Rear ride hight

[teamzr1]

Also, if having access to corner weight scale system
With driver's weight and good amount of gas in tank can adjust each corner's height, which also would help to move the center of gravity of car and then do a 4-wheel alignment

 

[Chuffer]

Just looking back on your post and your current measurements - You could in theory make suspension adjustments to set the front passenger side 1/4' lower than drivers side then the effect diagonally across the car would be the drivers side rear is then raised 3/4". That would get you to within 1/4" on all corners. This would assume the chassis is perfectly rigid to aid this (they're almost certainly not).

But if the chassis to ground measurements are good/even at the moment (?) it would be a shame and obviously not technically correct to alter the suspension settings in order to correct an error on the body/panels.

Without looking it up, I've got no knowledge of the procedure for setting body mount shims. I don't think later C3's even have shims? I'm not sure how rigid the body structure is but imagine its a case of shimming the mounts to take up any gaps between the chassis and the body when they're brought together. I'm not wether you can alter the way the body "drapes" itself on the chassis by shimming (not very much I wouldn't think, and not as much as you're looking for).
Maybe others on here who have done a body-off can advise.

Assuming your car is for just cruising around and looking right aesthetically then perhaps suspension adjustments are your only practical option.

1980 model year have shims

 

[johng]

Yes 78's have shims as well. As I understood it when putting my body back on, the idea was to place the body in position and then add shims if necessary to fill any gaps so that you weren't twisting the body when you bolted it down. I only needed 1 or 2 shims in a couple of places, you seem to have about 6 which seems excessive. It might suggest that something is out of line or bent somewhere. Have you got any shims anywhere else?

 

[Chuffer]

Yes 78's have shims as well. As I understood it when putting my body back on, the idea was to place the body in position and then add shims if necessary to fill any gaps so that you weren't twisting the body when you bolted it down. I only needed 1 or 2 shims in a couple of places, you seem to have about 6 which seems excessive. It might suggest that something is out of line or bent somewhere. Have you got any shims anywhere else?

I dare say there is quite a bit of flex and deformity on C3 body moulding right off the production line .

 

[Mad4slalom]

I dare say there is quite a bit of flex and deformity on C3 body moulding right off the production line .

The frame had, 6 hours in a chassis shop so should be correct , the fact that it at sometime has had a drivers side rear fender may well be rhe issue as could have been fitted to a frame they thought had no damage but was in fact a bit tweaked.

 

[Forrest Gump]

If you look at a row of C3's they'll all be sitting at different heights due to a variety of factors: suspension changes or settings (particularly aftermarket rear springs), wheel and tyre sizes, repairs, sagging springs etc. Take a tape measure with you when you next go to a show! (or maybe don't!!)

 

[Mad4slalom]

If you look at a row of C3's they'll all be sitting at different heights due to a variety of factors: suspension changes or settings (particularly aftermarket rear springs), wheel and tyre sizes, repairs, sagging springs etc. Take a tape measure with you when you next go to a show! (or maybe don't!!)

You are right, they seem to be all over the place.

 

[Mad4slalom]

Also, if having access to corner weight scale system
With driver's weight and good amount of gas in tank can adjust each corner's height, which also would help to move the center of gravity of car and then do a 4-wheel alignment

View attachment 26704

Interesting , how do you adjust the front ride height? There is a race prep garage down here that can corner weight .

 

[teamzr1]

Not since the early 1980s since I wrenched on C3s I had but if I recall
Most guys took the transverse leaf springs out and replaced them with coil springs that fit around the shocks
and then either cut the springs to meet the heights they wanted or bought coil spacers to do the same

I rather went for my C3s and C4s with adjustable coil over shocks and could adjust each when doing corner weight/heights
and adjustable end links for both sway bars

 

[Mr. Cricket]

My C3 has been lowered but by one of the previous owners and I've never looked into how they did it. When I had the '71 yellow LT-1 as well I compared them as that had the typical 4x4 look to it and it was just over an inch higher than the red one at each corner. I have 70 wall tyres on red that also fill the arches better I feel.

 

[Forrest Gump]

Ground to wheel arch on my car is 27.5" front and 27.75" rear.

I would have quite liked it 0.5" lower at front to rear difference but can't be bothered to alter it for such a small amount.

 

[teamzr1]

How about going with a shorter sidewall tire to drop 1/2 inch ?

 

[Chuffer]

Ground to wheel arch on my car is 27.5" front and 27.75" rear.

I would have quite liked it 0.5" lower at front to rear difference but can't be bothered to alter it for such a small amount.

I know my front wheel arch height is 27.5 inches too but not sure about the rears , will have to check . But then I am just a` low down bum ` in the long grass !

 

[Mad4slalom]

My C3 has been lowered but by one of the previous owners and I've never looked into how they did it. When I had the '71 yellow LT-1 as well I compared them as that had the typical 4x4 look to it and it was just over an inch higher than the red one at each corner. I have 70 wall tyres on red that also fill the arches better I feel.

View attachment 26746

Hi stuart, that height looks perfect , you still have the red one? Stock or glass spring ? When you are killing time in your garage, could you measure what length rear bolts you are running ? Also Would you be able to count the coils on the front springs so I can see how that compares to my stock springs . ps she is looking Gorgeous !!

 

[Mr. Cricket]

Hi stuart, that height looks perfect , you still have the red one? Stock or glass spring ? When you are killing time in your garage, could you measure what length rear bolts you are running ? Also Would you be able to count the coils on the front springs so I can see how that compares to my stock springs . ps she is looking Gorgeous !!

Yes mate, can't ever sell that one.. In Edinburgh all week but will do when I get back

 

[Mad4slalom]

Yes mate, can't ever sell that one.. In Edinburgh all week but will do when I get back

I am on hol in spain til sat so no hurry

 

[Forrest Gump]

Interesting , how do you adjust the front ride height? There is a race prep garage down here that can corner weight .

If you took the corner weights route, you have to accept that you could end up with different wheel arch heights. The car would handle nicely though.

 

[Mad4slalom]

If you took the corner weights route, you have to accept that you could end up with different wheel arch heights. The car would handle nicely though.

Ah ! That is what i am trying to correct, plus it is not a race car but a cruise

 

[teamzr1]

Write-up I did back in 1998 when converting to coil overs on my C4 ZR-1 and corner weight adjusting results

Custom Suspension Project

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