How high is the front end of your 68-70? New picture 9-3

[greenpigs]

 I was looking at mine and it sits way up in the air like it is in 4x4 mode. From the floor to the top edge of the fender lip both sides measure 27 1/4 inches. I am going to lower it till it has a very mild rake and when I find the sweat spot get the front end aligned. Also I will have the front on jack stands so no weight is on the front wheels when I do my adjusting.

Just curious what others measure IF anyone has even checked their ride.

The adjusting nut is WAY up in there so I don't think anything is worn out, just over adjusted.

[myk]

I'm pretty sure you're supposed to make adjustments to the car while it's resting on its wheels in full weight...

[cdr]

it is better to lift the car & then turn the adjusters,roll the car to settle the car & then measure. if not it is very hard on the adjuster bolt threads. mine is 25"

[Mike DC]

 
Measure the height of the inner vs outer ends of the LCA.  That reveals exactly how your suspension is adjusted.  No wheel & tire & bodywork factors playing into it.

[ws23rt]

I'm pretty sure you're supposed to make adjustments to the car while it's resting on its wheels in full weight...

Agree---This is the way I've always adjusted mine.  Also bouncing the front end some between adjustments will help allow the bushings to settle in the new position.
Also the best place to measure is under the K frame at the lower control arm pivot points for example.  (the fenders could be???)

[ws23rt]

 
Measure the height of the inner vs outer ends of the LCA.  That reveals exactly how your suspension is adjusted.  No wheel & tire & bodywork factors playing into it.

 And assumes a level floor to work from.

[greenpigs]

it is better to lift the car & then turn the adjusters,roll the car to settle the car & then measure. if not it is very hard on the adjuster bolt threads. mine is 25"

Thanks

I have heard of adjusting bolts snapping from the stress of the cars weight so I will lift the front end as planned.

My way of measuring may not be exact but it should be a good enough guideline and I can check the LCA also to make sure.

[dual fours]

FRONT HEIGHT ADJUSTMENT
First, see that the vehicle has a full tank of fuel and recommended tire pressures and is standing on a flat surface. Clean grease and dirt from steering arm knuckles and from torsion bar front mounting anchors. By hand, grasp the bumpers at the center (rear bumper first) jounce the vehicle several times, releasing it on downward motion.
1. Measure distance from the ball joint to the floor (measurement "B"), and from the control arm torsion bar spring anchor housing to the floor (measurement "A").
2. Subtract "B" from "A". The distance should be 1-7/8" (plus or minus 1/8").
3. Measure the other side in the same manner.
4. Adjust by turning the torsion bar anchor adjusting bolt clockwise to increase the height and counter clock wise to decrease the height. The difference from side-to-side should not exceed 1/8".  
5. After adjusting, jounce the car and recheck the measurements on both sides, even if only one side may have been adjusted.

You say that you will lower your cars front, in that form (decreasing height) you will not be lifting the weight of the car by the bolt.

[greenpigs]

You say that you will lower your cars front, in that form (decreasing height) you will not be lifting the weight of the car by the bolt.

That is correct.

But if you were raising the car you would be, and best to play it on the safe side.

Thanks for the picture.

[greenpigs]

Here it is

[dual fours]

Here it is

Looks nice, and looks tall. Just an after thought, when lowering front end be sure to turn front wheels all the way to the right and all the way to the left to make sure tires do not hit the body. Safe is the way to go.

photo credit "greenpigs"

[303 Mopar]

   I like the front lowered as well.  Can't wait to see a pic when done! 

[Ghoste]

It does have a 4X4 look to it as is doesn't it?

[HPP]

Your tires look like you have a pretty high aspect ratio, like perhaps a 70 series. You will need to be careful with lowering it so you do not create an interference inside the fender. As you drop the ride height, I'd recommend doing a full sweep with the steering to see if you are getting close to anything. Don't forget to allow for some suspension compression during this review as well. This could be the reason it was set so high to begin with.

If you drop it 2" or more at the fender lip, you will need a new alignment also. Alignment specs will also impact clearances as well, but to a lesser degree than lowering will. If you do go this route, get some modern specs under it; as much positive caster as possible, 0 to -.5 degree camber, and 1/16 total toe in. These will transform its road manners over the original specs.

