Ride Height

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plrgpr
Posts: 287
Joined: Sun Oct 14, 2018 7:51 pm

Ride Height

Post by plrgpr »

My 66 Vert sets 1 1/2” low in the rear and 2” low in the front. My tires (P185/70-13) are part of the problem, however, even if I go with a larger tire diameter (P175/60-13) it would only add about 3/4”. Do I have to install new springs or is there an easier fix?
Gary Roberson
66 Vert 140 4-sp Corsa “clone”
61SuperMonza
Posts: 310
Joined: Mon Apr 29, 2019 1:51 pm

Re: Ride Height

Post by 61SuperMonza »

A picture of how it sits would be good. How were the ride heights measured? Sounds like a nice California rake to me. If the car is bottoming out you have a problem and should replace the springs at the least. The tire size that are on your car are larger in diameter then the new ones you mentioned. The car would sit even lower. A set of 14 " or 15" wheels would be great on a LM.
First corvair in 1985
Have owned 4 corvairs since
65 Corsa coupe 180 turbo
66 Monza coupe 110 PG
66 Monza coupe 140 PG
61 Monza club coupe w/ 150 turbo
Anchorage,AK
plrgpr
Posts: 287
Joined: Sun Oct 14, 2018 7:51 pm

Re: Ride Height

Post by plrgpr »

Charts show:

P185/70-13 23.2 dia
P175/80-13 24.1 dia

????
Gary Roberson
66 Vert 140 4-sp Corsa “clone”
61SuperMonza
Posts: 310
Joined: Mon Apr 29, 2019 1:51 pm

Re: Ride Height

Post by 61SuperMonza »

You posted P175 60 13.
First corvair in 1985
Have owned 4 corvairs since
65 Corsa coupe 180 turbo
66 Monza coupe 110 PG
66 Monza coupe 140 PG
61 Monza club coupe w/ 150 turbo
Anchorage,AK
joelsplace
Posts: 1950
Joined: Wed Oct 13, 2010 12:51 pm
Location: Northlake, TX

Re: Ride Height

Post by joelsplace »

185/80R13 is the correct size or as close as you can get now. I've never measured any of my car's ride height compared to factory spec.
157 Corvairs, 5 Ultravans and counting
Northlake, TX
66vairguy
Posts: 4531
Joined: Tue Dec 21, 2010 3:44 pm

Re: Ride Height

Post by 66vairguy »

plrgpr wrote: Tue Aug 27, 2019 8:12 pm My 66 Vert sets 1 1/2” low in the rear and 2” low in the front. My tires (P185/70-13) are part of the problem, however, even if I go with a larger tire diameter (P175/60-13) it would only add about 3/4”. Do I have to install new springs or is there an easier fix?
It is common for the original rear springs to sag and often folks cut the front springs to make the car level again. Note that when new the LM Corvairs front end was always a little high.

Be aware the convertibles cars used a different rear spring rate if you replace them.
plrgpr
Posts: 287
Joined: Sun Oct 14, 2018 7:51 pm

Re: Ride Height

Post by plrgpr »

61supermonza, your correct, typo....sorry!
Gary Roberson
66 Vert 140 4-sp Corsa “clone”
plrgpr
Posts: 287
Joined: Sun Oct 14, 2018 7:51 pm

Re: Ride Height

Post by plrgpr »

I used a level to check rear ride height more precisely. The car sets low by 2” (a lot) both front and rear using the reference points outlined in the service manual. Is the only fix new springs, or is there some other fix. The car ride just fine and never bottoms out. It’s just too low, in my opinion, and the tailpipes drag on the pavement when pulling into my driveway.
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Gary Roberson
66 Vert 140 4-sp Corsa “clone”
plrgpr
Posts: 287
Joined: Sun Oct 14, 2018 7:51 pm

Re: Ride Height

Post by plrgpr »

Here is a pic of the car:
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Gary Roberson
66 Vert 140 4-sp Corsa “clone”
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terribleted
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Re: Ride Height

