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Old 08-03-2024, 02:56 PM
gtorich gtorich is offline
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Default 66 Gto front end height

Hey, if a couple of your guys are bored today, could you run out and get a measurment for me...........i need from the ground up to bottom of the chrome strip in the wheelwell.

Right now im at 24 1/4 on ds....................24 1/2 on ps..................this was way too low.

I have 15 inch rims.................so if anyone has some spare time, could you shoot me a number...............this way i could maybe adjust the coil overs on one try.

Rich

  #2  
Old 08-03-2024, 03:07 PM
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ponchjoe ponchjoe is offline
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EDIT Oops didn’t see the coil overs until just now. Why not just adjust them to where you like them?

Here’s a post I found on here


For 66 & 67, here are the specs (for STANDARD springs):
Front: 9.50"
Rear: 9.00"

To measure the rocker panel height:
-Park the car on a level surface
-Fuel tank should be FULL
-Tires at specified pressures

Front measurement is taken at a point 31" rearward of the front wheel centerline.
Rear measurement is taken 23" forward of the rear wheel centerline.

NOTE: Measure from the ground to the lowest point on the rocker outer.

Original specifications indicate a tolerance of +/- 3/8" on all dimensions, with a maximum allowable difference of 3/4" from left side to right side of car.

Dimensions above are for a new car. Used vehicles will average up to 1/2" LOWER.

Above from Zazarine & Roberts Restoration Guide (second Edition), page14.

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Last edited by ponchjoe; 08-03-2024 at 03:13 PM.
  #3  
Old 08-03-2024, 05:13 PM
gto4ben gto4ben is offline
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14" rims. P215/70R14 tires
23-5/8" PS rear
24-7/8" PS front
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  #4  
Old 08-03-2024, 05:20 PM
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Measuring someone else’s car that doesn’t have the same diameter tire as yours won’t be much help to you.

15 inch wheels can be mounted up with a wide variety of tires that vary in diameter.

How about you share your tire sizes here to better determine where your car stands.

The 215/70-14 example posted above would be a 25.85” diameter tire nominally, different manufacturers who make tires that size won’t be exactly the same even though they’re the same listed size.

Either way I’m with ponchjoe, just adjust the car to the height you like that looks the best to you. As long as it doesn’t either bottom out on the road on big dips or have the tires scraping the fender when you’re making turns you’re good.

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Old 08-03-2024, 05:25 PM
gto4ben gto4ben is offline
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Also need amount of gas in tank. I had ~18 gallons.

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Old 08-03-2024, 06:23 PM
gtorich gtorich is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by b-man View Post
Measuring someone else’s car that doesn’t have the same diameter tire as yours won’t be much help to you.

15 inch wheels can be mounted up with a wide variety of tires that vary in diameter.

How about you share your tire sizes here to better determine where your car stands.

The 215/70-14 example posted above would be a 25.85” diameter tire nominally, different manufacturers who make tires that size won’t be exactly the same even though they’re the same listed size.

Either way I’m with ponchjoe, just adjust the car to the height you like that looks the best to you. As long as it doesn’t either bottom out on the road on big dips or have the tires scraping the fender when you’re making turns you’re good.
Sorry about that b-man, got to remember to give more facts, i always screw up on that...............ok front tires are P235/60/15

Before i put in the coil overs, DS 24 1/8....PS 24 1/2

Now im at DS 25 1/8..............PS 25 1/4

I adjusted the coil overs so it sat at 26.............took it around the block and it went back to the above numbers..............so bascially up about 3/4 of a inch.

Now those first numbers were with taller ball joints in the lower arm, which lowered the car 1/2..................also had 1 inch lowering springs.

I have the coil overs at 2 1/2 from bottom.............car seems pretty high now to me, because that thing was so low for 20 some years..................thats why i asked for some measurements from the forum, just to get a ball park figure.

I'll take some pics later, to show you the difference............gotta keep it at this height for awhile to see if i like it or not..............cant mess around too much, im not gonna get an alignment every time i feel like moving the thing...........lol

Rich

  #7  
Old 08-03-2024, 06:55 PM
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Your 235/60-15 tires are 26.1” tall.

The factory tires were pretty close to 27”.

How the factory measured ride height from certain points at the rockers is pictured below, so you would adjust for your shorter tires by half the diameter difference of about 1/2”.

The specs shown are for a ‘65 which can’t be much different than a ‘66 because both cars are on essentially the same chassis and close to each other in weight.

So again just get your car where you like it and so that it drives nice, using the factory specs for reference.
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  #8  
Old 08-03-2024, 07:22 PM
gtorich gtorich is offline
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Thanks again, looks like i got some figuring out to do.............here is how it sits today, hard to believe its only 3/4 higher from before............considering everywhere i went i got, man that car is sitting really low in front.

# 4 seems about the best pic.

Rich
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  #9  
Old 08-03-2024, 07:43 PM
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The back sits too high, to me at least.

I think the front looks about right where it sits now but again it’s your car adjust to where you like it.

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1964 Tempest Coupe LS3/4L70E/3.42
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2002 WS6 Convertible LS1/4L60E/3.23
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1956 VW Type 2 Panel Van 36hp 1200
1957 VW Type 1 Beetle 180hp 2276
  #10  
Old 08-03-2024, 07:46 PM
gtorich gtorich is offline
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Pic from when i started.................hard to believe 3/4 higher seems way higher than where i was at.............must be me............lol
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  #11  
Old 08-03-2024, 08:08 PM
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ponchjoe ponchjoe is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by gtorich View Post
Pic from when i started.................hard to believe 3/4 higher seems way higher than where i was at.............must be me............lol
My personal opinion, I like the starting point but bring front up about 3/8” maybe a 1/2”

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Last edited by ponchjoe; 08-03-2024 at 08:09 PM. Reason: Sp
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