Question: Front end ground clearance

[gmhowe]

My 96 CE LT1 recently had the left front spoiler rip off, I noticed that they scrape a lot on almost anything. So I bought a new front spoiler and put it on and 4 days later the left one ripped off again. I measured from ground to bottom of spoiler and its about 4.5 inches and almost 7.5 inches to where it bolts on. Is this a normal height or is there a way to raise the front end any ? I am running Kumho tires and they may be a little lower then the tires I replaced them with.

 

[tonylong]

4.5 inches seems a little low. I just measured mine and they're 5.5-6 inches. I also have Kumho Exctsa tires (275/40W17). I do sometimes scrape on parking headstones and short driveway entries but just barely touching not enough to cause any pulloffs or damage.
I had Goodyear originals two sets ago and had the same slight scraping then. These are my second set of Kumhos.
Check to be sure the spoilers are installed correctly. Others may have more info on this too.

 

[gmhowe]

there is only one way to mount it to the body, I know my 85 is higher but its running Goodrich TA's on them
I was gonna take off the one piece spoiler on my 85, but then it would measure only 3.5 inches so thats out of the question.

 

[Toms007]

Maybe someone has lowered the front of the car? I know that lots of guys have done this. Me I can't get into or out of my drive without scraping the front spoiler, I'm not going to lower it.

Lowering requires taking the front spring out and shaving the rubber mounts, so I would guess that you could reverse the procedure.

 

[So Bay Vetter]

I measured from ground to bottom of spoiler and its about 4.5 inches and almost 7.5 inches to where it bolts on.

I just put new spoilers on my 96 CE. I went out and measured and I have 4.5" as well. I have an up hill driveway and I have to leave at a drastic angle to keep from scraping but then, it seems to scrape on everything; parking stops, street gutters, speed bumps, ex-girlfriends . . . (just kidding).

 

[CorvetteArchives]

I recall vaguely that GM lowered the spoiler at some point for better cooling but it was early on...not as late as your car. Owners up to 1990 could probably interchange the part to solve the scraping problem. I'd think the easiest thing to do is just trim the spoiler so you dont keep losing them!

 

[So Bay Vetter]

Check to be sure the spoilers are installed correctly. Others may have more info on this too.

The proper installation requires plastic nuts on the inside of the bumper. Once the screws attaching the spoiler come loose and pull out of the plastic nut, the nut is pretty much history. You can pick up replacements at almost any parts store. It's an easy fix. The plastic nuts allow the spoiler to "tear off" without damage to the bumper cover. Early on, I mistakenly used metal lock nuts to re-attach the spoiler. The next time it pulled, it streached the bumper cover and cracked the paint in front of the wheel well. ad Moral: use the plastic nuts and buy spares!

 

[gmjunkie]

I have a 94 LT1 6sp,60,000 miles Bone Stock with factory sized BFG TA G-Force KDWS tires 255/45/ZR17 Front 285/40/ZR17 Rear!! The bottom of the air dam sets at 4.5 inches all the way across!! I drive it into gas stations and driveways at a angle and back it into my Garage as I have to with all Corvettes to keep from dragging!!

 

[B17Crew]

If you add a replacement spoiler, should you replace all of the plastic nuts, or are they good for another go around?

B17Crew

 

[Toms007]

I bought the hardware kit, after taking the old one off, I found that I could have gotten by without the new hardware, but went ahead and used it because I wasn't going to send it back.

 

[B17Crew]

I bought the hardware kit, after taking the old one off, I found that I could have gotten by without the new hardware, but went ahead and used it because I wasn't going to send it back.

Thank you, Sir!

B17Crew

 

[gmhowe]

Took a picture of what I was talking about, with the left spoiler only lasting 4 days

 

[tonylong]

Good pic, very clear. I see that it's getting detached at the ends of the spoiler, not the center. that's interesting. When I do scrape it's in the center because it projects further forward and is the first to contact a parking headstone, Is your spoiler lower at the ends than the center?

Mine seems to be the same all across.

(I didn't actually measure it directly because of accessibility but I slid an empty milk container under and eyeballed the height to be about 1/2 to 3/4 in above the jug. It seemed pretty much even all across the spoiler.)

 

[So Bay Vetter]

Took a picture of what I was talking about, with the left spoiler only lasting 4 days

Wow! do you know what you're hitting that's causing that? I've never seen one split like that. Usually they break loose.

 

[gmhowe]

I try to angle coming and going out of the driveway, but the curbs here in phoenix are really bad angles, also speed bumps and entering and leaving store parking lots. I'm thinking of reattaching it at the end up to the first inside wheel well bolt. It really sux since it only lasted 4 days and the original ones that were on it when I bought it last november lasted till this august. They came from Corvette Central.

 

[gmhowe]

You think they would make them with some strong springs right where it ripped so that wouldn't happen, maybe there's a million dollar idea

 

[txtode]

Low Enuf

With 265/40/R17 front, 295/35/R18 rear mine has 4" clearance. Just have to be aware. Once had a V-8 vega that the radiator stuck below the body. About 5-6 inch clearance. Needless to say I had a radiator shop cut off about 6 inches from the bottom. Then no problems dragging.