Hello All! short version is this- how far is your car off the ground at the rockers? and if you were putting long tube headers on, how would you set that, so they don't get beat to heck? also what exhaust size might you use? long version below I'm considering raising the height of my car a bit. it's a 74, factory v 8 2 door. streets are not great around here, and I currently can't get my car over the approach on my driveway I feel like it sits too low, and I want a little more of a factory / maybe even somewhere into street freak territory look. it's just a cruiser, no plans to get too crazy with it, so high performance isn't big on the list for me. I just want a decent ride, and to be able to just drive more and fret less about pancaking something. I wouldn't mind it looking decent tho! I'm pretty sure the front springs had a coil cut at some point. I have new springs for it, and I believe they are factory, but I need to dig further on that. It's had AC deleted, and aluminum manifold installed. I'm also going to tuck the front bumper at some point, and I know that changes things. I might do that sooner than later and see where I get. I measured the clearance from the front and back corners of the rocker panel. I have 7" up front, and 9" in the back. I don't see a lowering bracket on the leaves, at least not on the axles. wheels are 14". P185/75/r14's on the front, and P245 60R14's on the back. they fill up the wells decently. I'm not set on them, and would probably go with a larger wheel in the future, but I want to spend the budget elsewhere for the time being. I want to install long tube headers at some point soon. car currently has 3" exhaust, and I want to cut it back, or maybe just quiet it down a touch, it's got magnaflows on it now, and I like the sound, but I also like my neighbors,( yeah, I know), but seriously the volume of the exhaust just doesn't match so any suggestions there would be awesome as well. far as I can tell the headers are the Hooker 6901's. any thoughts / measurements / suggestions would be great!
I would like to get away from the 14 inch wheels and got to 15 at some point. I think also the smaller exhaust is a great idea. Narrowly avoided bottoming out yesterday. One of those temporary speed bumps they use to protect temp power cords for job sites. No sign no nothing. No fun.
New shocks and a taller tire will probably get you where you need to be. 205/70 tires and a set of KYB or equivalent shocks. Swapping out the behemoth bumper would also help lol
Ground clearance was a concern for me too which is why I went with shorty headers. I am working on the exhaust, it will be 2 1/2 tucked in nice and tight. If it bottoms it'll be exhaust and body together!
My small bumper car has 205/70-15 front tires, 1 coil cut from the V8/air conditioner coils, aluminum heads & intake with Hooker 6901 headers and 2 1/4" exhaust. At rest it sits 6 5/8" off of the ground at the front of the pinch weld. The advice above is a good way to acheive your goal. Bruce
29 x 18.5 x 15 Mickey Thompson Sportsman SR. Ever since I owned my 1st Maverick (a long time ago) I've wanted a Pro Street one. The car is back halved with an 8 pt. cage. Bruce
those are some meats for sure!!!! so, now I'm really lamenting these 14" wheels I have. I think I'll try to find a set of 15's. ' I have a 5 bolt, so my options should be pretty open, if I'm understanding correctly. I do want to stay with the wider and taller back tire look, but I think the fronts could be a little wider than what I have currently. but, part of me says the setup I have now really doesn't represent the car. it's not fast, and I'm not racing it, so why not focus on making it more drivable and get it working better in the current conditions- often wet roads which are in bad shape, 2/3 of the time its freeway miles, and I wind up dealing with a lot of speedbumps. IDK. I know the front tires need replaced soon, but the backs are cooper cobras, and they're pretty darn fresh. I think I should work out the other things, like shocks, springs, and getting the bumper dealt with, and keep my eyes peeled for a reasonable set of 15's. I have the thought of going with shorty headers, but I've already got the long tubes, and shorties seem to be in the 500 dollar range. maybe I can find someone to swap some parts with, I've got lots of those!
The pro's & con's w/ long verses short in my personal experience. When I had long tubes, had to be careful over speed bumps & low driveways as they were about in the same height above ground as the one's in Bruce's pictures. Only issue I have w/ my Hedman shorties are they hit the pitman arm but, they are up much closer to floor pans. I have heard that is an issue w/ other brand of short headers. I could, and other have hammered/creased the collector to get a little more left turn radius, but did not want damage ceramic coating; driving it like that for few years and don't see much need to change.
I've heard that's an issue but haven't made it that far yet. When I decided to go shorty I was going to do the Cavalier rack swap but have bought the Borgeson box instead. I'll be deep in it soon and see what I'm up against.
For those who may be going w/ Borg. swap in V8 car and their pump kit, order the 6 cylinder hoses they are 6" longer and fit farther from headers. I know; I've had both.
