How low is low?

[Chevette]

I'm trying to determine the best ride height for my 56. I'm thinking one Budweiser/Vancouver Canucks beer can to the bottom of the rocker pan. But today I bolted the front fender on (temp) and it seems too high. I'm going to be using coilovers, so there won't be an easy adjustment as in an air system. Anyone have a ride height suggestion?

[parkwood]

what are you using for the front suspension? that will have a lot to do with how low it sit's...

[4DSEVEN]

Some things you may want to keep in mind are trying to keep your control arms close to parallel at ride height. Your headers are another factor especially going over speed bumps or pulling in to a driveway.

[Chevette]

Originally Posted by 4DSEVEN

Some things you may want to keep in mind are trying to keep your control arms close to parallel at ride height. Your headers are another factor especially going over speed bumps or pulling in to a driveway.

Yes. It's that speed bump issue that I'm concerned about. My lower control arms will be parallel at ride height. I'm running a C6 Z06 front suspension and all is mocked up but I want it low and need help determining what is too low since I'm not using an air system. Is anyone using coilovers in concert with low ride height and if so, how low? Thanks for the input.

[_Ogre]

i'm a little over 6'' static, i wouldn't want to any lower
i've rubbed the front bumper and one exhaust hanger (turned u-bolt around)



though it does look better on tall grass (10 days on the road during hrpt)

[OrrieG]

Depends on where you drive. My wife still remembers going to the store with the neighbors wife in his lowered 70 Challenger in the 80's and getting the headers and tranny crossmember high centered in the drive approach/sidewalk at a shopping center. As long as she drove across the diagonally it was ok, but the straight approach grabbed it. They are both pretty good looking (much more then) and didn't have any of the kids with them so a couple of cars of guys stopped and lifted the front enough for her to get it off. Car was beast 340. dual quad 4 speed with 4.56 rearend. Lightened and set up for street racing, it was her DD when hubby needed the mini van.

[Chevette]

Looks good Ogre. I'm at 4 7/8" now and at one time was thinking of maybe going with an air ride (shockwave) instead of the coilovers. If I did that I will have to cantilever the rear and run the shockwaves horizontal because there is no room for the shock/bag with the upper "a"arm configuration. I really don't want to do that, it looks too F1 ish. I've been debating this damn thing for a couple of years while collecting suspension parts, so I may have to put it low with coilovers, use Google maps to locate speed bumps and stay clear of them, haha.

[hotrod1]

I asked a lot of people about the same thing when determining my ride height. It seems like the magic number is between 6 and 7 inches if you are going to street drive. I have had vehicles that were too low, and for me, they are nothing but a pain in the neck.

[meter swinger]

6-7 seems drivable. My travelall is about 5 and it drags alot. I have to hit everthing at angle and ive been high centered in a few parkinglot entrances. But its a binder so i dont care. LOL
Posted via Mobile Device

[hotrod1]

what is a binder?

[Chevette]

Originally Posted by hotrod1

what is a binder?

Corn Binder = International Harvester

[_Ogre]

measured truk today, new springs are breaking in
dropped the front corner of the cab to 5.5''

[bowt1ed]

Where is everyone measuring from? I have a GM IFS, and currently have 3" at bottom of engine crossmember. When I had it installed (yeah, a few decades ago) a coil was cut from the stock springs. But now that I am on it again, I want go as low as I can with IFS and not constantly drag. Thanks for any insight.

[wickid demon]

lowest point of the front usually the bumper.

[bondobob]

My 57 with a Fat Man suspension is 5" at the bottom of the front fenders with a 26" front tire. The crossmember is 6" as is the pan and headers. I thought about making a skid plate that would hit before the pricey front fenders but haven't done that yet. The advantage of a Chevy vs. a Ford (of the same vintage) is the Chev has a shorter ovehang in the front so it's less likely to drag the bumper on dips. Adding a rake to the truck raises the back of the fender up a little too. A new Vette is lower than what you guys are talking about isn't it? And that has a big overhang too.

[bowt1ed]

Hey BondoBob, Do you have any pics or build thread to share?

[Speedbumpauto]

I did my clip using the lower part of the channel as the weld point for the lower part of the clip. Have a cab corner measurment of 5 1/2 at ride ht.(coilovers are adjustable), but have a pesky d/s header that has a tube that is 4 1/2". I'm thinking I might go 1" taller on the front tires, but won't make that decision until I get the fenders etc. on in a few weeks.

[Rusty Hooker]

5" to the underside of the front cross member is my rule of thumb

[_Ogre]

Originally Posted by Rusty Hooker

5" to the underside of the front cross member is my rule of thumb

x-members differ depending on what x-member you use.
the x-member also is close to the axle, it's really hard to get high centered on an x-member.
unless your running over stumps or pedestrians

the front bumper is higher than the back of the front fender on 55-59.
usually the fender or rocker is the lowest body part on these trucks
if your going to rub, it is usually the rockers

[_Ogre]

speedbump, nice looking truck

do you have a windshield that fits the frame for it?

[Speedbumpauto]

Yes, I have a windshield that fits, but it was quite an experience and it took three, so it wasn't too cheap either. I think the look is perfect for these trucks, but I was in panic mode for a while when I read that lots of top chop people cut a glass first then fit the cab to it. I hope to have the glass guy install the windshield next week after I fight with the Brothers one piece side windows. We might have to cut new glass for the sides. The template I made for trial fit, before paint, is so close to what they sent, I'm going to have to put it together first. If we need to cut new glass, he might as well do it at the same time as the windshield install. That's paid for and I'm not touching that windshield until it's installed for the final time.

[_Ogre]

i like the look of your chop, but at 6'4'' really can't ride in one
i looked for your build thread, couldn't find one
i installed the brothers windows, it's sort of a best fit scenario to make them work.

your lucky the glass shop made a windshield fit, even if it took 3 windows to make it work.
i've heard horror stories about fitting curved windshields.
many curved glass chops get scrapped from lack of glass.
best to cut the glass and make the frame and chop fit the windshield.

[Speedbumpauto]

I'm not very digital, so I've never contemplated a build thread here. I've got a scary big digital photo file of everything, but lots of it is pretty boring stuff to everyone but me....and/or a few other crazies.