Post by terribleted »

If the car sits 2" below spec with the CORRECT diameter tires then the fix would be new springs. 175/80 13 tires are .7" smaller in diameter than stock 185/80 13. this would make the car sit .35" lower. If it is really 2" lower than spec I would bet the springs have been cut. You Right tailpipe is not oriented the same as stock proper orientation raising this or correct exhaust system would gain many inches of clearance. The stock exhaust properly assembled and mounted sits parallel to the rear body panel and only sits below the car by the tailpipe diameter plus about 1/2" or so clearance. Your car in the photo does not look like it is anywhere near 2" low. recheck your measurements per the shop manual just to be sure. With the smaller tires you might expect to be about 1" below spec as tolerance is +- 1/2 inch so .5+.4 for smaller tires would be around 1".
Corvair guy since 1982. I have personally restored at least 20 Vairs, many of them restored ground up.
Currently working full time repairing Corvairs and restoring old cars.
https://www.facebook.com/tedsautorestoration/

Located in Snellville, Georgia
plrgpr
Posts: 287
Joined: Sun Oct 14, 2018 7:51 pm

Re: Ride Height

Post by plrgpr »

Ted, I’ve checked and rechecked. Front should be 26.2” to wheel well lip, mine is 24 1/4”. Rear should be 8 1/2” to bottom of rocker, mine is 6 1/2”. I have tailpipes adjusted up as high as I can get them without destroying the exhaust system as the exhaust and tailpipes are rusted solidly into the muffler. Add 2 3/8” to the tape reading in the rear height photo.
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Gary Roberson
66 Vert 140 4-sp Corsa “clone”
steve57
Posts: 282
Joined: Tue Sep 23, 2014 5:40 pm

Re: Ride Height

Post by steve57 »

I have these installed in my rear springshttps://www.google.com/aclk?sa=l&ai=DCh ... EEM&adurl= this is how they are installed, jack car up to take weight off springs then push them around coil as far as you can get them to top of springs. Spraying WD40 on them will make them slide a little easier. This may help your situation without buying new springs.
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My front end sits about 24” from ground to bottom of fender lip. Rear is about 25” from ground to bottom of fender lip. You really need to fix those tailpipes though.
Steve
Bakersfield,CA
1969 monza coupe
110, 4speed
64powerglide
Posts: 1604
Joined: Tue Mar 25, 2014 9:18 pm
Location: Kalamazoo Mi..

Re: Ride Height

Post by 64powerglide »

Ya put 4 people in the car the ride height changes. Looks fine, worry more about ground clearance. Exhaust pipes look like crap hanging way down. :my02:
64Powerglide, Jeff Phillips

Kalamazoo, Mi..
plrgpr
Posts: 287
Joined: Sun Oct 14, 2018 7:51 pm

Re: Ride Height

Post by plrgpr »

Steve, front on my car is the same as yours w/o spacers, 24”. My rear dim, though, is only 23”. What size tires do you have? And, yeah, Steve and Jeff, the tailpipes look ridiculous, but I hate to ruin a perfectly good exhaust system to fix it.
Gary Roberson
66 Vert 140 4-sp Corsa “clone”
64powerglide
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Joined: Tue Mar 25, 2014 9:18 pm
Location: Kalamazoo Mi..

Re: Ride Height

Post by 64powerglide »

A good muffler shop should be able to modify those tail pipes, just cut & re-weld them.
64Powerglide, Jeff Phillips

Kalamazoo, Mi..
61SuperMonza
Posts: 310
Joined: Mon Apr 29, 2019 1:51 pm

Re: Ride Height

Post by 61SuperMonza »

Your ride height looks good to me. Nice car, but you need to fix the exhaust system. That is the real problem.
First corvair in 1985
Have owned 4 corvairs since
65 Corsa coupe 180 turbo
66 Monza coupe 110 PG
66 Monza coupe 140 PG
61 Monza club coupe w/ 150 turbo
Anchorage,AK
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