 Most "Only Corvette Owners Understand" Quirks and Problems

 Pouria Savadkouei
story-4

10 Reasons the C6 Z06 is Still A Performance Benchmark After 20 Years

 Joe Kucinski
story-5

How Much Horsepower Every Corvette Engine "LOST" in 1972

 Joe Kucinski
story-6

Top 10 DOs and DON'Ts for Protecting Your Convertible Top!

 Michael S. Palmer
story-7

Top 10 Most Explosive Corvettes Ever Made: Power-to-Weight Ratio Ranked!

 Joe Kucinski
story-8

150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter

 Joe Kucinski
story-9

8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time

 Verdad Gallardo
Old May 23, 2017 | 02:31 PM
  #9  
Youngvettehunter's Avatar
Youngvettehunter
Thread Starter
Instructor
 
Joined: Apr 2016
Posts: 166
Likes: 6
Default

Originally Posted by MelWff
There is no interior and no firewall, I can seen the engine looking through the interior, so the car hasnt been driven. You cannt make any determinations until the car is completed and has a full tank of gas and as been stated, remove the shipping bands from the spring.
the second picture was just to show the rear spring. that was when the body was off!
Reply
Old May 23, 2017 | 02:36 PM
  #10  
MelWff's Avatar
MelWff
Race Director
20 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
 
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 18,734
Likes: 2,582
Default

In the read did you try 8" or 10" spring bolts and have you removed the straps from the rear spring?
In the front any chance you are using big block springs with a small block engine?
Reply
Old May 23, 2017 | 02:52 PM
  #11  
Youngvettehunter's Avatar
Youngvettehunter
Thread Starter
Instructor
 
Joined: Apr 2016
Posts: 166
Likes: 6
Default

Originally Posted by MelWff
In the read did you try 8" or 10" spring bolts and have you removed the straps from the rear spring?
In the front any chance you are using big block springs with a small block engine?
haven't tried longer bolts but i will. the front springs could be big block springs... is there a way to tell?
Reply
Old May 24, 2017 | 06:18 PM
  #12  
leadfoot4's Avatar
leadfoot4
Team Owner
25 Year Member
Active Streak: 60 Days
Active Streak: 90 Days
Community Builder
 
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 87,364
Likes: 1,592
From: Western NY
Default

Originally Posted by Youngvettehunter
yes ive driven it it and yes the picture is after it settled
Were the two pictures you posted, taken at different times....in that one was before the body was on the chassis, and one after the body was set in place? If so, that might be creating some confusion.

But you realize, don't you, that without a full interior, fully dressed out engine compartment, etc, your car is a few hundred pounds light. That WILL make a difference.


Originally Posted by Youngvettehunter
255/45/17 almost stock wheel diameter
No, the 255/17s are a full inch "shorter" that the OE tires. In reality, that will on one hand, raise the car a tad, but also at the same time, reduce the tire to fenderwell gap.
Reply
Old May 24, 2017 | 07:39 PM
  #13  
Rescue Rogers's Avatar
Rescue Rogers
Is my vette stock?? HAHA
Supporting Lifetime Gold
Veteran: Navy
10 Year Member
Community Builder
Loved
 
Joined: Oct 2015
Posts: 20,210
Likes: 9,349
From: Im not allowed to tell you
2020 C3 of the Year Finalist - Modified
2020 Corvette of the Year Finalist (performance mods)
2019 C3 of Year Winner (performance mods)
2016 C3 of Year Finalist
Default

Hes right, a 255/45/17 is 26" tall and you need 27"

https://tiresize.com/calculator/

Last edited by Rescue Rogers; May 24, 2017 at 07:39 PM.
Reply
Old May 25, 2017 | 12:40 AM
  #14  
Youngvettehunter's Avatar
Youngvettehunter
Thread Starter
Instructor
 
Joined: Apr 2016
Posts: 166
Likes: 6
Default

Originally Posted by leadfoot4
Were the two pictures you posted, taken at different times....in that one was before the body was on the chassis, and one after the body was set in place? If so, that might be creating some confusion.

But you realize, don't you, that without a full interior, fully dressed out engine compartment, etc, your car is a few hundred pounds light. That WILL make a difference.




No, the 255/17s are a full inch "shorter" that the OE tires. In reality, that will on one hand, raise the car a tad, but also at the same time, reduce the tire to fenderwell gap.
the pictures were taken at different times the car is fully back together now and has a half tank of gas in it. Every nut and bolt is back on the car. Should I just remove the front springs and cut them or is there a fixable problem? I will add the longer rear bolts but I don't think that's gonna get it 6-7inchs lower...
Reply
Old May 25, 2017 | 07:50 AM
  #15  
Rescue Rogers's Avatar
Rescue Rogers
Is my vette stock?? HAHA
Supporting Lifetime Gold
Veteran: Navy
10 Year Member
Community Builder
Loved
 
Joined: Oct 2015
Posts: 20,210
Likes: 9,349
From: Im not allowed to tell you
2020 C3 of the Year Finalist - Modified
2020 Corvette of the Year Finalist (performance mods)
2019 C3 of Year Winner (performance mods)
2016 C3 of Year Finalist
Default

