Bottomed Out Cobra?

jams · #1 (**permalink**) 10-26-2003, 06:02 PM

Two weeks ago I bottomed out my B & B. The bottom of my bell housing hit the ground. At the time I was driving on a road I have traveled before and I didn't see any trouble coming. No damage was done but I was wondering if anyone else had the same problem.

I have Mustang II suspension... is there an easy way to stiffen up the suspension?? Any thoughts?

Happy trails

Bob Putnam · #2 (**permalink**) 10-27-2003, 05:41 AM

What is the ground clearance under the bell housing? Under the frame?

casaleenie · #3 (**permalink**) 10-27-2003, 07:23 AM

I've got a Unique 289 and had to shave about 3/4 inch off the scattershield... For me it made all the difference in the world...
I'm sure I'm still real close on driveways and such but no hitting dragging or hitting so far..

WBofTN · #4 (**permalink**) 10-27-2003, 10:04 AM

casaleenie:
How did you shave off your bell housing? On the car or off the car?? Mine practially drags on june bugs.
WB

jams · #5 (**permalink**) 10-27-2003, 10:15 AM

I don't know my clearance off hand but I guess it time to get the grinder out.

Clois Harlan · #6 (**permalink**) 10-27-2003, 10:53 AM

I have bottomed out before with my Big Block but never with my small block so I am assuming you are running a big block engine. When I converted to the FE engine I got some new frame mounts that are almost a full inch shorter than the small block mounts. I am running 450 # front coil over springs which I have adjusted all the way up (two reasons: 1. Clearance 2. Handling). Also, I am running a Lakewood steel bell housing and it sits a full inch lower than my oil pan. I drew a line along the lower 1" lip of my bell housing and cut it off. You can still mount your inspection plate and add an inch of clearance too.

Also, I have a friend with a B&B that literally pulled the bellhousing off the rear of his engine when he went over a rail road crossing too fast and caught his bell housing. Now he is using heli coils to hold his bell housing onto his block.

Clois

casaleenie · #7 (**permalink**) 10-27-2003, 11:09 AM

WB,

A small grinder/cutter while the car was on a Kwiklift. Had my brother holding an extinguisher just to be safe... Just scored a line in the bellhousing/Lakewood scattershield and made the cut...
It didn't really take much to make a big difference...
I'm still very carefull and try to take the bumps at an angle...

Bluesman · #8 (**permalink**) 11-01-2003, 09:47 PM

I sliced off the bottom of the bell housing just below the two lower bolts and still managed to hit it hard a couple more times.
I also forgot to pull out of a gas station on to the main road on an angle and wiped out the lower front nose paint. The solution to prevent that from ever happening again was to put spacers and longer bolts in the front where the frame and body are mated. They stick down another 1/2 inch and will hit the road before the body does.

CowtownCobra · #9 (**permalink**) 11-02-2003, 07:50 AM

Do you have adjustable shocks where you can change the ride height and rebound? I have Aldan coil overs and found 3/4 inch in the back and 1/2 inch in the front made a world of difference

jams · #10 (**permalink**) 11-02-2003, 07:55 AM

No, My shocks are not adjustable. Since I have Mustang II suspension I don't think I can add coil overs. I shaved off about an inch of my bellhousing yesterday. That should help!

Excaliber · #11 (**permalink**) 11-02-2003, 09:11 AM

The way to increase the ride hieght on the front with traditional coil springs is to replace them with taller springs. OR you could use those wierd things that "twist" in between the coils and raise it that way. I never did like those.

I went to NAPA and bought these springs:
Mustang II, V-6 with A/C and Power Steering. (pick a year model, they all the same). THOSE new springs are WAY to tall of course, but they WILL fit if you cut them!

Remove your old spring and measure it's height, cut the new spring an inch taller than the old. I used an air powered "cut off" tool to cut mine. Hacksaw and torch, no good!

About $80 bucks for the springs and they were in stock at NAPA.

Ernie

John S Peterson · #12 (**permalink**) 11-03-2003, 03:00 AM

If you want to convert to coil overs in the front with mustang II Shell Valley makes a tubular lower control arm and coilover assy that bolts right in. Worked for me, and the cost won't break the bank.

JP

Clois Harlan · #13 (**permalink**) 11-05-2003, 07:50 PM

Jams,

You can run coil overs with the stamped mustang II A arms too. Get a grinder and grind about 1/4" around the lower opening and the coil overs will fit just fine. That's what I did for the first year. Go to www.shellvalley.com and look at their catalogue under suspension. Rich sells the coil overs for the front as well as the upper and lower A arms. Very resonable. He even sells a complete kit a little saving compared to buying them seperately.

http://www.shellvalley.com

Clois

jams · #14 (**permalink**) 11-06-2003, 08:57 AM

Thanks for the good tips.

Ron61 · #15 (**permalink**) 11-06-2003, 09:25 AM

Jegs sells a conversion kit for coil overs on a Mustang11 front end and it works great.

Ron

ACC427US · #16 (**permalink**) 11-08-2003, 06:20 PM

Mustang Ranch replaced front shocks ad coil overs replaced and its a perfect now.