How low is too low?

[rrubel]

Can someone tell me how much space there should be between the front fender lip and the front wheel on an early C4? I'm beginning to think that my front spring is bad or something (shocks are new) because it almost looks like the wheels have been rubbing on the fender liner.
Thanks...
[RICHR]

 

[sothpaw]

How was your trip? I thought you'd be back later. The weather was nice enough here.

I finally got my car back Thursday night. Never would have been ready anyway, as it worked out.

 

[rrubel]

The trip was great, other than my alternator "alternately" charging and not charging... I'll tell you more about it offlnie; show you some pix, maybe the video tapes when I get them back.

Can't wait to see/feel your car. Hurry up w/that 500 miles!

You'd have loved going - get your 500 miles in going down, and then go to Beech Bend dragstrip for pretty much Vette-only "anything goes" racing.
[RICHR]

 

[Mad-Mic]

i'm not sure Rich.

if you want you can come over and look at mine.

 

[Ken]

You want information you say?

Specifications, we have specifications!

1986 CORVETTE SPECIFICATIONS

WIDTH:

• Tread (front): 59.6"
• Tread (rear): 60.4"
• Vehicle width: 71.0"
• Vehicle width (front doors open): 145.9"
• Front fender overall width: 68.6"
• Rear fender overall width: 70.0"
• Tumble-home: 36.9"

LENGTH:

• Wheelbase: 96.2"
• Vehicle length: 176.5"
• Overhang (front): 40.5"
• Overhang (rear): 39.7"
• Upper structure length: 90.9"
• Front end length at centerline: 69.3"
• Rear end length at centerline: 14.2"

HEIGHT:

• Vehicle height: 46.7" (coupe), 46.9" (convertible)
• Cowl point to ground: 33.4"
• Rocker panelfront to ground: 6.9"
• Bottom of door closedfront to ground: 10.1"
• Rocker panelrear to ground: 6.9"
• Windshield slope angle: 64.7°
• Backlight slope angle: 75.2° (coupe)

GROUND CLEARANCE:

• Front bumper to ground: 4.9"
• Rear bumper to ground: 13.0"
• Bumper to ground (front at curb mass): 5.1"
• Bumper to ground (rear at curb mass): 13.9"
• Angle of approach: 10.6°
• Angle of departure: 20.2°
• Ramp breakover angle: 12.3°
• Axle differential to ground: 6.8"
• Minimum running ground clearance: 4.7"
• Location of minimum running ground clearance: Catalytic converter

FRONT COMPARTMENT:

• Effective headroom: 36.5" (coupe), 36.4" (convertible)
• Maximum effective leg room: 42.6"
• Back angle: 28°
• Hip angle: 98°
• Knee angle: 130°
• Foot angle: 87°
• Normal driving and riding seat track travel: 5.7"
• Shoulder room: 54.1"
• Hip room: 49.3"
• Upper body opening to ground: 43.0"
• Steering wheel maximum diameter: 14.5"
• Steering wheel angle: 18.4°
• Steering wheel to C/L of thigh: 3.3"
• Steering wheel torso clearance: 15.4"
• Headlining to roof panel (front): 0.4"
• Undepressed floor covering thickness: 0.9"

LUGGAGE COMPARTMENT:

• Usable luggage capacity: 6.6 cu. ft. (convertible)
• Liftover height: 35.5"

INTERIOR VOLUMES (EPA CLASSIFICATION):

• Vehicle class: Mini-compact
• Interior index volume: Not available on two passenger vehicles.

HATCHBACK CARGO SPACE:

• Cargo length at front seatback height: 31.2"
• Cargo length at floor (front): 33.0"
• Front seatback to load floor height: 17.9"
• Cargo index volume: 17.9 cu. ft.

And finally, this is what you are interested in I think Rich:

AERODYNAMICS:

• Wheel lip to ground, front: 27.0"
• Wheel lip to ground, rear: 27.4"
• Frontal area: 19.37 sq. in.

 

[rrubel]

Thanks, Ken. I'll have to take a tape measure out and check. Are those from the "Cor-vette Spec" book? I did a quick skim last night and didn't see the height numbers.
[RICHR]

 

[Ken]

Good cactch Rich! I forgot to give credit where it's due -- to Mike Antonick. Yes, it's from his Corvette Specs book, but I typed it.

Thanks Mike!

_ken

 

[rrubel]

Ok... 26.5" right, 26" left. Definitely too low. Now I guess I need to see if someone lowered it, or if it's just getting old. How hard to change a front spring? I've had most of the suspension apart already for bushings and shocks, so the bolts should be easy.
[RICHR]