"dropped" 242, how low is too low for a street car?

[Mueller]

finished installing my 3" shortened front struts last night with a 1.25" riser block between the strut and ball joint....

car looks f'n hot dropped as is (wife pulled up to the house just as I sat the car back on the ground was saying how she cannot wait to drive it !!!! )

anyways, if one has decent suspension travel, would would the ideal lowest ride hieght that would be acceptable for use on the street??

I'm guessing maybe a 4" clearance between the ground and the lowest part of the vehicle???

[Booster]

i owned a car with a 2" ground clearance. it was a pain in the ass

[Tick]

I've got somewhere around four inches under the x-member. I have to push up on the bumper to get my cheesy little floor jack under it. And the lip under the bumper bottoms out on inclines. That being said? Drop that **** to the ground.

[kahlua240]

pics or ban

[DecalServiceBrett]

Pics.

[kyle242gt]

It depends - my Z, Riv, Tbird, and Miata all have roughly 3" clearance at the X-member and/or exhaust. As long as the lowest parts of the car are near the axles, you'll be fine with speedbumps and driveways.

Be careful, though, that you don't do screwy things with the roll center. That can make for unpredictable handling.

[Mueller]

It depends - my Z, Riv, Tbird, and Miata all have roughly 3" clearance at the X-member and/or exhaust. As long as the lowest parts of the car are near the axles, you'll be fine with speedbumps and driveways.

Be careful, though, that you don't do screwy things with the roll center. That can make for unpredictable handling.

funny you mention that, this months Racecar Engineering has an article about that for cars with a live axle rear suspension just like the 240 and 700 cars...

[FuzzyHoNutz]

I thought of baggin mine for the option of raising it while driving and sittin on it's nutz while parked. Picture a 242 slammed down like a mini-truck with the wheels tucked under into the fender. I'm not going to race mine so it would work. If you plan to do some real hard street rally driving, bags aren't the way to go. 4" is good though....

[spruill242]

the problem i had with my car was exhaust.

[Forg]

What would the ideal lowest ride hieght that would be acceptable for use on the street??
I'm guessing maybe a 4" clearance between the ground and the lowest part of the vehicle???
The problem with 240's is that the wheel arches have the appearance of being "too big", if you want to retain proper wheel-travel (ie. in both the uppy-downey and the sidey-sidey, plus the roundey-roundey at the front).

To me, the following doesn't look too bad, but it's still a bit "up in the air" looking compared to the ideal. It's probably about as low as I'd ever want to go on a road-car, and is a PITA to get up the driveway it's in. It's 4" off the ground, at the crossmember.

http://i87.photobucket.com/albums/k124/originalForg/DSC00005.jpg

http://i87.photobucket.com/albums/k124/originalForg/DSC00032.jpg

[OldSchoolEuro]

Mine sort of *rakes* the ground and I have trouble getting into the driveway as well. I measured about 3.75" at the crossmember. I cant even get my low profile jack under there.

http://a619.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images01/80/l_5742221b0d80f387baea08a06fcb15c2.jpg

http://a917.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images01/5/l_752d15f3071b65218ce55bbd34e2ceb4.jpg

[badvlvo]

It all dpends on how and where you drive. I had a Chevy dually that was lowered with a 7"/10" kit with a c-notch in the frame. It looked ****ing great! But the downside was I couldn't get over speedbumps without scraping and there are other places too that I bottomed out. But that was partly due to the long wheelbase and how extremely low it sat. The current owner installed airbags to get it over speedbumps, on to floorjacks, into his driveway and other places where ground clearance is usefull. My 63 Karmann Ghia was also dumped. It scraped alot on speedbumps but that was the only problem because it was so short.

It really all depends on how and where you drive and what obstacles you encounter in day-to-day driving.

My Volvo is currently lowered with the old style IPD springs and it's not low enough. Probably going down another inch in the front and a half inch in the rear. But I don't know if I will be able to get into my current driveway without scraping as it sits. We will see once it's back on the road.

[towerymt]

I think mine was about 3.5" at the cross member and that was OK. The splash pan was actually a little lower, and I hit a rock with it once. And a christmas tree (!!!!). It was a really small tree though, and it had been run over a few times I think. Do a good job on tucking the exhaust up against the body and tight to the trans cross member and it won't drag. My stock n/a downpipe had flat spots just after the first bend where it would touch and drag on speed bumps. Some bumps were tall enough that I could ease down and the exhaust would drag on the top without the car bouncing or anything.

[FuzzyHoNutz]

I had a 79 Monte' SLAMMED down so far you couldn't slide a pack of cigg's on it's side under. Drove it like that for a couple years until I ran over one of those 1" steel plates in the road that had a corner bent up. Cut the cross member like butter and I got the city to pay me for the car.

[rancidponymilk]

This is how low my 240sx used to be, it was way too low for street driving, I would scrape on everything. Its now about 1.5 inches higher in the rear, mabey .5 in the front. Now that I have taller tires its not so bad.

http://www.supercars.net/pitlane/pics/93926/3294668d.jpg
http://www.supercars.net/pitlane/pics/93926/3294668c.jpg
http://www.supercars.net/pitlane/pics/93926/3294668b.jpg

[SwedishBrick242...]