[68pplcharger]

Mine sits about 24" don't know if I would go any lower than that. Can't get a floor jack under if it goes any lower

[472 R/T SE]

My blue Charger had that front end high in the air look.  I finally tried lowering it some ( 1st pic ) but didn't get much ( 2nd ) & sold it shortly thereafter.










My purple car sits at 24" & is perfect for me.  Both ends are up in the fender wells.  That's probably why I have such problems getting in & out of our driveway & didn't have the issues with my other cars.  I love the look but it's a pain in the butt for me.  

[myk]

Yeah but your car looks perfect like that so it's totally worth it...

[tan top]

 heres mine ,  not the  factory way  ,  was just curious as to what everyone elses was ,  but  not many wanted to play  



http://www.dodgecharger.com/forum/index.php/topic,85774.0.html

[greenpigs]

Your tires look like you have a pretty high aspect ratio, like perhaps a 70 series. You will need to be careful with lowering it so you do not create an interference inside the fender. As you drop the ride height, I'd recommend doing a full sweep with the steering to see if you are getting close to anything. Don't forget to allow for some suspension compression during this review as well. This could be the reason it was set so high to begin with.

If you drop it 2" or more at the fender lip, you will need a new alignment also. Alignment specs will also impact clearances as well, but to a lesser degree than lowering will. If you do go this route, get some modern specs under it; as much positive caster as possible, 0 to -.5 degree camber, and 1/16 total toe in. These will transform its road manners over the original specs.

It has 215 70 15 on it and I went about a half inch lower the way I measure. I don't expect or want it to sit very low in the front and need to measure my LCR as dual fours and others mentioned.

heres mine ,  not the  factory way  ,  was just curious as to what everyone elses was ,  but  not many wanted to play 



http://www.dodgecharger.com/forum/index.php/topic,85774.0.html

I didn't see any other post when I searched but at least it was a couple years old, I will measure mine like you did and add to your post.

472 RT/SE it does look about the same in the front.

[cdr]

i bumped your thread TanTOP the way you measured , mine is 21.5  15 in wheel

thread    http://www.dodgecharger.com/forum/index.php/topic,85774.0.html

[Dino]

I don't think my front end was that high after I pulled the engine out.   

I never measured mine but it's in line with 472's purple machine.  The adjuster bolts were about halfway out I think, but I'm not positive. 

[greenpigs]

I was going for the straight axle altered look, that is my story and I'm sticking to it.

[472 R/T SE]

I was going for the straight axle altered look, that is my story and I'm sticking to it.

I'd heard that one before.  Mostly 4x4 comments.  The front needed to come down a little bit more with my blue car.

[HeavyFuel]

26 3/8".......fender lip to floor

[68pplcharger]

heres mine ,  not the  factory way  ,  was just curious as to what everyone elses was ,  but  not many wanted to play  



http://www.dodgecharger.com/forum/index.php/topic,85774.0.html

Lol with that approach my measurement is about 20"

[472 R/T SE]

heres mine ,  not the  factory way  ,  was just curious as to what everyone elses was ,  but  not many wanted to play  



http://www.dodgecharger.com/forum/index.php/topic,85774.0.html

Lol with that approach my measurement is about 20"

Our cars have different looks but have the same height.   

[greenpigs]

 

A little lower.

[greenpigs]

 

[68pplcharger]

heres mine ,  not the  factory way  ,  was just curious as to what everyone elses was ,  but  not many wanted to play  



http://www.dodgecharger.com/forum/index.php/topic,85774.0.html

Lol with that approach my measurement is about 20"

Both look pretty sweet...



Our cars have different looks but have the same height.   

[472 R/T SE]

heres mine ,  not the  factory way  ,  was just curious as to what everyone elses was ,  but  not many wanted to play  



http://www.dodgecharger.com/forum/index.php/topic,85774.0.html

Lol with that approach my measurement is about 20"

Our cars have different looks but have the same height.   

Both look pretty sweet...

You got that shit right!!!     See there, a thumb for both of us.   

[472 R/T SE]

piggy, it doesn't seem like it went down much if it all.


It would be nice if a certain amount of turns would equal however many inches, just something as a reference.

