Lowered with Long Tubes?????
Thread Starter
Keeping Cool
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 488
Likes: 2
From: Redondo Beach CA
Lowered with Long Tubes?????
I just came from the shop and the motor is in, but I will not be able to take her home until I return from my East Coast Trip. 
My question is this. For those of you who have lowered your car, and have long tubes. Do you have any problems with the headers hitting the ground? When I looked at mine it looks as though I will be just barely making in and out of some driveways and if I lower it then I am completely scr3wed
My question is this. For those of you who have lowered your car, and have long tubes. Do you have any problems with the headers hitting the ground? When I looked at mine it looks as though I will be just barely making in and out of some driveways and if I lower it then I am completely scr3wed
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 7,441
Likes: 421
From: Ventura County, CA
St. Jude Donor '05 thru '24
I have mine lowered with TPIS longtubes....I dont have any issues but use caution when going over speed bumps anyways. Here is a pic of my other TPIS headers before I got rid of them, looks like they had hit a speed bump or two in their life
Le Mans Master
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 5,866
Likes: 60
From: Hellinois
Finalist 2020 C4 of the Year - Modified
My '85 is lowered with Hedman Elites on it and my only contact area is the x brace I have on the car. I am still very cautious with speed bumps though.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 3,403
Likes: 398
From: Lakeville MI
Like Lars87, I have LPE long tubes and my car is lowered. I can get 2 fingers between the tire and fender in the front, and 3 fingers in the rear. Its not extremely low like some cars.
I do drag the headers on the road occasionally. One of the passenger side tubes now has a big flat spot.
This happens on paved roads where the tire contact areas within the lane have been depressed relative to the center of the lane by heavy truck loads and wear and tear on the road.
Sometimes you can't even see that the road isn't flat when this occurs.
Potholes and speed bumps also present problems. I'm actually thinking of looking for some taller tires to help in this regard.
I do drag the headers on the road occasionally. One of the passenger side tubes now has a big flat spot.
This happens on paved roads where the tire contact areas within the lane have been depressed relative to the center of the lane by heavy truck loads and wear and tear on the road.
Sometimes you can't even see that the road isn't flat when this occurs.
Potholes and speed bumps also present problems. I'm actually thinking of looking for some taller tires to help in this regard.
Thread Starter
Keeping Cool
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 488
Likes: 2
From: Redondo Beach CA
Thanks to all who replied. So I guess I will deal with it and lower the car. I am ordering new wheels from BOZE forged and the car will look awesome with a little bit lower stance
THANKS AGAIN!!!
THANKS AGAIN!!!
Race Director
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 11,043
Likes: 3
From: San Jose Pat Tillman - American Hero
I've scraped a few times with my EM headers installed, but I could probably avoid it if I wanted to make a big spectacle of myself by forcing traffic behind me to back up while I reverse away from the speed bump until I can find an isle to go around.
The only thing I ever hit are speed bumps, and I can usually guess which ones it'll be as I approach them. There are a particular bunch in a local shopping center parking lot that I've learned to just absolutely avoid. They are very tall, and they are shaped like trapezoids (i.e., they have defined "faces", sharp angles, and a flat top that's about 1 foot across). I've crept across them before with just the slightest little scrape - hardly anything, really - but if I cause even the smallest bit of shock compression by rolling off the bump too fast, it's no good.
Driveways and such haven't been an issue, yet.
The only thing I ever hit are speed bumps, and I can usually guess which ones it'll be as I approach them. There are a particular bunch in a local shopping center parking lot that I've learned to just absolutely avoid. They are very tall, and they are shaped like trapezoids (i.e., they have defined "faces", sharp angles, and a flat top that's about 1 foot across). I've crept across them before with just the slightest little scrape - hardly anything, really - but if I cause even the smallest bit of shock compression by rolling off the bump too fast, it's no good.
Driveways and such haven't been an issue, yet.
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Team Owner
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 40,156
Likes: 45
From: San Pedro CA
I would gauge the need... your 85 sits kinda low already... and lowering it more could be the death nell for both the collectors and the oil pan.