I should slam the RX7 like that just because. Time to bust out the spring cutting saw :-D

[RvolvoR]

i actually really do need pics of this, i am going to be doing the same thing to my car very soon...i also might need a set of those blocks you speak of

[AustVolvo]

I understand that DVS may/will have such blocks available for purchase shortly....

On the height note in Australia the legal limit is 10cm ground clearance, so I suppose that gives you an idea of what you can get away with and still make it over obstacles.

[rancidponymilk]

I should slam the RX7 like that just because. Time to bust out the spring cutting saw :-D

buy coilovers.

[SwedishBrick242...]

buy coilovers.

But those cost moneyz! :-P


coilovers are actually part of the plan among many other things

[coldfusion21]

what sorta angle do you have on your control arms? if you shortened your struts 3" and only put 1.25 inches back in, it would seem your probably near level at the control arms.

Also, if you dont mind sharing, what did you do for the tie rods?

[sparks]

http://i63.photobucket.com/albums/h140/sparksmark/1-2.jpg

I have never scrapped the crossmember and the wheels never rub and my 244 is quite low (3 coils cut from front and rear)

[smosit]

I thought of baggin mine for the option of raising it while driving and sittin on it's nutz while parked.

why don't we all get Citroën DS's? those things were waaaaaay ahead of their time. i want one.

[Mueller]

a 3.5" high piece of wood will slide under the crossmember, car is as level as I could make it right now....more than likely will have the rear 3/4" or so higher than the front giving it a slight rake.

a-arms not level, the blocks I made are useless to me, new design in the making, yea I should just buy some from one of the 2 available people, just stubborn :)

bumpsteer fix is slowly being thought out on what/how to solve it.....

245/40/17 on 8" wide rims

[DaytonAE86]

Damn, looks GOOD!!!, just watch out for speedbumps and small animals.

I wouldn't raise it unless that height produces any real challenges or problems.

[norcal505]

a 3.5" high piece of wood will slide under the crossmember, car is as level as I could make it right now....more than likely will have the rear 3/4" or so higher than the front giving it a slight rake.

a-arms not level, the blocks I made are useless to me, new design in the making, yea I should just buy some from one of the 2 available people, just stubborn :)

bumpsteer fix is slowly being thought out on what/how to solve it.....

245/40/17 on 8" wide rims

hahaha
scrapin scraper cus we from the bay:rofl::rofl::rofl::rofl::rofl::rofl::rofl:

thats pimp.

[volvo-slyder]

if you drive alert you won't scrape....plus going sideways over speed bumps and into drive ways looks cool

[rancidponymilk]

if you drive alert you won't scrape....plus going sideways over speed bumps and into drive ways looks cool

If its too low, going sideways wont even help you over speed bumps. On my nissan, no matter how I went over one, the entire exhaust would scrape as I went over it.

[Crazychopstick]

Lowness looks good Mueller but extreme control arm/tierod angles!

Got any camber plates to go along with that?

[2fast242gt]

im lowered 3" i cant get a jack under my car without first using the stock emergency jack on one side. i NEVER have scraped yet.... i hope i dont jinx. and i have a bodykit so its 2x as bad. heres my pic.
http://aycu39.webshots.com/image/34598/2003332627503140030_th.jpg (http://allyoucanupload.webshots.com/v/2003332627503140030)

[SwedishBrick242...]

Its strange about these cars that even when slammed to the ground, they never look THAT low in pictures. Maybe its just the boxiness of them.

[towerymt]

Its strange about these cars that even when slammed to the ground, they never look THAT low in pictures. Maybe its just the boxiness of them.
Struts are too long. Here's mine sitting on the bump stops in the front.

4054

If you can't get a jack under the jacking points on your 240, it's probably because the jack is tall, not because your car is so low. My harbor freight aluminum jack clears by an inch or two. Much better than the cheap "big red" jack I had before (the ~$25 ones...small but deadly).

[towerymt]

what sorta angle do you have on your control arms? if you shortened your struts 3" and only put 1.25 inches back in, it would seem your probably near level at the control arms.
That has little affect on control arm angle. It depends on the ride height.

[Tom]

Also you don't want level control arms.
You're front roll center will be too high.

[SwedishBrick242...]

If you can't get a jack under the jacking points on your 240, it's probably because the jack is tall, not because your car is so low. My harbor freight aluminum jack clears by an inch or two. Much better than the cheap "big red" jack I had before (the ~$25 ones...small but deadly).

Harbor Freight FTMFW!

Costco has a good low profile one for $100 too. Lanny got that one, and I will be picking one up with the need arises.

[ShadowofBob]

Harbor Freight FTMFW!

Costco has a good low profile one for $100 too. Lanny got that one, and I will be picking one up with the need arises.

I can not recommend the Costco jack. Mine failed horribly while jacking up my car one time. The aluminum arms failed and snapped in 2 causing my car to just drop to he ground from having the wheels 6" in the air. Thankfully nothing flew out and hit me since I wasn't looking under the car. Maybe they have a new design or something, but I am leery of buying a jack from them ever again.


