Ground Clearance

[JohnW]

Hi Iain,

My DAX has about 2 1/4" clearance on the front oil cooler scoop and rad bracket. Further on I have the same (if not a bit less) on the exhaust and the sump. I have a 4.2l Jag engine and have just converted it to a manual gearbox from the previously huge Jag auto. The engine is really tall, the sump sits very low and the rocker covers actually fit into the bonnet scoop - it's very tight. The chassis clearance is spot on for a DAX (5.5" behind front wheel and 6.5" infront of the rear wheel).

I have no problems with ground clearance on roads but I have BIG problems with speed bumps. I've scraped the paint off the underside of the oil cooler scoop (well an AA man did when loading it onto a flatbed) and caught the exhaust and sump on numerous occasions. Gentle speed bumps aren't a problem as I can roll over them (sometimes at an angle just to be safe) but the sharp ones are a nightmare. Even if the rad bracket doesn't catch you can pretty much guarantee that when the front wheel rolls over the bump, the sump or exhaust will catch.

Don't know how everyone else gets on though.....

Cheers,

John

[paul]

Hi there you have a few options open to you.
1 some people chop off the bottom edge of the bell housing.
2 raise the suspension
3 raise the engine in the chassis
or you could do all three! then you could go off roading
you don't say which make you are building or what engine /box you have because if it's a Dax and a Chevy then Dax do engine raising plates
cheers
Paul :7 :7

[salmonc]

Hi,

I have a Dax with a 383 chevy, when I spoke to Dax regarding the Bellhousing sticking down further than the oil pan I was advised to remove the lip off the bellhousing until it was level with the bottom of the oil pan. Their reasoning being is that it would be pretty nasty if something as solid as the bellhousing hit a raised manhole or speedbump.

You could change the oil pan for a kicked out version, ie wider but shallower, I have a Canton so on my Dax the pan is only 1-1.5" below the Chassis. You would also need to change the oil pickup to match the pan.

In my case this was only about 2" of metal, in your case it looks like a lot of material to remove. I would say you need to review the engine and gearbox mounts.

Regards Chris

[mikey]

I think thats a dit of wishfull thinking from DJ. To get the bellhousing level with the bottom of the sump I think most of us would also have to remove 3" of Flywheel.

I dont know whether there is a standard for speed humps etc, but it seems to rely on the the ##### head thats constructing it. I will try and find out if there is a specification as it may be useful if somebody has damage caused by one if they need to claim.
Mike.

[robert]

Mike

There is a legal maximum height which differs depending on location and type of use, but I just cannot seem to find it under all of the standard government drivel!!

Managed to decifer the pants.

Shape

Both flat and round top humps are permitted. Both types may be tapered at the sides to allow a drainage channel between the hump and the kerb. The schedule to the regulations provides for a standard channel width, but allows a variation of the taper width. A hump may be of any height between 50mm and 100mm to suit particular cases.

It is perfectly acceptable to use a variety of heights and profiles in a series of road humps, according to the local circumstances. The lower height hump will not have the same speed reducing effect on vehicles


http://www.roads.dtlr.gov.uk/roadnet...3_91/index.htm

http://www.roads.dtlr.gov.uk/roadnet...traffic/11_94/

Robert
Forum Admin

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[mikey]

The latter height will definately have a reducing effect on mine, I dont have four inches at the bellhousing.

Does anybody know a good place to get Daral from I think its time to fabricate a skid plate.
Mike.

[Iain]

I thought it was bad when I fitted my engine and saw how far the sump came out from the bottom but the bellhousing drops even lower. I reckon I am looking at about 2.5 inches ground clearance.

Good, bad, buy another kit??? what's the general word on this?
The photo shows the sump and bellhousing but the chassis is on stands.

Thanks.

Iain.

P.S Stoneleigh was a cracking day (my first time there).
For the chap that wanted to speak to me whilst I was talking to Peter Jones on Sunday, my e-mail address is Iain@hysteria.demon.co.uk