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Just bought a supercharged C6 as my first Corvette.
Having a few issues im hoping my fellow 'vette lovers could help me out with..
The front end of the car is about 2" off the ground, and i've bent the bar behind my radiator which shut off my fan.
Anyways long story short, the front end is too low, I need to gain about 1.5". I've been guided to think about air ride suspension, coilovers, or going 20s in the back 18 in the front, and I am worried about the appearance, and performance with these adjustments..
Its currently on stock suspension, with, 19s and 18s.
Chances are the car was lowered on the height adjustment bolts.
With luck, you still have the OEM adjusters in the springs since you can not buy just the taller OEM height adjusters, but even with the shorter after market adjusters, should still be able to adjust them down so gain ride height.
As for the correct way to adjust ride height, you corner balance the car at the same time, but in a pinch until then, just take reading off a stock car from the center of the fenders down to the ground on level ground front and back, and set your car to those front/back heights.
As for adjusting height, jack the car to unload the springs, then you will be adjusting the ride height bolts down to raise the car ride height.
Chances are the car was lowered on the height adjustment bolts.
With luck, you still have the OEM adjusters in the springs since you can not buy just the taller OEM height adjusters, but even with the shorter after market adjusters, should still be able to adjust them down so gain ride height.
As for the correct way to adjust ride height, you corner balance the car at the same time, but in a pinch until then, just take reading off a stock car from the center of the fenders down to the ground on level ground front and back, and set your car to those front/back heights.
As for adjusting height, jack the car to unload the springs, then you will be adjusting the ride height bolts down to raise the car ride height.
OEM top, aftermarket height adjusters bottom,
And do an alignment so you don't have to buy new tires right away.
You must have really wailed something to bend the radiator support. If you didn't feel that hit it was done prior to you owning it, or they did it during Supercharger install. I believe that if you go 20's on the rear and 18's on the front you will most likely throw a traction control Code, ABS Code, or both.
LFZ, a Forum Member, has a Z06 on coilovers that is literally slammed on the ground. He swears he never scrapes anything other than the air dam.
His Corvette:
I'm going to try coilovers, any recommended brands?
Would the rear need to be replaced as well?
Coilovers are a lot of money if all you want is to raise the front end. Try the leaf spring adjustment mentioned earlier - it is easy to do and there are lots of threads giving detailed instructions.
What would be the harm in removing the plastic end and rubber piece(is that considered to be the air dam) under the front of the Vette's?That would give about another 1 1/2"-2" of clearance.I have been thinking of doing this,the plastic end pieces are already a little rough for wear.It would be a lots cheaper than changing a lot of Hi $$$ parts out.Looks to me like that would be better all around better than raising the front up the car an 1 1/2" or 2".
What is everyone else's thought on this?
What would be the harm in removing the plastic end and rubber piece(is that considered to be the air dam) under the front of the Vette's?That would give about another 1 1/2"-2" of clearance.I have been thinking of doing this,the plastic end pieces are already a little rough for wear.It would be a lots cheaper than changing a lot of Hi $$$ parts out.Looks to me like that would be better all around better than raising the front up the car an 1 1/2" or 2".
What is everyone else's thought on this?
Apparently those air dams are designed to double as alerts that you are going to hit something, ie. they are supposed to be the lowest part of the car and designed to scrape. Also, it has been said that the removal of them may disrupt enough airflow to cause some drive characteristics and cooling issues.
What would be the harm in removing the plastic end and rubber piece(is that considered to be the air dam) under the front of the Vette's?That would give about another 1 1/2"-2" of clearance.I have been thinking of doing this,the plastic end pieces are already a little rough for wear.It would be a lots cheaper than changing a lot of Hi $$$ parts out.Looks to me like that would be better all around better than raising the front up the car an 1 1/2" or 2".
What is everyone else's thought on this?
That would do nothing to protect the car from hitting things when it is riding too low. Those air dams are sacrificial and meant to be replaced when worn out. Their presence or lack of presence doesn't have anything to do with ride height.
The car's look just fine at the stock ride height and you have to worry less about high centering on speed bumps, running the front fascia into a parking curb, dragging the bottom of the car in driveways, etc, etc, etc.
OP: Not sure how a 20 inch rear wheel helps. Usually the tire diameters for the Corvette are the same whether the rim is an 18", 19" or 20", basically around 26.7 inches. Even if you got a tall tire to put on the rim all that would do is lower the nose even more.
That would do nothing to protect the car from hitting things when it is riding too low. Those air dams are sacrificial and meant to be replaced when worn out. Their presence or lack of presence doesn't have anything to do with ride height.
The car's look just fine at the stock ride height and you have to worry less about high centering on speed bumps, running the front fascia into a parking curb, dragging the bottom of the car in driveways, etc, etc, etc.
OP: Not sure how a 20 inch rear wheel helps. Usually the tire diameters for the Corvette are the same whether the rim is an 18", 19" or 20", basically around 26.7 inches. Even if you got a tall tire to put on the rim all that would do is lower the nose even more.
Bill
Bill,where do you get the replacement air dams?Thanks Billy
Coilovers are a lot of money if all you want is to raise the front end. Try the leaf spring adjustment mentioned earlier - it is easy to do and there are lots of threads giving detailed instructions.
Coilovers would be one of the best mods you will ever do to your car.....are they expensive...yes........are they worth every penny YES!!!
Too Low!
