Ground clearence question
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Ground clearence question
Posted: October 13 2008 11:04 PM
 
Jimmy Clarke (aka Jimmy Clarke) [ View ] [ jclarke1@ec.rr.com ] [ Car Ads ] [ Blogs ]
Jacksonville, North Carolina
 
The bottom of my tranny pan is approx 6" off the ground at ride heigth and seems fine. My pipe section coming off the manifold is approx 4.5", and seems low. My question is what's a safe minium? ('37 Stude, LT1, Fatman coil over front, leaf 12 bolt rear) Thanks, Jimmy
 
 
Comments
 
Posted by 31tudor  -  10/13/2008 11:24 PM
Seems high enough to me, but I like my stuff LOOOOOOOW!


Keep in mind your "scrub line". If you were sitting on four flat tires, no part of your car should be closer than one inch from the ground. That will keep you safe in most situations, and that's how most state's laws read too.
Eric Hibbs [ View ] [ Email ] [ Blogs ] [ Car Ads ] St. George, Utah Charter Member since January 2002
 
Posted by blade58  -  10/14/2008 08:52 AM
I agree with 31tudor ,Living in Florida we can get away with it sitting a little lower most of the time.
blade58 [ View ] [ Email ] [ Blogs ] [ Car Ads ] apopka, Florida Charter Member since January 2008
 
Posted by Willys33  -  10/14/2008 09:31 AM
I also run an LT1 and found the Sanderson CC2 headers to work the best for me. Average block hugger collectors end and the oil pan line but the CC2 header collectors are way above that allowing the pipes to be bent above the frame bottom. Check them out at Sanderson's site.
Get off the trailer and drive [ View ] [ Email ] [ Blogs ] [ Car Ads ] Alamogordo, New Mexico
 
Posted by jimmothershead  -  10/14/2008 10:18 AM
Looow is good !!
Jim [ View ] [ Email ] [ Blogs ] [ Car Ads ] Huntingtown, Maryland
 
Posted by orphans2  -  10/14/2008 02:45 PM
Your pipes are higher from the ground then my front valance, so I suspect you're ok.
orphans2 [ View ] [ Email ] [ Blogs ] [ Car Ads ] Stewartstown, Pennsylvannia Charter Member since November 2001
 
Posted by McMillan Rod & Custom  -  10/14/2008 03:29 PM
Check your scrub line (pull a string from the bottom of the rim on one side of the car, to where the tire meets the ground on the other side), nothing suspension related should hang below this. Other than that go as low as your nerves will allow. I ran my 41 for many years where a beer can wouldn't roll under the cross member.

Jim
McMillan Rod & Custom [ View ] [ Email ] [ Blogs ] [ Car Ads ] Marshfield, Wisconsin
 
Posted by sedanbob  -  10/14/2008 05:22 PM
Jim,

Thanks for the explanation of scrub line. I saw that as part of the NSRA safety inspection, but no explanation. Was that a 12 ounce beer, or a 40?
sedanbob [ View ] [ Email ] [ Blogs ] [ Car Ads ] Saint Louis, Missouri Charter Member since September 2008
 
Posted by aosborn  -  10/14/2008 06:10 PM
What I use for a scrub line reference is to say that if you took the tires off of the rims bolted the rims to the hubs and set the car on the ground, NOTHING should touch, suspension or otherwise. Tough to do sometimes, but that is how I send them out. For a quick check, measure from the ground to the rim on your shortest tire (usually the front) then make sure nothing under the car is closer to the ground than that.
aosborn [ View ] [ Email ] [ Blogs ] [ Car Ads ] Olympia, Washington
 
Posted by McMillan Rod & Custom  -  10/14/2008 07:51 PM
It was a 12 ounce and after smearing a raccoon down the road one to many times I deciced to raise the front a litttle. And by the way even at the old ride hieght it passed the scrub line by 3/4", so it's possible. And I stand corrected, aosborn you are correct, nothing should hang below the scrub line that in the event of a tire failure would cause the piece to dig in and cause you to loose control of your ride. Usually about the only thing that we allow to hang below scrub line is sheetmetal.

Jim
McMillan Rod & Custom [ View ] [ Email ] [ Blogs ] [ Car Ads ] Marshfield, Wisconsin
 
Posted by 31tudor  -  10/14/2008 08:22 PM
He he McMillan, I've drug a few critters myself. I love animals but not enough to raise my ride.


Probably my lowest was my '98 GMC Extended Cab, dropped 6" front and 8" back running on 235/45/17's. The front crossmember was 1 3/4" from the ground. Actually rode REALLY good! Was also good for removing those pesky "road dots" that the DOT puts in the middle of the freeways!
Eric Hibbs [ View ] [ Email ] [ Blogs ] [ Car Ads ] St. George, Utah Charter Member since January 2002
 
Posted by HotRod727  -  10/14/2008 10:26 PM
how low is low?
HotRod727 [ View ] [ Email ] [ Blogs ] [ Car Ads ] Tumwater, Washington
 
Posted by driver48  -  10/15/2008 10:20 PM
LOW?
driver48 [ View ] [ Email ] [ Blogs ] [ Car Ads ] whiteland, Indiana
 
Posted by dixie  -  10/15/2008 10:29 PM
LOWER
jim grace [ View ] [ Email ] [ Blogs ] [ Car Ads ] dade city, Florida Charter Member since January 2006
 
Posted by 31tudor  -  10/15/2008 11:38 PM
When you hang your arm out the window and your knuckles drag on the ground you're almost there. Just take another 12" out and you're close to low enough.
Eric Hibbs [ View ] [ Email ] [ Blogs ] [ Car Ads ] St. George, Utah Charter Member since January 2002
 
Posted by 41 Kustom  -  10/16/2008 07:56 AM
I like Erics way of measuring.
41 Kustom [ View ] [ Email ] [ Blogs ] [ Car Ads ] Essex, Vermont
 
Posted by jimmothershead  -  10/16/2008 09:33 AM
Ya can never go too loow !!
Jim [ View ] [ Email ] [ Blogs ] [ Car Ads ] Huntingtown, Maryland
 
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