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Does anyone know stock ride height as measured at top of wheel well for 72 cutlass supreme, front and back?
What exactly is your concern?
Its in the service manual. The manual specifies a measurement from the rocker panel to the ground, plus or minus a certain amount. It also outlines exactly how much fuel is suppose to be in the tank, and I think a specific weight in the drivers seat.
In reality, this isn’t important unless your rebuilding the car exactly they way it was built originally. From the factory these cars always appeared to have the trunk fully loaded, I like a little stance. I guess I’m old school, I like the muscle car rake that everyone had back when these cars were common.
It’s your car, set it up how you like. There have been numerous threads over the years about cars leaning to one side or the other, with lots of recommended fixes.
Body bushings, collision damage/repair, tires pressure/size, panel alignment, suspension parts, etc all have an effect of ride height. Be prepared to possibly need to do a lot of work and experimenting to get the car sitting exactly how you want.
The wheel openings are not used to gauge ride height because there's too much variability. As noted, the gauge point is the flat part on the bottom of the rocker, since that is pretty well registered to the frame rails. The Chassis Service Manual specifies both the measurements and the process for checking them (specifically what weight is in the car to ensure repeatability of the measurement).
My issue is this I just installed long tube headers on my car. I know the tubes are going to hang lower than normal but I think mine are too low even taking the headers into account. Mechanic recommended putting new coil springs and shocks in front, because they are needed anyway and that should lift the car some. Also recommended new springs in back. Car has original size tires and rims. Right now car is 22” in front measured to wheel well and 28 in back. I understand that technically that is not how to measure ride height. What do you guys think about all this? What would you recommend for springs/shocks, like to keep things stock.
I measured my 72 to the top of the fender arch front and rear. 27.25 in front and 28.25 in the rear. I replaced all my springs within the last 5000 miles.
at 22” in front you car must be very low!
i think my front end sits higher than i want. I added a 1” spacer under the rear springs to get the 1” rake. In the future i will replace myfront springs w some that sit 1” lower and take out the rear spring spacer.
i used moog springs you can select from different spring rates and ride heights.
Thank you buddy yeah mine is at 22, not by design. Need shocks and springs,that gives me an idea, if I can get mine up to where your car is I should be ok with clearance issues. Thanks a lot
If your replacing coils and shocks, consider going with a coil over setup. Then you can set the ride height where you want it, and compensate for the side to side variances these cars are know for.
MY 70 Rallye350 with A/C had 2" lowering springs in it and it measured 24" at the wheel opening molding at all 4 corners. I replaced the with stock AC Delco springs and it now sits 26" in the front and 26-1/4" in the rear.
I was hoping you would chime in ken. Moog 5536 is the spring i will change to. I recall when i put mine in the 5536 were rated at a 1” lower ride height thanthe ones i put in (i dont recall the numberof the spring)