The bolts are a cheap way to check and they should get you atleast half way there. A lot cheaper than buying a new spring pack
Reply
Old May 25, 2017 | 07:50 AM
  #16  
terrys6t8roadster's Avatar
terrys6t8roadster
Melting Slicks
10 Year Member
 
Joined: May 2012
Posts: 2,192
Likes: 343
From: Allenton Wisconsin
Default

Where did you get those springs from? You mentioned reinstalling the 7-leaf. I thought the 7-leaf was a big block spring, your picture shows small block hood. When I took out the 9-leaf from my 69 to put a glass spring in it had no where the arch your spring has in it even when it was laying on the floor. Did you check the arch from your 7-leaf and compare it to the 9-leaf you installed. What pound ratting front springs did you install in the front. If your car sat lower with the 7-leaf just reinstall that one and if still to high use 10" bolts. T
Reply
Old May 25, 2017 | 07:51 AM
  #17  
leadfoot4's Avatar
leadfoot4
Team Owner
25 Year Member
Active Streak: 60 Days
Active Streak: 90 Days
Community Builder
 
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 87,364
Likes: 1,592
From: Western NY
Default

Originally Posted by Youngvettehunter
the pictures were taken at different times the car is fully back together now and has a half tank of gas in it. Every nut and bolt is back on the car. Should I just remove the front springs and cut them or is there a fixable problem? I will add the longer rear bolts but I don't think that's gonna get it 6-7inchs lower...
How much of the suspension was disassembled, during this period of time? If you removed a-arms and/or trailing arms, then tightened everything up without a full load on the chassis, you might be encountering a "bind", which isn't allowing the suspension to properly settle. And again, is everything back on the car?
Reply
Old May 25, 2017 | 09:14 AM
  #18  
Youngvettehunter's Avatar
Youngvettehunter
Thread Starter
Instructor
 
Joined: Apr 2016
Posts: 166
Likes: 6
Default

Originally Posted by leadfoot4
How much of the suspension was disassembled, during this period of time? If you removed a-arms and/or trailing arms, then tightened everything up without a full load on the chassis, you might be encountering a "bind", which isn't allowing the suspension to properly settle. And again, is everything back on the car?
the suspension was left alone besides the shocks. And as I said before it's all back together.
Reply
Old May 25, 2017 | 09:38 AM
  #19  
leadfoot4's Avatar
leadfoot4
Team Owner
25 Year Member
Active Streak: 60 Days
Active Streak: 90 Days
Community Builder
 
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 87,364
Likes: 1,592
From: Western NY
Default

Originally Posted by Youngvettehunter
the suspension was left alone besides the shocks. And as I said before it's all back together.
Are you saying that you bought a "rolling chassis", that's a 1975 vintage, and set your '68 body on it? Just out of curiosity, what did you use for body mount cushions? Any chance that there were cushions stuck either to your body, or the frame, and you now have 2 sets of cushions, that the body is setting on?

Can you post a picture of the rear suspension, now that the body is on the chassis, so we can see how the suspension is sitting?
Reply

Get notified of new replies

To 1968 ride height problem





All times are GMT -4. The time now is 10:32 PM.

story-0
10 Ugly Corvettes That We Still Kinda Love

Slideshow: 10 ugly Corvettes that we still kinda love.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-06-03 10:34:17


VIEW MORE
story-1
Top 10 Most Expensive Corvettes Ever Sold on Bring A Trailer

A lot of money has changed hands at the online auction house over the years.

By Brett Foote | 2026-06-03 10:21:50


VIEW MORE
story-2
10 Things Every Corvette Owner Needs (2026 Edition)

Slideshow: 10 great gifts Corvette enthusiasts actually want for Father's Day!

By Michael S. Palmer | 2026-06-03 15:43:40


VIEW MORE
story-3
8 Most "Only Corvette Owners Understand" Quirks and Problems

Slideshow: These are the quirks, annoyances, and oddly lovable problems that every Corvette owner eventually learns to live with.

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-05-28 09:31:39


VIEW MORE
story-4
10 Reasons the C6 Z06 is Still A Performance Benchmark After 20 Years

Slideshow: 10 reasons why the C6 Z06 is still a performance benchmark after 20 years.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-27 17:20:09


VIEW MORE
story-5
How Much Horsepower Every Corvette Engine "LOST" in 1972

Slideshow: How much horsepower every Corvette engine lost in 1972.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-27 16:54:53


VIEW MORE
story-6
Top 10 DOs and DON'Ts for Protecting Your Convertible Top!

Slideshow: How to Protect A Convertible Top: 10 DOs & DON'Ts

By Michael S. Palmer | 2026-04-03 00:00:00


VIEW MORE
story-7
Top 10 Most Explosive Corvettes Ever Made: Power-to-Weight Ratio Ranked!

Slideshow: The 10 most explosive Corvettes ever built based on power-to-weight ratio.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-20 07:23:03


VIEW MORE
story-8
150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter

Slideshow: From C1 to C8 we compare every Corvette generation by the numbers.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-12 16:54:12


VIEW MORE
story-9
8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time

Slideshow: Some Corvette pace cars became collectible legends, while others perfectly captured the look and attitude of their era.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-11 09:50:51


VIEW MORE