If you lower it be thankful that the lowest part on the front of your car isn't your oil pan like on my Audi.:-( I have 2-3" of clearance I think, livable, but a bit low for my tastes.

[Rust Reaper]

I can not recommend the Costco jack. Mine failed horribly while jacking up my car one time. The aluminum arms failed and snapped in 2 causing my car to just drop to he ground from having the wheels 6" in the air. Thankfully nothing flew out and hit me since I wasn't looking under the car. Maybe they have a new design or something, but I am leery of buying a jack from them ever again.


If you lower it be thankful that the lowest part on the front of your car isn't your oil pan like on my Audi.:-( I have 2-3" of clearance I think, livable, but a bit low for my tastes.

good story to use to hammer home the point : USE SOME JACKSTANDS UNLESS YOU CAN BENCH PRESS YOUR CAR.

[stylngle2003]

Also you don't want level control arms.
You're front roll center will be too high.

listen to this guy

[coldfusion21]

also avoid the sears aluminum ones, they break. HF ones seem to be the best deal.

As far as control arms level, that was simply a guess based on other cars i have seem lowered to various degrees.


So if level isnt so good, what sorta angles (roughly) are we looking for?

And im all ears BTW. I know almost nothing about roll centers and such, and would like any advice i can get.

[Baron Fel]

Not to beat the dead horse with the nissan pics but I think as long as you get wheels and tires that fill the wheel well you should be good. It took me a year to get a stance I like for my nissan now it's time for the volvo....

http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y88/Baron_Fel/IMG_2234.jpg

[cjstephens]

a local guys car. was this low with matt black paint as his daily until he realised police are mean. bodykits are how cheaters get their low on.

http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c81/chasingpandas/_MG_0455copy.jpg

[kahlua240]

true statement. body kit low is still tuckin rubber though.

[Redwood Chair]

Harbor Freight FTMFW!

Costco has a good low profile one for $100 too. Lanny got that one, and I will be picking one up with the need arises.

Just roll it up on a couple of 2x4 s and use a real jack.

[Mueller]

Also you don't want level control arms.
You're front roll center will be too high.


so just leave as is except for the tie rods?? (bumpsteer)

not a race car, will see an auto-x once or twice a year, mostly just for driving around town and few twisty roads in the outskirts of town...

thanks

[Marek]

Just roll it up on a couple of 2x4 s and use a real jack.

now theres someone who knows what he's talking about :)

I wouldnt buy a jack because its "low" lol
personnaly i dont even trust a jack below 100$, specially an aluminum jack!!! why the hell would you want that, i just dont find it to be safe enough.

I got the Michelin 2.5t jack with 2 jackstands and they are awesome, the jack is heavy as hell, it even has sweet rims and those 50+HP stickers all around, it even came with a pair of blue michelin gloves, c'mon lol ;)


drop that brick as low as you can!

[hockey930]

Harbor Freight FTMFW!

Costco has a good low profile one for $100 too. Lanny got that one, and I will be picking one up with the need arises.


I will be aware of what has been stated about this jack, but I have one I got a while ago, I love it so far.

[Volvorules]

so just leave as is except for the tie rods?? (bumpsteer)

If you don't have a spacer block between the bottom of the strut and the ball joint, you don't need to do anything with the tie rods either.

[towerymt]

so just leave as is except for the tie rods?? (bumpsteer)

not a race car, will see an auto-x once or twice a year, mostly just for driving around town and few twisty roads in the outskirts of town...

thanks
Your control arm angle looks pretty severe, and the roll center is probably below ground. You could benefit from roll center spacers at that ride height. Only space the tie rods if you space the ball joints. You can't do one and not the other, otherwise you WILL have bump steer. Toe change through travel will happen if the tie rod swings a different arc than the control arm if you make one not parallel to the other by spacing just one of them down.

Do you have pictures of the blocks you made that you say are useless?

[2fast242gt]

towery do you still have those spacers?

[towerymt]

towery do you still have those spacers?
waiting for jonathan to send them back to me. :grrr:

[Mueller]

Your control arm angle looks pretty severe, and the roll center is probably below ground. You could benefit from roll center spacers at that ride height. Only space the tie rods if you space the ball joints. You can't do one and not the other, otherwise you WILL have bump steer. Toe change through travel will happen if the tie rod swings a different arc than the control arm if you make one not parallel to the other by spacing just one of them down.

Do you have pictures of the blocks you made that you say are useless?

not as pretty as the ones Tom or Ash sells, still learning my CNC machine and how to make parts on it....

http://forums.turbobricks.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=3986&stc=1&d=1194256096

[towerymt]

Looks good. Why are they useless? Make some matching tie rod spacers from steel tube. Try some 1/2" heim joints drilled & tapped for M14x1.5 (double check the thread pitch of the inner tie rods) and drill out the steering arm to 1/2" (not sure how big that tapered hole is to begin with). Or buy expensive M14 heims. Then bend up some sheet metal support brackets for the bolt through the heim joint tie rod.

