Ride height with 17 inch wheels

[boxhead]

How does your car sit?

I would love to see some pictures and measurements.
I am playing with the height of my car at the moment (more playing tomorrow) and would like to see what others have done.
If a side on pic could be shown and a measurement from ground to bottom edge of wheel arch lip front and rear.

Mine is still in the shed (got dark before I had a chance to wheel it outside) but currently is at 25 1/4 inches rear (at this height the wheel is showing alot of neg camber so I will adjust this out before looking from a distance) and front is at 25 1/2. I still have plenty of ground clearance at these numbers.

But at this height the rear wheel arch has the droopy bum look (could just be caused by neg camber throwing the look out) and I am not a fan of the droopy bum.

Pics and specs would be great thanks.

[andyl]

Originally Posted by boxhead

How does your car sit?

I would love to see some pictures and measurements.
I am playing with the height of my car at the moment (more playing tomorrow) and would like to see what others have done.
If a side on pic could be shown and a measurement from ground to bottom edge of wheel arch lip front and rear.

I was actually looking at this today comparing mine to others at the QLD breakfast. Mine sits quite a bit higher than others, especially at the front and does the nose to the clouds bit when you stand on it but looks ok to me standing still overall (personal preference because the genuine articles sit fairly high) except mine looks a little nose high.

It measures rear 26 3/4 and front 27 1/2. This is due to it being an older car and has 15" wheels and much higher profile tyres than most (60 series fronts and 50 series rears explaining the high front).

-Andy

[Merv and Sharon]

Mine are 68cm (F; 26 & 3/4") and 66cm (R; 26") (inches??) with 17" wheels (inches!).. I do believe (I will be checking again) that I have a consistent ride height at the measured points under the chassis, rails front and rear, however. I guess the wheel arch to ground measurement depends on how the body sits on the chassis to some extent.

[FUNFER2]

lol,......I don't like a "droopy bum",....either.

I went through this two years ago. I don't like seeing a lot of air between the top of the tire and the wheel well. I not only wanted to adjust the ride height, but also needed to replace the heim joints and change to QA-1 shocks.

I made these tool's, and it really works slick. Take off your shocks and mount them. It's a part of the suspension on our sprint car. I used four of the old heims, one on each end. You grab the bar and turn either clockwise or counter. I found where I liked the ride height, that I needed to replace the rear springs 12" springs to 10".

I Also borrowed a set of electronic car scales. I could not believe how off the the weight was on each corner. I played around with the coil over's and even with a big block, the weight is very close to each other on the corners and, the front to rear weight is 48/51 % . It drives and tracks so,..... much better.

Now I have it sitting just right. Don't get it so low that you get tire rub when occupied with two people. The only other thing I would change,...... is moving the rear wheels in,.... apx. 1.5". Either with different back spacing or narrowing my Ford 9".

I have my engine out of the car but, it was around 26".

If you want to use my shock adjusting tool, I'll send them to you.

"Pics and specs would be great thanks"

Ok, you want us to post pics, but you haven't ? !!!

[PCC]

26" all around with 16" Wheels & 50% Profile Tyres.

I've spent many an evening tweaking the look.

I purposely lifted the car as as new it couldn't even negotiate a speed hump

Now practical, although I do have a spare inch in the front guards.

Running AVO coil overs in the back 10" Spring.

Car feels good as is.

Sorry no Pics too

Funfer - perfect

[FUNFER2]

Thanks Peter.
It's as good as my Ford 9" can get, any better would mean a IRS.
I've see two Cobras that look like a damn 4 wheel drive.
(Maybe their farmers)

[Modena]

Originally Posted by FUNFER2

lol,......I don't like a "droopy bum",....either.

I went through this two years ago. I don't like seeing a lot of air between the top of the tire and the wheel well. I not only wanted to adjust the ride height, but also needed to replace the heim joints and change to QA-1 shocks.

I made these tool's, and it really works slick. Take off your shocks and mount them. It's a part of the suspension on our sprint car. I used four of the old heims, one on each end. You grab the bar and turn either clockwise or counter. I found where I liked the ride height, that I needed to replace the rear springs 12" springs to 10".

I Also borrowed a set of electronic car scales. I could not believe how off the the weight was on each corner. I played around with the coil over's and even with a big block, the weight is very close to each other on the corners and, the front to rear weight is 48/51 % . It drives and tracks so,..... much better.

Now I have it sitting just right. Don't get it so low that you get tire rub when occupied with two people. The only other thing I would change,...... is moving the rear wheels in,.... apx. 1.5". Either with different back spacing or narrowing my Ford 9".

I have my engine out of the car but, it was around 26".

If you want to use my shock adjusting tool, I'll send them to you.

"Pics and specs would be great thanks"

Ok, you want us to post pics, but you haven't ? !!!

thats a very nice stance FUNFER2, and you Americans always have such nice grass

[john chesnut]

The correct "stance" should have been engineered into the car from the beginning. The designer should have had a frame height specified based on a given wheel/tire height, width, the suspension, and steering geometry. All have to work in concert to achieve great handling. I agree that the correct stance makes the look of the car.

[patrickt]

[cameron02]

I quite like the droopy bum look on Cobra's. Kinda reminds me of a fighter plane. Not that I've ever been in one.

[boxhead]

Ok the job is done and it is at a height I like (looks wise), It will be getting the front and rear alignment done on Saturday morning (A mate is doing it for a carton of beer).

I ended up with 25 1/2 rear and 26 1/4 front.
Let me know what you Guys and Gals reckon.






Here is an older pic of where it was before this weekend.

[jcraigau]

Looks spot on Boxhead. If anything may be a 1/4 inch out of the front...

[boxhead]

I did Umm and Ahh about taking a little more out of the front.

[jcraigau]

You're a lot closer than me. My front is still a little high.



As soon as I get suspension in there I'll have something to play with!

[boxhead]

How many "drives" have you had in the garage now?

[Gav]

Looks to be sagging in the arse Dave

[FUNFER2]

Looks great. Remember to add weight in the seats when you're in for alignment. As close to the driving weight. It DOES,..... make a difference, in such a light weight car as the cobra.

I noticed that my camber was off looking at the wear of the tire tread. Once I added the weight, the ware is now very even.

I used four sand bags, like from the hardware store for winter truck weight in the bed. Worked great.

[Zedn]

How many "drives" have you had in the garage now?

I know what thats like, i got my seats last week. I must have driven to QLD and back!

Ride height looks good boxhead.

Liam

[jcraigau]

2 - I find the drivers position too low. Might have something to do with not having seats...

[Zedn]

You just need a baseball cap, some doof doof music and 'p' plates and you will fit right in with a low seat!