NS Dev
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| posted on 21/1/05 at 07:02 PM |
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Ground Clearance??????
Finally got my engine to it's final resting height and now I'm worrying about ground clearance!
With the Caterham sump on the XE engine, I have approx 3" of ground clearance under the sump at what I think will be ride height (could be run
up to 3/4" higher though)
The "fin" on the bottom of the gearbox is at the same height roughly.
Is this enough? I have seen better and worse on other cars but what do folk on here run interms of sump+gearbox to ground clearance??
[Edited on 21/1/05 by NS Dev]
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flak monkey
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| posted on 21/1/05 at 07:36 PM |
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When I went out for a ride in Dave Ashursts car he couldnt get it over the rubber speed hump at the flats. But I dont know what his ground clearance
is exactly... 3-3.5" maybe?
Cheers,
David
Sera
http://www.motosera.com
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NS Dev
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| posted on 21/1/05 at 07:39 PM |
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That's a bit better to hear then, at least one local locoster will have similar limitations to me!!!!!
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stevebubs
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| posted on 21/1/05 at 08:00 PM |
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FWIW, I've seen *loads* of cars running about 3" ground clearance.
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David Jenkins
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| posted on 21/1/05 at 08:06 PM |
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General opinion on this forum was to have 4" clearance when laden, if you want to get over speed bumps intact. 
David
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flak monkey
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| posted on 21/1/05 at 10:22 PM |
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quote:
Originally posted by Dave Ashurst
The speed bumps outside Flakmonkey's place were steep and very tall
Dave
Yeah the speed humps are those weird rubber, almost semi circular ones that jarr your bones even in a normal car. Not nice, and they have a very
sudden rise, unlike most speed humps.
I didnt realise so many people were running at or around 3" ground clearance though, I thought the norm was more like 4". Maybe something
for me to look at when I get that far, as there are rather a lot of speed humps around at home!
David
Sera
http://www.motosera.com
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Mark Allanson
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| posted on 21/1/05 at 10:23 PM |
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I have 4 1/2" front and rear, and thought that was suicidally low, perhaps not!
If you can keep you head, whilst all others around you are losing theirs, you are not fully aware of the situation
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flak monkey
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| posted on 21/1/05 at 11:21 PM |
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Dave,
Numanuma link is great  
Sera
http://www.motosera.com
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Mark Allanson
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| posted on 21/1/05 at 11:45 PM |
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For SVA I am going to use 185 60 13's, but 70's will be used as soon as I have burnt out the rears - should take about 2 minutes if I pass
fist time - SMOKE
If you can keep you head, whilst all others around you are losing theirs, you are not fully aware of the situation
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NS Dev
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| posted on 22/1/05 at 12:20 AM |
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Flipping hell Dave, you run a low ride height if your sump's flush with the chassis at 3.25" clearance. I have 3" ish to the sump
but approx 5" to the chassis! Also, same as you, the bellhousing flange is probably the lowest bit, although the k2rum sump is about the same
height as it.
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britishtrident
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| posted on 22/1/05 at 11:45 AM |
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100mm/4 inch is really the minimum for road use, for circuit use where the surface is smooth ans swept clean it is different but on the open road
you need to be able to clear any debris lying on the surface. Bear in mind we share the roads with demolition trucks, scrap merchants, fly tippers and
mindless vandals if the ground clearance is set at 4 inches a house brick lying in he road hasn't he potential to wreck a chassis.
[Edited on 22/1/05 by britishtrident]
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Deckman001
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| posted on 22/1/05 at 12:07 PM |
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quote:
Originally posted by britishtrident
100mm/4 inch is really the minimum for road use, for circuit use where the surface is smooth ans swept clean it is different but on the open road
you need to be able to clear any debris lying on the surface. Bear in mind we share the roads with demolition trucks, scrap merchants, fly tippers and
mindless vandals if the ground clearance is set at 4 inches a house brick lying in he road hasn't he potential to wreck a chassis.
[Edited on 22/1/05 by britishtrident]
Oh great, that sounds fun, was hopping to run about 3.5 to 4" for a low look, maybe i will need a snow plough type thing attatched to the front
Jason
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NS Dev
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| posted on 22/1/05 at 12:22 PM |
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The brick will clear my chassis ok, that's about 5 inches up, just the sump that's low!!!
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Deckman001
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| posted on 22/1/05 at 11:40 PM |
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I've got my engine sump at the same height as the bellhousing Rs Alloy jobbie, the engine looks to fit under the bonnet line, i guess only time
will tell if it's too low
Jason
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Dale
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| posted on 23/1/05 at 01:10 AM |
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I am running about 5.5 at the front and 6 at the back and not quite 4 under the sump. I will be putting a nicely sloped both fore and aft skid plate
under the sump.
Dale
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locost_bryan
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| posted on 25/1/05 at 02:54 AM |
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in NZ the minimum legal clearance is 100mm (4 in) - if you can't drive over the piece of 4x4 timber in the boot of Mr Plod's car,
it's pink-sticker time 
Bryan Miller
Auckland NZ
Bruce McLaren - "Where's my F1 car?"
John Cooper - "In that rack of tubes, son"
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locoboy
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| posted on 25/1/05 at 12:09 PM |
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Im bang on 4 inches to the sump with standard pinto sump.
Only cought it once going real slow out of a carpark, reversed a bit and one wheel up the low kerb was enough to get me out ok.
ATB
Locoboy
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alfasudsprint
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| posted on 25/1/05 at 02:29 PM |
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Mine is 150 to chassis, 125 to sump guard...not tested on road yet.
Here is a pic of my sump guard. its 1.5mm steel bent up, welded to two cross braces. bolts onto chassis rails.
 
Rescued attachment Image02.jpg
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David Jenkins
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| posted on 25/1/05 at 03:38 PM |
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Just remember that the oil is cooled to a certain extent by the air flowing round the sump - so you don't want to block it off completely.
David
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Trev Borg
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| posted on 25/1/05 at 09:59 PM |
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up until a few weeks ago my ground clearence was minus 1"
The sump was on the ground and and the wheels were't
Before you judge a man, walk a mile in his shoes.
By that time, who cares.
You're a mile away, and you've got his shoes
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