When you're done, write an article. ;-)

[Tuff240]

Low enough?
I grew up(?) driving stuff like this...

http://www.tuff240.com/images/t3/ppstane/ppstane01.jpg

That's almost low enough...

[2fast242gt]

massive camber?! is that the rear of the car? is there even springs in it?

[Tom]

so just leave as is except for the tie rods?? (bumpsteer)


thanks

Didn't say that.
You're going to want to do something if you're going to run that low.

[Mueller]

Didn't say that.
You're going to want to do something if you're going to run that low.


so // with the ground is not ideal I take it as per your 1st comment correct?

current angle too much or wrong direction??

thanks..

[coldfusion21]

not as pretty as the ones Tom or Ash sells, still learning my CNC machine and how to make parts on it....


Looks like a feed and speed issue, thats a pretty nasty surface finish. What alloy? what sorta machine?

[Mueller]

Looks like a feed and speed issue, thats a pretty nasty surface finish. What alloy? what sorta machine?

if you are looking at the sides, disc sander...same for the edges, I was trying to get a chamfer on the edges, disc sander wrong tool :)

6061 T6, old Bridgeport Series I converted from NC to CNC (using stock steppers and Geckos)...BobCAD for the drawing file and cnc file, turbocnc software to control the BP from my PC...I have Mach3 as well, just need to finish the dedicated PC to use that instead of turbocnc....purely a hobby setup !!!

[262 grand national]

Low enough?
I grew up(?) driving stuff like this...

http://www.tuff240.com/images/t3/ppstane/ppstane01.jpg

That's almost low enough...

Yeah those were the days
:P

[Tuff240]

massive camber?! is that the rear of the car? is there even springs in it?
That is the rear of the car.
No springs... torsion bars. We had to pry the suspension down to get the front wheels/tires in the fenderwell and on the car. Wish there were air bags back then...
Wasn't really much distance between the pan(chassis) and the ground so suspension was mostly just tire flex. :cool:

Was a show car (?) so it didn't get driven much the first year. To and from some shows and some weekend cruising. I showed it one full year then retired it to my daily driver. It was the cover car for HotVW's in Nov. 1993 and Volksworld (euro mag) shortly thereafter.

License plate read KSNPVMT, was appropriate at first. I raised it up an inch or 2 when I started driving it everyday so I changed the plate to PP STANE. It's now beaten and battered, but still runs around Modesto.

http://www.tuff240.com/images/t3/ppstane/ppstane03.jpg

Sorry for the threadjack... :-P

[towerymt]

That is the rear of the car.
No springs... torsion bars. We had to pry the suspension down to get the front wheels/tires in the fenderwell and on the car. Wish there were air bags back then...
hydraulics.

[bcw727]

here are some pics of my roomates' daily drivers, in downtown pothole infested richmond. little/no problems with scraping, bottoming out, wheel rubbing, etc... enjoy.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v505/240trainee/HPIM0350.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v505/240trainee/DSC_0871.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v505/240trainee/HPIM0380.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v505/240trainee/HPIM0385.jpg

[2fast242gt]

love 240sx's

[bcw727]

as far as lowest possible ride height goes, you should be more concerned with how you want the wheels to look in relationship to the fenders, ride height is a byproduct.

[klr142]

little/no problems with scraping, bottoming out, wheel rubbing, etc... enjoy.
Maybe if you drive it paying attention to every little spec of road... Having a car that's about 2" off the ground in multiple places is not my idea of something to drive around daily, but hey... In the wrong hands those cars would be missing all sorts of undercarriage metal from being scraped up.

[bad news]

Maybe if you drive it paying attention to every little spec of road...

You get used to it and don't think about it after a while.

[Baron Fel]

the piano man looks like he has lazy eyes lol

[stylngle2003]

here are some pics of my roomates' daily drivers, in downtown pothole infested richmond. little/no problems with scraping, bottoming out, wheel rubbing, etc... enjoy.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v505/240trainee/HPIM0350.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v505/240trainee/DSC_0871.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v505/240trainee/HPIM0380.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v505/240trainee/HPIM0385.jpg
it's a treat to see these cars every week

[240trainee]

Thanks for the compliments guys, those are my cars

The white car has the setup from the black car, it's the new track car.

One important thing to keep in mind also is that the body on a 240sx sits pretty high in relation to the frame, sections of the car sit well below 2" off the ground, lol. It's all about having the perfect height. I had the front coilover maybe 1/2" lower, and I hit everything. At this height, I only hit pretty ****ing huge things. Just have to pay attention to whats going on.

And as to not wanting to watch the road and ****, grow some balls. If your building cars so you don't have to think about it, whats the point? Just leave it stock, take girls on dates, and leave it at that. Too low is relative, way too many cars are way too high. I'm glad the pic of me sliding is in there, these cars are driven and driven hard. You just have to man up and do it.

and not saying slammed is for everyone, because its not, but don't say it's not drivable, because it totally is. You guys just haven't seen these bricks with a stance that shreds your face off. Once you do you'll never look back....

[stray]

Thanks for the compliments guys, those are my cars

The white car has the setup from the black car, it's the new track car.

