What's your Challenger ride height?

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    Author Topic: What's your Challenger ride height?  (Read 7886 times)

    Offline Katfish

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    What's your Challenger ride height?
    « on: November 29, 2006 - 05:12:35 PM »
    Have a few questions regarding the ride height of Challengers.  I like the way my car sits, wheel wells slightly covering the top of the tires.  I measured the distance from the ground to the bottom of the body lip.

    It’s 23” for the front and 23.75” for the back, I have 215/65/15 all the way around, 26” tall tire.

    My problem is the car bottoms out (exhaust scraps) going over speed bumps and dips in road when going fast. 

    I know I have 2 problems, small 6cyl torsion bars and crappy exhaust connection from manifolds.  Car had headers, when converting over to factory exhaust, the guy did a poor job fabbing sections from manifolds to existing system, so this part hangs low.

    Questions are:

    What are other cars or factory measurements compared to mine?
    I’m curious if my leaf springs are sagging and or the front end is adjusted too low?
    How much stiffer will the front end be going from 0.87 to 0.92 bars?
    Does anyone sell the small exhaust section from factory manifold back (340 engine)?

    Thx

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    Offline MEK-Dangerfield

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    Re: What's your Challenger ride height?
    « Reply #1 on: November 29, 2006 - 05:29:28 PM »
    I differ here in that I like my full tires to show. Your picture seems low in the front. I can post pics of mine tomorrow with the measurements, if you can hang in there. Yes, the torsion bars could be a problem.



      Mike
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    Mike

    1970 Challenger - SOLD
    2016 SXT+.  1 of 524 SXT+'s in Plumb-crazy for 2016.

    Offline Katfish

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    Re: What's your Challenger ride height?
    « Reply #2 on: November 29, 2006 - 06:00:54 PM »
    Side pic with the measurements would be great!  No hurry, I appreciate the help.   :thumbsup:

    Any others out there?
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    Offline Bullitt-

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    Re: What's your Challenger ride height?
    « Reply #3 on: November 29, 2006 - 06:42:54 PM »
    FYI a larger tire will gain you some clearance, these #s per a calculator I have
    215-65-15=26" 8.46wide
    215-70-15=26.85" 8.46 wide
    225-70-15=27.4" 8.86wide
    235-70-15=27.95" 9.25wide
    235-60-15=26.1" 9.25wide
    My '73 Ralley drug the pipes, think it's pretty much a given.
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    Offline MJS73

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    Re: What's your Challenger ride height?
    « Reply #4 on: November 29, 2006 - 06:52:37 PM »
    215/65-15 seems like a really narrow tire for that car.

    Mike
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    Offline r15303

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    Re: What's your Challenger ride height?
    « Reply #5 on: November 29, 2006 - 07:47:13 PM »
    I'm interested too, MEKrunner.   :bigsmile:
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    Offline Moparal

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    Re: What's your Challenger ride height?
    « Reply #6 on: November 29, 2006 - 08:28:12 PM »
    I try to keep my cars at around 26.5 to 27 inches. The center of the wheel lips to the ground. It never gives me an issue. I believe that is the numbers close to the stock hieghts, but I can't remember any more. When I was a front end guy in the 70's, I think we measure at a certain spot on the frame/K member  to a spot on the control arms to be around 7 inches. I got a book on it some wheres.
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    Offline MEK-Dangerfield

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    Re: What's your Challenger ride height?
    « Reply #7 on: December 01, 2006 - 01:59:05 PM »
    OK,

     I'm back and loaded with info. My car has 26" tires all the way around, although 14" in the front, and 15" in the back.
    In the back, I measure 26" from wheel well trim, to the ground. In the front, I get 24". My front might be a tad low, but I have never messed with the torsion bars. My disclaimer here is I bought after-marker leaf springs from Espo with an additional arch to give my rear the lift that I wanted, without using air-shocks.


      Mike
    « Last Edit: December 01, 2006 - 02:01:38 PM by MEKrunner »
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    Mike

    1970 Challenger - SOLD
    2016 SXT+.  1 of 524 SXT+'s in Plumb-crazy for 2016.

    Offline Moparal

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    Re: What's your Challenger ride height?
    « Reply #8 on: December 01, 2006 - 02:38:17 PM »
    Your car looks very good. I see the rake it has. Looks like a header tube killer. I'd raise the front up to 26 and be done with it. Keep adjusting both tho so the balance is equal. One side would raise it all. Also keep checking the rear height when doing the front. The car will lean left or right from your moves.
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    Offline Katfish

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    Re: What's your Challenger ride height?
    « Reply #9 on: December 01, 2006 - 03:04:15 PM »
    Mike,

    Your car looks good, I think I need to raise mine 2" front and back.

