Clearance

AlphaCobra · #1 (**permalink**) 03-02-2005, 03:05 PM

What is the lowest point of your undercarriage? My lowest point is about 5.5" to 6". It is where the tranny and scatter shield meet. Does anyone have trouble going over speed breakers or bottom out hitting a dip too fast? Thanks.

Bill Wells · #2 (**permalink**) 03-02-2005, 03:38 PM

i only have 3-1/2 to 4 inches under the scattershield ( depends on gas tank level , passenger on board - ie added weight) . i have not hit anything yet in 13,000 miles but am careful to swerve around road kill and take speed bumps on an angle ( angled as close to 45 degrees as i can get) , not head on . head on, ie straight at em , and i will hit big time- but not when going over them on an angle. i am also cautious on steeply banked driveways, i approach those and enter them on an angle too. bill

Jack21 · #3 (**permalink**) 03-02-2005, 05:05 PM

Several low points on car to be careful of. So far, have trashed one (expensive Canton) oil pan, scraped bellhousing, frame chin, and sidepipes.

Learned Bill Wells trick of taking speed bumps and driveways at an angle.

Lowest point is bellhousing bottom, but something high will hit oil pan first. Very vulnerable, so be careful.

GeorgiaSnake · #4 (**permalink**) 03-03-2005, 04:29 AM

Alpha are you really Scott? If so then your question means you are finally going to drive that thing

My lowest point is in the 4 to 5" range so follow me - if I hit something stop.

Randy

planealternativ · #5 (**permalink**) 03-03-2005, 04:37 AM

My lowest point seems to be the lower rad bracket. I only have about 3 1/2" at that point. I'm still in the build stage so I have no "on the road" experience yet however I sure its going to take a beating.

tpiini · #6 (**permalink**) 03-03-2005, 04:45 AM

My lowest point on my SV "WAS" my oil pan, at about 3" That all changed on 12-31-04 when I went for a new-years-eve drive and ripped the bottom of the pan wide open on a sewer access that had been prevously hit by a road grader.

Now, the lowest point is, like most, the leading edge of the bellhousing. But that's about 1 1/2" higher than the pan was.

Moral of the story? When I bought my car I was concerned about the pan clearance and planned on changing it this winter anyway. If you are worried about your clearance, you probably should be. I was lucky, as I had finished me three-hour cruise and was about 100' from my driveway when I struck oil.

Tom

elgecko · #7 (**permalink**) 03-03-2005, 05:38 AM

The original Cobras had a ground clearance of 5" under front crossmember and 5 1/2" clearance under rear. What hangs below that is fair game.
I'm in the building process and have been able to keep my Canton T-pan 1/2" above the bottom of my 4" tubing frame rails.
I guess I'll be more concerned about a narrow bump like a car part or rock on the road.
Dave

HSSS427 · #8 (**permalink**) 03-04-2005, 07:15 PM

Your post got me curious, so the ruler says that the body housing around the oil cooler is the lowest part at 3." And it's a little lower due to all the duct tape that is currently holding it to the car after I cracked it on one of those parking space concrete bumpers. Oil pan is a little bit higher but not much. Wonder if I should raise it up a bit???
Thanks!
Scott

Yetiman · #9 (**permalink**) 03-04-2005, 08:39 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by tpiini

That all changed on 12-31-05 when I went for a new-years-eve drive

Tom

In spite of your poor luck, got any lottery ticket advice ??

trularin · #10 (**permalink**) 03-05-2005, 05:21 AM

I operate about the same as Bill Wells does. Side ways on a lot of driveways.

I only have about 4.5"

Pot holes scare me with my oil pan being the lowest part.

Bill Wells · #11 (**permalink**) 03-05-2005, 06:02 AM

Trularin,
POT HOLES in Michigan ? those are craters we are dodging ! They wont rip out your oil pan, they will swallow your car !!

Just drive faster so you can rocket OVER them ala airborn ! LOL. Bill.

trularin · #12 (**permalink**) 03-05-2005, 02:21 PM

Well, it is true that on one occation I did meet three individuals speaking Chinese.

Yes, they are large enough to swallow an entire car.

Even if you crawl, you get rattled.

chipperb · #13 (**permalink**) 03-05-2005, 07:21 PM

I have a Unique and my oil pan and bell housing are the lowest point. Need a new driveway (car poor) and have a large area of upheaved concrete. Drags eveytime.

HOWEVER, my car came with a simple skid pan. Save me many times including the fuel fillers for the storage tanks at gas stations and a raised sewer cap. The latter was due to a spot where they had cut the road down preping to repave.

Skid pan has saved me several timesu loke. cb. Anyone can copy it if yo

Alex Donghi · #14 (**permalink**) 03-07-2005, 07:51 AM

My lowest point was when I got my first nick in the paint job....