Props to you on that, sir. the white 240 is hot as hell. :nod:

I'm glad the pic of me sliding is in there, these cars are driven and driven hard. You just have to man up and do it.

Also, props on that.

You guys just haven't seen these bricks with a stance that shreds your face off. Once you do you'll never look back....

That I have to disagree with. There's one specific 242 with single rounds that I'm thinking of, but cant seem to find a picture of. It's beautiful.

[rancidponymilk]

Thanks for the compliments guys, those are my cars

The white car has the setup from the black car, it's the new track car.

One important thing to keep in mind also is that the body on a 240sx sits pretty high in relation to the frame, sections of the car sit well below 2" off the ground, lol. It's all about having the perfect height. I had the front coilover maybe 1/2" lower, and I hit everything. At this height, I only hit pretty ****ing huge things. Just have to pay attention to whats going on.

And as to not wanting to watch the road and ****, grow some balls. If your building cars so you don't have to think about it, whats the point? Just leave it stock, take girls on dates, and leave it at that. Too low is relative, way too many cars are way too high. I'm glad the pic of me sliding is in there, these cars are driven and driven hard. You just have to man up and do it.

and not saying slammed is for everyone, because its not, but don't say it's not drivable, because it totally is. You guys just haven't seen these bricks with a stance that shreds your face off. Once you do you'll never look back....

I really like the wheels on the first one. If my car was 5 lug I'd probably get something like those.

[stylngle2003]

That I have to disagree with. There's one specific 242 with single rounds that I'm thinking of, but cant seem to find a picture of. It's beautiful.

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y300/Volvokiller/Carlisle%202007/2007_0520Carlisle20070191.jpg

[hockey930]

I want robs car

[Mueller]

I want robs car


I want my thread free of Nissans :(

[240trainee]

Then step it up and get a Volvo setup to make this thread worth existing.

I had forgot about Rob's Volvo, I've seen him slide before, the thing is sick.

and the principle of lowness and ground clearance are similar between the two chassis.

[McLovin]

good story to use to hammer home the point : USE SOME JACKSTANDS UNLESS YOU CAN BENCH PRESS YOUR CAR.

For real. Your jack should only be used to get the car high enough to lower it onto the jackstands.

[stray]

picture of robs car


No, not that one. It's silver and Swedish... he drifts too though.

[bcw727]

it's henrik h's car, he has quite a few pics in this thread http://forums.turbobricks.com/showthread.php?t=56763&page=15

[SwedishBrick242...]

Sick 240s! I do love me some Japanese hatch sickness, especially now with the RX7 in my possession :-D I'm probably going to slam it on some coilovers and some 18"s eventually.

[quinn_volvo]

OP, it's too low when you can't reach take out or the atm.

Did you buy a drop kit?

[SwedishBrick242...]

OP, it's too low when you can't reach take out or the atm.

Did you buy a drop kit?

Thats what the sunroof is for.

Ask me how I know

[240trainee]

Thats what the sunroof is for.

Ask me how I know

Right on :-D

[sirspanky]

Thats what the sunroof is for.

Ask me how I know

how would you know?:-P

[240_Richmond]

here are some pics of my roomates' daily drivers, in downtown pothole infested richmond. little/no problems with scraping, bottoming out, wheel rubbing, etc... enjoy.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v505/240trainee/HPIM0350.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v505/240trainee/DSC_0871.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v505/240trainee/HPIM0380.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v505/240trainee/HPIM0385.jpg

Wooo! Go Richmond! Sadly, I haven't seen those two around town. Well, I may have seen the white one at Starbucks on Friday nights a few times over the summer. If it is who I think it is (don't remember his name) its godly and the owner is cool too.

[stray]

it's henrik h's car, he has quite a few pics in this thread http://forums.turbobricks.com/showthread.php?t=56763&page=15

thats the one!

http://home.no/dhh/div/DSC_4329s.JPG
http://home.no/dhh/div/tpc52006-61.jpg

Best stance on a 240 ever. :-D :nod:

[Mueller]

that is cool...finally, some real 240 content, I won't have to boycott my own thread, hahaha

[240trainee]

That car is sick.

could go a little lower in the front, but thats purely an aesthetic observation.

and no 240_Richmond, you have never seen either of those 2 cars at Richmond meets

[262 grand national]

Does anyone know what his setup is? I did go to his dir and checked out the other pics nice ride for the $. :)

[MyRed240]

MY WHIP

<a href="http://photobucket.com" target="_blank"><img src="http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y4/idropice/IMG_1320.jpg" border="0" alt="Photo Sharing and Video Hosting at Photobucket"></a>

<a href="http://photobucket.com" target="_blank"><img src="http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y4/idropice/IMG_0257-1.jpg" border="0" alt="Photo Sharing and Video Hosting at Photobucket"></a>

[OldSchoolEuro]

^^^ Thats a tight colour!!

[suterman]

I like the look of lower cars.


