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

Setting the "D" height

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Jun 29, 2025 | 09:27 AM
  #1  
cottoneg's Avatar
cottoneg
Thread Starter
Drifting
15 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
 
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 1,718
Likes: 282
From: New York
Default Setting the "D" height

TheSkunkWorks helped me a lot. In a rush to get a change made to go to a Time Trail at NJMS, I went from the Daytona suspension to the F-41 suspension. I changed the front and rear spring and noticed the ride height was different especially in the rear. It sat higher. While I had the car aligned, I did not address the height. The car handled as if it was possessed.

If you make a change in the car a you notice a change in the height, you may want to consider checking your “D” height. I adjusted mine and went more to a racing spec and the car handled much better. I think street “D” height is 1.6 inches and racing is around 1.2.

https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...-response.html

http://www.corvettefaq.com/c3/ChevyPower.pdf

If you look at figure 11 on page 10, you will see the “D” height. You may need longer bolts which isn't an issue. I purchased 10" bolts, set the height and dremeled off the excess.
Reply
Old Jun 29, 2025 | 03:48 PM
  #2  
MelWff's Avatar
MelWff
Race Director
20 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
 
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 18,784
Likes: 2,598
Default

Originally Posted by cottoneg
TheSkunkWorks helped me a lot. In a rush to get a change made to go to a Time Trail at NJMS, I went from the Daytona suspension to the F-41 suspension. I changed the front and rear spring and noticed the ride height was different especially in the rear. It sat higher. While I had the car aligned, I did not address the height. The car handled as if it was possessed.

If you make a change in the car a you notice a change in the height, you may want to consider checking your “D” height. I adjusted mine and went more to a racing spec and the car handled much better. I think street “D” height is 1.6 inches and racing is around 1.2.

https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...-response.html

http://www.corvettefaq.com/c3/ChevyPower.pdf

If you look at figure 11 on page 10, you will see the “D” height. You may need longer bolts which isn't an issue. I purchased 10" bolts, set the height and dremeled off the excess.
If you look at page 6-7 it states D height should be set to 1.25". Using a composite spring I was able to achieve that setting with 8" bolts.
Reply
Old Jun 30, 2025 | 06:25 AM
  #3  
3X2's Avatar
3X2
Melting Slicks
25 Year Member
Photogenic
Photoriffic
Top Answer: 1
 
Joined: Jan 2000
Posts: 3,326
Likes: 524
From: home
Default

I was told decades ago to set D with the half shafts parallel to the ground with 1/2 tank of fuel and drivers weight in the seat.
Reply
Old Jun 30, 2025 | 09:55 AM
  #4  
MelWff's Avatar
MelWff
Race Director
20 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
 
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 18,784
Likes: 2,598
Default

Originally Posted by 3X2
I was told decades ago to set D with the half shafts parallel to the ground with 1/2 tank of fuel and drivers weight in the seat.
The poster is setting it up for track usage. The Chevrolet Power Corvette Chassis section is all about setting up a C2/C3 for the track. The 1.25" D height is what they suggest causing the inner ends of the half shafts to be slightly higher than the outer.
Reply

Get notified of new replies

To Setting the "D" height





All times are GMT -4. The time now is 05:44 AM.

story-0
10 Corvettes to Drive Before You Die!

Slideshow: 10 Corvettes to drive before you die.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-06-23 08:31:12


VIEW MORE
story-1
Corvette & Porsche 911: How Two Icons Conquered the Last 25 Years

Slideshow: Corvette and Porsche 911, how two icons conquered the last 25 years.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-06-23 08:18:33


VIEW MORE
story-2
2027 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 First Look: Everything You NEED to Know!

Slideshow: Is the 2027 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 the best Silverado yet?

By Michael S. Palmer | 2026-06-16 08:01:12


VIEW MORE
story-3
5 Best & 5 Worst Corvette Daily Drivers

Slideshow: 5 best and 5 worst Corvette daily drivers

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-06-15 10:32:13


VIEW MORE
story-4
The Headlights of Every Corvette Generation Explained

Slideshow: The headlights of every Corvette generation explained

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-06-15 10:17:14


VIEW MORE
story-5
5 Best & 5 Most Overrated Corvette Track Packages of All Time!

Slideshow: The 5 best and 5 most overrated Corvette track packages ever.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-06-09 12:46:45


VIEW MORE
story-6
Every 2027 Corvette Engine Explained

Slideshow: Every 2027 Corvette engine explained

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-06-09 12:16:31


VIEW MORE
story-7
Designer Imagines A Corvette That Looks More Like a Corvette Than the Corvette

Slideshow: A Jaguar designer's personal project imagines what a modern front-engined Corvette might look like if Chevrolet revisited the golden age of the Stingray.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-06-08 19:53:43


VIEW MORE
story-8
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-9
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