    Thx for the info, couple more questions:

    What size tires, I know you said 26", are you running 70s on front with 14" rim?
    How much extra arch did you add on the new springs?

    Anyone else out there with new factory springs that could give a rear height measurement?
    Would like to see difference in Mike's springs and where stock would sit.

    Thx
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    Offline Mopar73340

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    Re: What's your Challenger ride height?
    « Reply #10 on: December 01, 2006 - 04:47:22 PM »
    I have 235X60x15 all around and have the new ESPO springs which I ordered STOCK height. In the rear I measure 25.25" from the wheel lip to the ground and 25" in the front. I have TTI headers and so far haven't had any problems with them hitting the ground.
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    Offline MEK-Dangerfield

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    Re: What's your Challenger ride height?
    « Reply #11 on: December 01, 2006 - 04:52:55 PM »
    Quote from: Katfish on December 01, 2006 - 03:04:15 PM
    Mike,

    Your car looks good, I think I need to raise mine 2" front and back.

    Thx for the info, couple more questions:

    What size tires, I know you said 26", are you running 70s on front with 14" rim?
    How much extra arch did you add on the new springs?

    Anyone else out there with new factory springs that could give a rear height measurement?
    Would like to see difference in Mike's springs and where stock would sit.

    Thx


    Katfish,

     I have 14" 70's on the front 225's. The back is 15" 60's,and 255's. I had Espo put an additional 2" lift on my rear springs. This is a big block car, so more weight.  :crying: I have pics of the original Challengers coming off the line, and I think the rear is low on them too.  :lol: You be the judge...


      Mike


      
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    Mike

    1970 Challenger - SOLD
    2016 SXT+.  1 of 524 SXT+'s in Plumb-crazy for 2016.

    Offline Katfish

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    Re: What's your Challenger ride height?
    « Reply #12 on: December 01, 2006 - 05:50:50 PM »
    Mike / Mopar73340  Thanks for the info!   :cheers:
    When you say "raise it 2 inches", are the springs 2" longer than stock?  Sorry to beat the dead horse  :horse:

    I'm going to take all the info and factor in the different tire sizes to see what difference the springs made between your 2 cars.

    Thanks!
    « Last Edit: December 01, 2006 - 05:52:52 PM by Katfish »
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    Offline MEK-Dangerfield

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    Re: What's your Challenger ride height?
    « Reply #13 on: December 02, 2006 - 02:25:10 AM »
    Quote from: Katfish on December 01, 2006 - 05:50:50 PM
    Mike / Mopar73340  Thanks for the info!   :cheers:
    When you say "raise it 2 inches", are the springs 2" longer than stock?  Sorry to beat the dead horse  :horse:

    I'm going to take all the info and factor in the different tire sizes to see what difference the springs made between your 2 cars.

    Thanks!

    The springs aren't 2" longer than stock, they are just arched more.


      Mike
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    Mike

    1970 Challenger - SOLD
    2016 SXT+.  1 of 524 SXT+'s in Plumb-crazy for 2016.

    Offline Katfish

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    Re: What's your Challenger ride height?
    « Reply #14 on: December 02, 2006 - 06:06:04 AM »
    Very interesting,

    I know there are many variables, probably weight / gas tank level being the biggest for the rear, but there is very little difference between your 2 cars rear height.  Only 1/4" once you factor in the difference in tire size.  I definitely need to raise my car, both front and back.

    Car ( rear height / tire diameter - front height / tire diameter)

    Me             (23.75 / 26.0 - 23.0 / 26.0)
    Mike           (26.00 / 27.0 - 24.0 / 26.4)  Espo additional 2" lift on rear springs. (would be 25.50 with 26" tire)
    Mopar73340 (25.25 / 26.1 - 25.0 / 26.1)  ESPO springs ordered STOCK height.

    Thx
    « Last Edit: December 02, 2006 - 06:08:18 AM by Katfish »
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