Theres a bloke in my town who has a 1990 golf gti mk2, He's cut the springs and it has stretched tyres on big rims, the thing is, it looks good and all when it's parked, but when I see him driving it it's bouncing all over the place like a cheap toy remote controlled car on a rough surface. Surely this means that handing is terrible as the tyres don't have a steady amount of traction as the car rattles up and down on corners and such.

Is the handling sacrificed on these cars to the point that you wouldn't want to drive them on a regular basis? (given that the lowering is not done on a excessive budget)

[Biesey]

thats the one!

http://home.no/dhh/div/DSC_4329s.JPG
http://home.no/dhh/div/tpc52006-61.jpg

Best stance on a 240 ever. :-D :nod:

some one should get Henrik or some of the guys from turbo performance club on here, and get them to tell us how to drop a 240 like its hot!

[rancidponymilk]

I like the look of lower cars.


Theres a bloke in my town who has a 1990 golf gti mk2, He's cut the springs and it has stretched tyres on big rims, the thing is, it looks good and all when it's parked, but when I see him driving it it's bouncing all over the place like a cheap toy remote controlled car on a rough surface. Surely this means that handing is terrible as the tyres don't have a steady amount of traction as the car rattles up and down on corners and such.

Is the handling sacrificed on these cars to the point that you wouldn't want to drive them on a regular basis? (given that the lowering is not done on a excessive budget)

Thats why you dont cut the springs.

[Lord_Athlon]

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v241/lord_athlon/resized1.jpg

[suterman]

Thats why you dont cut the springs.

So come on then, spill the beans.

[stylngle2003]

lower with stiff springs. stock springs are too soft and cause too much suspension motion

[BB-Q]

Although chopping the springs increases the spring rate. Also, it's free, so worth a try, Mike.

[klr142]

Although chopping the springs increases the spring rate. Also, it's free, so worth a try, Mike.
Within reason, with shocks that are up to the task, and with bump stops that are short enough to not come into play in normal driving.

[oneflat83]

MY WHIP

<a href="http://photobucket.com" target="_blank"><img src="http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y4/idropice/IMG_1320.jpg" border="0" alt="Photo Sharing and Video Hosting at Photobucket"></a>

<a href="http://photobucket.com" target="_blank"><img src="http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y4/idropice/IMG_0257-1.jpg" border="0" alt="Photo Sharing and Video Hosting at Photobucket"></a>

LOL! your whip!!! thanks for the laugh

[MikeHardy]

One important thing to keep in mind also is that the body on a 240sx sits pretty high in relation to the frame, sections of the car sit well below 2" off the ground


AAAAAAAAAAAAARRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRGGGGGGGGGGGG GGGGGGGGGGGG

:grrr::grrr::grrr::grrr::-(

it's a monocoque car, there is no body, there is no frame it is all one hence the word it means single shell. there is no frame for the body to sit pretty highly on :-P

[MyRed240]

LOL! your whip!!! thanks for the laugh

LOL! yes my whip!! since i am the OWNER! thanks for the CAR sucka aka dumb ass :finger::finger::finger::finger:

[SwedishBrick242...]

how would you know?:-P

My friend had a CRX that was chopped to about 2 inches off the ground. When we went to take out places, we had to pass the money and food through the sunroof. Those stupid things are designed to be the perfect height for SUVs...

[240trainee]

AAAAAAAAAAAAARRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRGGGGGGGGGGGG GGGGGGGGGGGG

:grrr::grrr::grrr::grrr::-(

it's a monocoque car, there is no body, there is no frame it is all one hence the word it means single shell. there is no frame for the body to sit pretty highly on :-P

Touche, your right


It does however have "frame rails" that run the length of the car. I know it isn't a frame I just tend to call those rails that, despite it not being the case.

take a lot under one and you'll see what I mean.

[rancidponymilk]

Touche, your right


It does however have "frame rails" that run the length of the car. I know it isn't a frame I just tend to call those rails that, despite it not being the case.

take a lot under one and you'll see what I mean.

They do hang pretty low, mine are so bent up from hitting ****.

[oneflat83]

LOL! yes my whip!! since i am the OWNER! thanks for the CAR sucka aka dumb ass :finger::finger::finger::finger:

another laugh. whats funny is i payed 800 for a car you payed 3k for from me. whos the sucka now?

[Baron Fel]

Touche, your right


It does however have "frame rails" that run the length of the car. I know it isn't a frame I just tend to call those rails that, despite it not being the case.

take a lot under one and you'll see what I mean.



why did you relocate the license plates? I don't see any intercoolers they would be blocking...