I can't remember now how many turns I did with my blue car.  It came down, little more than yours, but wasn't enough for me.

[greenpigs]

I turned it about 2 full revolutions and the front dropped 1/2 inch from floor to wheel lip. It is hard to see but I don't like the ass in the air look very much.

[cdr]

I turned it about 2 full revolutions and the front dropped 1/2 inch from floor to wheel lip. It is hard to see but I don't like the ass in the air look very much.

PICTURE OR IT DID NOT HAPPEN !!!!   

[myk]

I turned it about 2 full revolutions and the front dropped 1/2 inch from floor to wheel lip. It is hard to see but I don't like the ass in the air look very much.

The solution is simple.  Drop the rear end to match...

[greenpigs]

I turned it about 2 full revolutions and the front dropped 1/2 inch from floor to wheel lip. It is hard to see but I don't like the ass in the air look very much.

The solution is simple.  Drop the rear end to match...

If it was a 73-77 Monte Carlo I would agree.

And cdr the picture is a few above your post.

[cdr]

I missed it 

[myk]

I turned it about 2 full revolutions and the front dropped 1/2 inch from floor to wheel lip. It is hard to see but I don't like the ass in the air look very much.

The solution is simple.  Drop the rear end to match...

If it was a 73-77 Monte Carlo I would agree.

And cdr the picture is a few above your post.

A lot of cars on this site have that suspension setup/height and look great...

[500Jon]

Mmmmm the grassy knoll...
Car will look different park on a grassy knoll.

Rule of thumb for Charger is...
Kneel down about ten feet away from the car and look at the wheel arch and tire (tyre) gap.
The top of the tyre (tire) should be just in line with the trim or slightly behind (obscured).

Any thing else is POO!!!
LiMeY Jon

[4aThrill]

 De arch the leaf springs or get lower hangers for the rear, I believe it's how your taking the pic I/we can't see really the space in between the wheel and fender much.

Another option different tire and wheel set up. Their are sites you can put a pic of your car on and then play with the tires and wheels and get the look your looking for if all else fails.

[472 R/T SE]

Pigster, those used to be my favorite aftermarket wheel.  I swear all a car had to have was a set of those wheels & I was instantly interested.  

I liked the tires with those wheels with the RWL on the inside.  Imo, a staggered look ( 275 & 235's ) with those wheels would look awesome with your colors.  

edit:  "awesomer"

[greenpigs]

I am going for an late 1980's period look.

For me that was HS time and about everything had Weld Draglits......mine are the Summit racing knockoffs

Going with my 80's vibe they didn't do that back then, lowering the whole car.

Reason for this time frame is my HS shop teacher had a 69 RR Q5 with drag lites, so now you know.

[tan top]

i bumped your thread TanTOP the way you measured , mine is 21.5  15 in wheel

thread    http://www.dodgecharger.com/forum/index.php/topic,85774.0.html

     

[HPP]

Guess I  bucked the trend as my Road Runner was as low as I could get away with in the 80s. But then again, I also was running as wide and low profile of a front tire as I could get away with too.

[472 R/T SE]

Oh gosh, maybe 15 years ago I looked at getting a B5 hardtop, black out/interior, '69 RR that had those wheels.  It was a really reasonable price, like $10k or something. 
Someone else liked those wheels too cause the RR only lasted a day or so before being bought.  I still have a picture I printed out as a photo cause I thought it was such a good look.

[greenpigs]

Slater, the auto shop teacher's had a transplanted 440\4 speed with 3.91 sure grip and it ran good. It was his daily driver in the Summer time, he said it ran 12's and I don't doubt it. The smell of race gas was AWESOME when he would come lumping in after lunch. My senior year he rebuilt it along with some touch up bodywork, 10:75 to 1 pop up pistons he had someone polish, said carbon wouldn't stick to it as easy. Also had the heads(906) ported by another student with his guidance. The RR had manual steering & brakes and was NEVER dirty. The exhaust was like the Silver Bullet's, but instead of 4 "turbo" mufflers the RR had glass packs.

I am painting my Charger Q5 when ever it happens as that is what my Family all agreed they liked, and just happens to be the same as my hero High School car.