How Low Can You Go?

[Ladogaboy]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6A0U7jakUY8

[Frank Lee]

Actually, search EM for "optimal ride height; there's 272 hits and I'm sure at least a couple of them spell out (from experts in the aerodynamic field) that there is an optimal height so simply going lower and lower is counterproductive as I attempted to point out before. Be my guest and test out even lower heights; another data point is always a good thing.

[Fr3AkAzOiD]

I was thinking about lowering 2 inches, then I hit a racoon.

Bent up the radiator a little (no leaks) but no other damage.
Had I been lowered I would be replacing my front bumper and possibly my radiator or more.

I may do a belly pan if I ever get the time and motivation but I'm changed my mind about lowering.

[ProDarwin]

As was said earlier - depends on your approach/departure angles. My Saturn, which didn't have a super short nose, was lowered to approx 5" clearance and I never had any issues with scraping/dragging and never had to approach at an angle. If I lower this one, chances are I'll go a little lower than that, as economy would be my goal, not performance. (If you want to maintain performance, some suspension types are very sensitive to going too low)

Honestly, the most annoying thing about lowering a car a lot is that its harder to get it up on ramps. I have 2x8s that I drive cars onto first to ease the transition onto ramps now.

[gone-ot]

...back in the days of "lowered" Street and Hot Rods, the California Highway Patrol used to use a pack of cigarettes (vertical) as their "Go/No-go" criteria for TOO LOW upon which they'd issue people a "Repair Order" ticket.

[Ladogaboy]

Originally Posted by Old Tele man

...back in the days of "lowered" Street and Hot Rods, the California Highway Patrol used to use a pack of cigarettes (vertical) as their "Go/No-go" criteria for TOO LOW upon which they'd issue people a "Repair Order" ticket.

I hope they were using the 100s!

So, it turns out that I do only have about 5" of clearance in one section of my front under paneling. So, I could put at least 2" front dam without going lower than the lowest stock clearance point. If I lowered 2", that under paneling *might* be 3.5" off the ground.

[Sven7]

Originally Posted by Old Tele man

...back in the days of "lowered" Street and Hot Rods, the California Highway Patrol used to use a pack of cigarettes (vertical) as their "Go/No-go" criteria for TOO LOW upon which they'd issue people a "Repair Order" ticket.

Funny thing, this is where hydraulic suspension was first used on cars. I believe it was Ron Aguirre with his X Sonic Corvette who installed it on his car so he could drive around low, and when he got pulled over, PSSHHT! The car is at legal ride height. It was a sensation.

If you love old kustoms like I do, check it out. Wild car.