[ryan242v]

I only have the first gen. Ipd springs but small tires 205/50-15, and I can't get a regular floor jack under the front cross member or the rearend ( well really the second lower sway bar)

<a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/ryan242v/1979242/photo#5137391686785625266"><img src="http://lh3.google.com/ryan242v/R0uuhSLm7LI/AAAAAAAAAMc/KKwQckxLJbo/s800/IMG_0497.JPG" /></a>
<a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/ryan242v/1979242/photo#5137391648130919586"><img src="http://lh6.google.com/ryan242v/R0uufCLm7KI/AAAAAAAAAMQ/5UbTRdxkCwI/s800/IMG_0649.JPG" /></a>
<a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/ryan242v/1979242/photo#5137392206476668178"><img src="http://lh4.google.com/ryan242v/R0uu_iLm7RI/AAAAAAAAANM/kvqE1txDsFs/s800/IMG_7580.JPG" /></a>
<a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/ryan242v/1979242/photo#5137391785569873090"><img src="http://lh6.google.com/ryan242v/R0uunCLm7MI/AAAAAAAAAMk/nUl-OzWFGWQ/s800/IMG_0655.JPG" /></a>

sorry I got carried away with the pics

[DurableSwedish]

...man i should really post pictures of my wagon...
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v189/rim_delopoz/turbobricks/CopyofIMG_1350.jpg
thats my yellow 240 compared to the stock hight of the 88 245. the 245 has those springs in it with a coil cut off it. It's pretty low, perfect stance imo.

[slammed145]

Low enough?
I grew up(?) driving stuff like this...

http://www.tuff240.com/images/t3/ppstane/ppstane01.jpg

That's almost low enough...

Nothing will go as low as an aircooled VW!

My 64 Type 3 Ghia daily driver:

http://images.thesamba.com/vw/gallery/pix/289772.jpg
http://images.thesamba.com/vw/gallery/pix/314792.jpg

[jungledorifuto]

the lower the bigger risk the bigger risk the more of a G you are. . . naturally

[AndyThrsh]

.

[mAydAy]

Touche, your right


It does however have "frame rails" that run the length of the car. I know it isn't a frame I just tend to call those rails that, despite it not being the case.

take a lot under one and you'll see what I mean.
What happened to the black one? I've seen the white one out there, looks almost as if its lower.

[Marek]

Nothing will go as low as an aircooled VW!

My 64 Type 3 Ghia daily driver:

http://images.thesamba.com/vw/gallery/pix/289772.jpg
http://images.thesamba.com/vw/gallery/pix/314792.jpg

WOW thats is so freaking low!!!! sofa king Awesome!!!!

The diff never hit??? How did you get it that low, cutting, handling, evolve please :)


Cheers For Low!

[SteveMD]

There are enough 240 pics posted up in this thread for you guys to take note of how much better the 240 looks when the body color extends all the way up to the door's black window trim instead of having 2 or 3 inches of flat black on the door below the window trim before the body color starts.

Look at Henrik's 242 as an example.

[Mueller]

Heres a pic of a lowered 242 that I've been working on here and there :

lopped off 3 coils off front, and 2 rear. Looks alright.

I really like that look, rims and all...has a nice simple look to it,

[klr142]

There are enough 240 pics posted up in this thread for you guys to take note of how much better the 240 looks when the body color extends all the way up to the door's black window trim instead of having 2 or 3 inches of flat black on the door below the window trim before the body color starts.Heh! That's pretty funny... All the 240 pictures are of cars with those strips either removed, or never there in the first place. Aside from Collan's picture of rearview mirrors anyway.

[MyRed240]

another laugh. whats funny is i payed 800 for a car you payed 3k for from me. whos the sucka now?

:rofl: haha dumb ass 3k is nothing...u act like i spent 50k on it. why do ppl still think they own a car after its sold....i may never know, who cares if u owned it before me..nobody cares. but paul its ok to let go...lol

[242teeI]

slammed145 i have said it once and i will say it again. That this is so awesome!

[240trainee]

why did you relocate the license plates? I don't see any intercoolers they would be blocking...

couple reasons

I have done that on like all my 240's, and I like the way it looks

and, this car came without a plate mount, and I can mount it like that with a couple zip ties.

some sweet cars being posted, that KG is ****ing radical

[240trainee]

Ok, thought you guys might enjoy these....

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v505/240trainee/2375614145_0b40549d01_o.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v505/240trainee/2373107702_6d4ace2aa5_o.jpg

and a vid

http://www.vimeo.com/842971

Sorry, I know the thread is kinda old, didn't feel like making a new one, no point.

[slammed145]

WOW thats is so freaking low!!!! sofa king Awesome!!!!

The diff never hit??? How did you get it that low, cutting, handling, evolve please :)


Cheers For Low!


To get it that low and still have it be functional, I had to convert it to IRS in the rear. I also installed some 14inch VW bus wheels instead of the 15 inchers that were on there before. 195/45/14 up front and 205/50/14 in the rear. After that, all I did was simply adjust the torsion bar angle front and rear, and cut off any bump stops, bump stop brackets, or anything else that got in the way. I also built skid plates for the front beam, after cutting off that lower bolt (shown in my cell phone picture) Type3 volkswagens are completely adjustable from the factory, so as long as your tires dont rub and you don't mind the sparks, you can go as low as you want pretty much for free.

All in all, I spent 1100 on the car, 50 on the IRS conversion, 20 on the wheels, 200 on the tires, and 100 on the Porsche 1.7 liter type4 engine. A little bit more for some random stuff. Built that car for under 1600 bucks and drove it for almost a year to school and back everyday, until someone offered me 3800 bucks for it. I also drove it from San Jose, CA to Las Vegas for a bug show. That was the time of my life!


