Need To Know Stock Ride Height

[Speeder]

I'm trying another set of stiffer springs but I lost the original height dimensions. I read that if you lower much beyond 3/4", you cause problems with the suspension geometry that can worsen the handling. I know the control arms should be level with the ground but then it looks too high.

Would someone with a stock SVO please be kind enough to measure the height from the ground to the wheel well lip or to the bottom of the lowest point of the front of the crossmember
or to some point on the rocker panel? It would help to know what wheel size too so I can compensate for the 245-45 16s I use. Do the control arms look level?

I think this would be helpful info for a lot of us that are in the same spot. Everyone talks about lowering their car by so much but I've never seen anyone mention any stock height to use as a reference.

Hey, to the guy that bothers, I'll try to return the favor somehow.
Thanks

[KevinK]

The ride height is spec. in the Ford body manual. Unfortunately, I don't have mine handy. It is measured at the wheel lip to ground at all 4 wheels.

Another referance is the 84 spec. book but it does not list the svo seperately. It has the controlled height measured between the rear axle bumper to the axle spec. at 5.07 to 5.29 inches. This measurement does not include the rubber bumper and is the shortest distance.

[Speeder]

Kevin,
Thanks much for that info, I put a call in to my local dealer. He wasn't aware of such a spec but he'll look. It makes sense that there would be, how else could you tell if springs were sagging.

I'm still was hoping someone could look at their stock height SVO because I'm really curious if the control arms are parallel with the ground. When I set the height that way, the wheel well lip gaps look higher than photos of SVOs in old ads.

[KevinK]

Ok, I just had flashback. Why not measure my car? Too simple I guess. I only have 21K miles and never wrecked, original tires too.

Measurements to outer wheel well corner:
Rear 26 5/8" and 26 1/8"
Front 26 1/4" amd 26 1/4"

My estimate is 26 1/4" all the way around +/- 1/4"

[GAboySVO]

You might want to consider that for unknown reasons, some '86s with stock springs had a larger gap between fender lip and top of tire in the rear than the front.

I have Eibach Pros on my '86 which lowered the car cosiderably, more than 1", with no noticable ill effect on handling. I don't have an offset rack bushings or offset tie-rod setup either. However, on California's rough highways, it can be a bit jarring going over some overpass joints.

[Speeder]

Kevin,
Bingo!! Thanks a bunch, that is a big help. Now I'm in debt again in the help giving department. If you need any advice or help from me let me know. I've been running my car since '89 so I've accumulated a lot of info, tricks and various spare improvements.

By the way, I wound up getting many interesting dimensions from a Ford spec but oddly enough, none of them could make me certain what the front ride height is. They were mostly measured from flexible or rounded surfaces that I couldn't trust. I'm puzzled why they didn't use the wheel well edges. Maybe they were more concerned about parking lot type clearances etc. for insurance or shipping reasons. When I'm done I might post something as a reference for everyone.

[KevinK]

Speeder

I keep the 84 Ford spec book handy by my computer. Unfortunately, the SVO is not always called out seperately. The measurements you mentioned were in the book but they measured to the top of the turn signal in the front (no turn signal in the bumper on the SVO) and to the top of the metal bumber in the rear. A closer look showed this to be the bumber height adjustment, not the ride height. That's why I didn't mention it.

I've seen the ride height in the Ford manuals for 69 Mustang and 84 Truck. so I'm sure it would bere there for the Mustang and SVO. Probably in the SVO body suppliment. I've always seen it measured to the wheel well opening.

I know the spring rates changed over the 3 years but I doubt the ride height changed by more than 1/4". All this is an educated guess. Anyone with facts, speak up.