Hot Rods Is this too low for a street car??

There's a bunch of the "how low is too low" type threads.

A car rolls on the pavement and negotiates the various grade levels, that's its main function.
"Form follows function" means that the function comes first and takes priority before the form. Getting the form of "low" in front of the function of rolling causes the grill to fall off. How cool can you possible look with a splintered grill?

*****en cool huh?


So your out cruising for chicks and the hottest one is really digging your car. I mean she and everybody else just can't take their eyes of your machine. You pull into the parking lot and SCRAAUUNCH! the grill folds over.

 

But my wife won't let me cruise for chicks anymore and the chicks wouldn't pay any attention to me anymore, unless I pulled a Murphy like that

 

LOL the only chicks that have ever been interested in me after seeing what I was riding or driving was my wife. She says it because I always own go to hell vehicles and women are not interested in men with that at***ude.

 

Well you "noamsaiun"

 

Imho it's just fine. I have similar issues. Be very sure to avoid 2x6's sitting on edge.

143699.jpg by wingman9 posted Dec 31, 2009 at 3:40 PM

 

Well your frame horns and spreader bars will either plow it out of the way, schooch you over it or stop you dead long before you tear up your grill.

 

Tough call, 'cause that very nice (and expensive) grill leads the way as the low point. Check out the number of late model Corvettes that have battle scars on their lead edge. My Avatar 48' low point is under 4", thats the front cross member. I've s****ed it so many times that I made a skid plate for it. The lead edge has nice angle to it, it skips over, rather than digging in. The biggest surprise hit seems to be road "crowns", the ridge between the wheel tracks. I've also "reshaped" the front edge of the front fenders. When image is everything, it's a *****. BILL RINALDI

 

When I was in high school my car could roll a pop can down the street with the front end. Nowadays I'd probably want a couple more inches clearance.

My current '32 sits more "1940's style high", and it is trouble free to drive. But when my '40 tudor gets done it will need to be almost as low as yours to look good.

 

******, you're showing your age. 2 X 4s haven't been 3 5/8" for a long time. 1 1/2 X 3 1/2". Maybe you just have old 2 X 4s

 

I have 25K miles on my Roadster this way. Bottom of grill is 3 inches from the ground but then again it is very close to the axel not out front like a 39/40.

 

It's too low when you have to ask your wife or girlfriend to get out of the car because you are stuck on an entry or exit ramp from the street to the parking lot of a business or home.
All bets are off if you are p***ing through Bountiful Utah because the streets and driveway entries will take a tole on any lowered rig in that town.

 

Birdman hate to pick on you. But first you have to change those ugly Caddy tail lights to something way more flush. Then you are going to have to raise that car at least 2 inches front and rear. That is unless you have a garage full of extra new 39 Ford grilles and chins.
I had a 49 Ford that was so low I couldn't even drive into many parking lots. Especially lots with small speed bumps. That's where all the cool looking hot girls hang out. So not only will you miss seeing all the kool sites you'll be driving a purdy red car with a ****py grill and ****py tail lights.
Believe me my favorite cars are 39-40 Ford coupes. Why not get it up a bit and enjoy it?

 

For a second there I thought I was reading the wrong thread,
Then I figured out that you were posting in the wrong thread,
Then I R E A L L Y figured out that it is poor birdman who has got both threads going and both ends of his car are needing attention.

 

Few trips around the neighborhood will save you alot of speculation.

 

CONTACT YOUR LOCAL HIGHWAY DEPT. AND FIND OUT WHY THEY BUILT THE ROADS SO CLOSE TO YOUR CHIN!

 

Think of all the road kill the front end will scoop up..

 

You doubted me and my posts? I never make masteaks.

 

" Hell " " No "

 

I have 7 1/2 inches clearance below the grill on my '39 Deluxe Coupe. Would look better lower but I can drive it anywhere with no worries.

 

I think this guy has a 39 Coupe!

 

When I built mine with a MII front end I added the 2" dropped spindles and the pop can would clear. After driving a couple months, not any more. I have a speed bump in my sub that it will not clear. I'm screwed if the ever add one on the only other road out. Due for a repaint on it.

 

I can barely fit my fist under the chin of my 40. Its at about 2.5-3 inches. I dive it everywhere and am just careful. That being said, my grill chin has been crunched several times. But nobody sees it but me. My car rides and handles great. I wouldnt change a thing.

 

Remember: The springs will settle down with miles
Then you will see that it is to low.

 

5" of clearance? Is it a 4X4? Get that ****er down in the weeds!

If it doesn't drag the ground every now and then, it's too high.

Seriously, if you're worried about the grille dragging, do this.




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Trust me You will be happy if you raise it a little more. Low is cool, but it is also a whole new driving experience. Take it from one who knows.

 

My '40 is 4.5" off the ground at the nose. I always thought it was really low... until reading some posts here. It has dropped spindles and the MII springs have also been cut. I'm pretty careful and sometimes the nose rubs. Not a big deal. You don't see it unless you get almost under it.

 

Sometimes the nose rubs-
After the pavement beat the bottom of the grill higher it now only rubs sometimes, is that how it works?

 

Haha. I saw your original post and then you changed it! It works well! If that's the case (your original comment that it hit once and was raised higher so it only hit level with the very bottom), than I'd say the 4.5" is just right if the goal is to get it as low as possible w/o destroying the nose!

 

I had a 39 Deluxe Coupe that was way way low. I'll try to find a pic. To me it wasn't driving it that was a problem, it was trying to perform simple maintenance. I got tired of trying to drive it up on 2X6's so I could get a jack under the front. Getting a jack under the rear was worse with a cheap floor jack and getting 1/4" of lift per stroke....But it looked cool as hell, and is one car I would like to have back!

 

Where I live, the chin would be split and smashed in, in an hour on the road.