Here's some more pictures:

driving to the sacramento Bugorama, where I won 3rd place for modified type3:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v511/roachghia70/t34%20ghia/T34a.jpg
I used to slouch as far as I could and watch the road from under the steering wheel. LOL


slight rust issue with teh passenger side floor, so i had to remove the rear seat and build a battery tray. LOL!!
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v511/roachghia70/t34%20ghia/Bugorama06132.jpg

Yes, that's the concrete, and some ex-WWII paratrooper seatbelts:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v511/roachghia70/t34%20ghia/P1010059.jpg


Wiring harness:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v511/roachghia70/t34%20ghia/DSCN0489.jpg

The driprail on the roof came up to my belly button.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v511/roachghia70/t34%20ghia/09-03-06_1304.jpg

Cruising to Vegas: (big rig LED tail lights!)
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v511/roachghia70/t34%20ghia/vegas06111.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v511/roachghia70/t34%20ghia/vegas06108.jpg



shipped it off to a guy in new york. I almost cried.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v511/roachghia70/t34%20ghia/shipping46.jpg

[240trainee]

God thats incredible, I'm going to start looking for one, lol.

[stylngle2003]

Ok, thought you guys might enjoy these....

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v505/240trainee/2375614145_0b40549d01_o.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v505/240trainee/2373107702_6d4ace2aa5_o.jpg

and a vid

http://www.vimeo.com/842971

Sorry, I know the thread is kinda old, didn't feel like making a new one, no point.

wrong 240, ben :-P

but hot, nonetheless

[Addicted242Boost]

low spammage

http://www.modestolan.com/~twentydead/gallery/albums/Davis-2006/P1020700.sized.jpg
http://modestolan.com/~twentydead/242/re-primer_sized.jpg
http://memimage.cardomain.net/member_images/3/web/363000-363999/363238_3_full.jpg
http://memimage.cardomain.net/member_images/3/web/363000-363999/363238_13_full.jpg

[Chigga 744SE]

that Ghia is amazing, the pure definition of hoodride.

I love these kinda threads. I personally don't think there's such thing as too low, unless you scrapping while driving down a smooth hwy, proper suspension + wheels + tires + fender mods, that'll make thing suave.

http://i85.photobucket.com/albums/k65/themadchigga/mah%20carz/IMGP0850-smallcopy.jpg

this was before snow tires, the front was 245/35/119, rear 275/30/19, we played around and lowered it so low that portion of the rim was tucked. Shame on the snow tires..... 255/40/19 don't fit well on lowered E39s.

http://i85.photobucket.com/albums/k65/themadchigga/mah%20carz/Picture081.jpg

[240trainee]

wrong 240, ben :-P

but hot, nonetheless

no see, it's actually the right 240, it's not me thats wrong....

:lol:

[Jordan]

Eh, my car is that low. don't worry about it.

But Imma PM you about these struts you talk about.

[rancidponymilk]

Ok, thought you guys might enjoy these....

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v505/240trainee/2373107702_6d4ace2aa5_o.jpg

Sorry, I know the thread is kinda old, didn't feel like making a new one, no point.

How do you drive around town, seriously? Your car looks lower than mine and I scrape all the time, only got stuck once luckily.

I need bigger wheels.
http://www.supercars.net/pitlane/pics/136786/3312506c.jpg
http://www.supercars.net/pitlane/pics/136786/3312506d.jpg

[240trainee]

My car is much lower than yours.

I just man up.

it's all good.

[jungledorifuto]

/\ truth
http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b87/s134/volvoflushfactor011.jpg

[Baron Fel]

and a vid

http://www.vimeo.com/842971

Sorry, I know the thread is kinda old, didn't feel like making a new one, no point.

car looks pretty grippy! did you get the transition down by the end of the day?

body kit and bigger wheels make it seem lower but you probably have the same hight as Rancid

[240trainee]

hahahahahahaaha

figured someone would say that.

I'm running a 215/40 17 front, smaller overall diameter than stock, and still tucking tire. the car is damn low.

and no, didn't get that transition there, car was cutting off randomly, and it required too much speed, and I'm not that good. Maybe next time.

[big_wig_074]

this works fine on my 240 on the crap roads of cheltenham,even goes over most speed bumps without a problem.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/0703/big_wig_074/240turbopics009.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/0703/big_wig_074/240turbopics016.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/0703/big_wig_074/240streeto.jpg

[Mueller]

this works fine on my 240 on the crap roads of cheltenham,even goes over most speed bumps without a problem.


thanks, finally a "real" 240....not some nissan badged thread-highjacking-pos :-D :cool:

[big_wig_074]

no worries chap,its just chopped springs on std shocks,but i have monroe self levelling suspension,not sure if this helps but the ride is better than i expected and not really tiresome.

[Mueller]

no worries chap,its just chopped springs on std shocks,but i have monroe self levelling suspension,not sure if this helps but the ride is better than i expected and not really tiresome.

i like the steel rims...just an inch or 2ches wider and they'd be perfect !!!

[big_wig_074]

im looking at banded steels mate,theyll fit beautiful!