ground clearence

[saltshaker]

I'm going to lower my engine for a better fit, FE motor with a Canton road race pan. right now I have 6" of clearance now with 15" rims....does this sound high?

[Buzz]

You should be able to drop it two inches or so and still be ok. I see pics of some cars that look like the pan is 2" off the ground. Makes me shudder everytime I see that. But then again that may be because of the bumpy, pot holed roads I have become used to down here.

[chas427fe]

I have an FE in mine and had to raise the car just to get 3" of clearance. I have not hit anything yet but consider my self lucky.

[acmjg]

2-1/2" of clearance!!

Nick Acton is going to make me a pan with 1" more clearance. Then I will hit my scattershield instead.



Anthony

[elmariachi]

The Hurricanes are notorious for very little clearance, based on the way engine sits in the chassis in relationship to the body mounting. As little as 2.5-3" inches has been noted by some in our owner forum. I have a 427 FE with an Armando pan and with Avid tires I have 5" with me in it, so I feel very fortunate. I trimmed the Lakewood and block plate all the way up to where the lowest curved point is. I'd say 6" is great clearance.

[Argess]

I use the low Aviad pan, but it still is lower than the frame rails which have 5" clearance. So far, no issues with hitting bumps.

Seems to me, the nose below teh oil cooler is the lowest part, so anything higher than that should not be too much of a worry.

[Commodore]

Don't forget that when the engine goes lower so do the side pipes. There used to be a vendor that sold header to side pipe wedges (four into four) that angled/raised the side pipes up away from the road. Anyone remember the vendor? My side pipes are and always have been to close to the road.

[Bill Bess]

I have about 2.5" on my Hurricane with the Canton oil pan. So far ....So good, have not hit anything except for the bottom of the bellhousing a couple of times going over a speed bump in a parking lot. I have learned the "angle approach" to high driveways and other possible hazards.
I like the "low look" to the car so I have my shock springs loose, I guess I'd be in trouble if I ran over an elephant.

Bill

[Buzz]

You'd be in trouble if you ran over a sharp rock. Also - I imagine your roads are mostly flat and smooth, but if you encounter a dip in the road at speed your suspension travel is surely more than 2" and could put your pan into the pavement.

[OCCOBRA]

My frame is 3 1/2" off ground. Bell housing is a problem at about 2/1/2". Bought car used and bell housing was smashed at bottom so much so that the ring gear had worn through the sheet metal. Had to weld on strengthened sheet metal (2 1/8" pieces sandwiched) to act as a "bumper" to ward off additional damage.
Real issue is the side pipes were installed at too low of an angle and will drag going over even a moderate bump or a dip in the road at speed. The pipes are so damaged now I am going to replace and correct headers or what ever to ge proper clearence for pipes. they constant banging on the road has damaged (loosened) the slip fit connections.