How low can you go?

[PeterAllen]

I know this was discussed not so long ago but I can't find the thread - apologies.

 

We are having a fair bit of trouble keeping the primaries and collectors tucked up around the sump and bellhousing on the LS1 install. We still have good ground clearance but it just looks a bit unusual. The NSW regs state you must have 100mm ground clearance and we can achieve that easily. I'm just wondering if this is something I should be aiming for or is it too low for comfortable everyday driving?

[RB30X]

Pete, I think you'll find that if you don't tuck your exhaust up high enough (like mine), 100mm clearance between the pipes and the road has the gap between the guards and the Tyres too high. 100mm clearance is heaps for the road too, obviously why it's the rta limit. I plan on having the coil overs up high enough to get the legal clearance for rwc, then drop it down an inch and see how that goes. Im at that height currently and the car doesnt even look lowered. I'm not sure if I even answered you then, but basically the higher you can get your exhaust up under the car, the lower you can drop the body without clearance issues.

 

Someone with a low exhaust and a car on the road would be able to help you more.

[Whittie]

You may find 100mm uncomfortably HIGH for everyday use.

 

With a big motor like that you'll want stiff suspension which usually means fairly low.

 

I haven't measured it but I think I have around 5cm of ground clearence on my zed, and that is too low for every day. Makes speed bumps an issue. I'd suggest 7-8cm as a great look and feel inside the car, but I like it firm.

 

As to how low is it possible to go:

 

 

Chassis rails on the ground

[eddii]

Wow that's super Low!!!!

[Scando]

My dump pipe sits at about 100mm from the ground.  I don't use it on the road much so it's not really an issue.  I still have to be careful going on and off trailers, hoists, etc.  Personally I wouldn't go much lower than that.  When we did the 999 car for Targa Wrest Point a couple of years ago we lifted the car another 50mm and it definitely needed it on some of the bumpier stages.  You can see the dump and the amount of clearance in the below picture.  Personally, I find a slightly higher ride height and softer springs helps me get the power to the ground while all the other turbo cars are still trying to find traction back at the last corner 

[chris240]

  Personally, I find a slightly higher ride height and softer springs helps me get the power to the ground while all the other turbo cars are still trying to find traction back at the last corner 

 

Scando, I couldnt agree more....Ive heard that one before & thats the best bit of advice regarding suspension setup you can ever do. Its all about getting whatever horsepower is available to you, to the ground.

[RB30X]

Its all about getting whatever horsepower is available to you, to the ground.

 

But Peter and I have LS1's, we won't always want to get the power down to the ground ;)

It's a bit hard with 500Nm of torque at 2000rpm

[peter mc]

I'm with scando Zs don't like to be to low.  when my car ran 9.8 140mph it was at standard height .when it was lower it ran 11.3 .and spun the tyers the hole way

[PeterAllen]

Thanks to all for the input, it's look like 100mm is somewhere to start. I spoke with an engineer at the RTA and he said the roads are designed for 100mm (in good condition) and it has an historical basis of being able to clear silent cops (3" one assumes). That's what I wanted to know. The exhaust is costing my wife a small fortune and I didn't want to lose it first time out.