I'm thinking of lowering my car a bit, so thought first things first, climb under and measure what the ride height of my car is now. Turns out lowering might not be a good idea, the car is already under legal requirements.

Here's what I have, from front to back under the car, the distance from the object to the ground:

Sump: 115mm
Exhaust drop down point: 95mm
Lower engine stabiliser bolts: 110mm
Flex joint in exhaust: 95mm
Gear shifter: 95mm
Exhaust flange before cat: 85mm
Exhaust flange after cat: 90mm
Muffler: 100mm

Measuring from the ground to the top of the wheel arch (steel bodywork), through the centre of the wheel, my car is 520mm at the front and 535mm at the rear.


Would anyone out there in mini land, particiularly those with rovers with a similar exhaust system, care to measure what they have as a comparison?
It's just something I'd be interested to know, and will help me in working out where I need to reset it to (looks like the front will be going up a half inch).

Thanks.

What's the legal measurement? isn't it 90mm or 95mm or something like that...
Also isn't their two different measurement for pre 71 and post 71 cars

_________________
Respect mine and I'll respect yours.

100mm in Vic, anywhere under the car. It was higher than this originaly but they lowered it for minis back in the 60's so we better not push our luck!

_________________
Flute - 68 MK I Cooper S
Member: VMCI #2474
Member: International Mini Model Collectors Club

When I finished building the car I set it to 100mm as the lowest point, clearly the suspension and engine mounts have settled a bit. The exhaust is a standard unit, but it does seem to sit quite low. I'm looking into raising the exhaust, though not sure how easy or hard that'll be.

Chances of getting stopped for it are slim but it would be a real pain to have to get a roadworthy if you did and then there are insurance ramifications if something was to happen, you may not be covered so I try to keep it legal and drive at ease!

_________________
Flute - 68 MK I Cooper S
Member: VMCI #2474
Member: International Mini Model Collectors Club

How many people actually worry about ground clearance, especially when most cops would put their back out just getting down to mini window height. Just fit adjustabls hi-los and crank them up at rego time.

I remember having to pump up brand new hydro mini deluxes just to meet minimum headlight height.

I'm occasionly finding the car scraping and crunching on speed bumps and odd inclines.
I can leave it where it is but I also want to solve the mystery: is my car riding low, or my exhaust hanging low?

Depends on the exhaust manifold- IMO Maniflow LCBs stick down a fair bit more than they need to.
Is this because they were also used on Metros in UK, or what? On a smallbore, the problem is 10mm worse than a 1275..

_________________
DrMini- 1970 wasaMatic 1360, Mk1S crank, 86.6HP (ATW) =~125 @ crank, 45 Dellorto (38 chokes), RE282 sprint cam, 1.5 rockers, 11.0:1 C/R.

Silly question perhaps, but what did you use to take the measurements? Guess a short steel ruler is best ??

_________________
'98 Mpi Sportspack + 7 port alloy head

Just used a short rule (4-5 inches long).
Flex joint and drop down points aren't exact, I just eyeballed them.

Okay I'll get back to you. My car is a bit down on the front setting. Does it bugger up the other settings if you just raise her a bit ?

_________________
'98 Mpi Sportspack + 7 port alloy head

If you can raise the car slightly so the sump is in the same place as mine that will tell me whats high and low on my car, if that's no trouble to you.
Thanks Bob.

Righto !

_________________
'98 Mpi Sportspack + 7 port alloy head

go to bunnings and get a 100 mm dolly wheel and fix it to the end of a broom handle roll it in and out from all points and if it clears the underneath, your fine, i seen the cops do this so they dont get dirty,

_________________

yeah but the f@t lazy p!gs don't even bend down enough to roll it under correctly.. if the broom handle touches something because they haven't got it parallel with the road.. they'll book ya.