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Raising the Front End

PostPosted: Mon Apr 21, 2014 11:05 am
by seekerbeta
my front end with the stock vega wheels and tires is too low with the 408 in it,

does anyone know a good way to raise the front end up to get the Headers to be higher than the lowest part of the rim?

NHRA wont let me race with it the way it is

Re: Raising the Front End

PostPosted: Mon Apr 21, 2014 11:57 am
by cjbiagi
You are pretty much limtited to repalcing the springs with a heavier/taller set from another H body (V6 or V8) or using spring spacers (cheaper but probably not the best solution). You will need to determine if you have the deep pocket lower control arms or not. If it's all stock you probably don't, so you may need to cut the springs or get the deep pocket arms or it may sit too high.

Re: Raising the Front End

PostPosted: Mon Apr 21, 2014 5:03 pm
by seekerbeta
would switching to an s10 front end make things easier?

Re: Raising the Front End

PostPosted: Mon Apr 21, 2014 6:45 pm
by cjbiagi
The S-10 upgrade is basically from the spindle on out, mostly to upgrade the brakes and get a 5 lug bolt pattern. Not really much to do with the springs or ride height. It would certainly make sense to do it all at once if you are planning to go that route.

Re: Raising the Front End

PostPosted: Mon Apr 21, 2014 8:33 pm
by Monza Harry
"Like Clyde says bigger springs (cheapest), but the S10 option will gain you a little as you would then have reasonably priced option of 15 ",16 " or 17" wheels 17" will give you 2" more clearance for your headers as the 4" taller wheel will "net" you an additional 2" of wheel to header clearance in case of the "blow out" the NHRA is worried about. Then you would be able to have a more modern look if that is something you are interested in! That would be an expensive 2" though. Harry

Re: Raising the Front End

PostPosted: Mon Apr 21, 2014 8:55 pm
by Smiley
how much lift do you need ?
Centerline offers 15" 4 lug rims
they make 3" lift spindles for 2WD S10's if you were doing the brake swap.

Re: Raising the Front End

PostPosted: Tue Apr 22, 2014 10:44 am
by seekerbeta
i probably need 2" or less

i have 3 S10s' sitting in my yard that i can pull parts from. i have some 5 multi pattern aluminum racing rims that i might try to use, they are ment for the back, but i have some 4 bolt ALR Racing Rims i might try on there first.

Re: Raising the Front End

PostPosted: Mon Jan 19, 2015 9:40 pm
by beakerztoyz
Smiley wrote:how much lift do you need ?
Centerline offers 15" 4 lug rims
they make 3" lift spindles for 2WD S10's if you were doing the brake swap.


I know this is kind of an old post but it just caught my eye.... as far as i was aware no one offered 15 inch rims in the right bolt pattern for our cars.... please tell me I'm wrong and just where i can get some of these 15 inch centerlines

Re: Raising the Front End

PostPosted: Mon Jan 19, 2015 11:26 pm
by Smiley
http://forums.h-body.org/viewtopic.php?f=5&t=42697

doesnt say if they are 15" or not

Summit Racing should have them.

Re: Raising the Front End

PostPosted: Wed Jan 21, 2015 6:23 pm
by beakerztoyz
Thank's Smiley I had a tire shop try and find me rims for my sunbird some years back before finding some used 13 inch mags (which i like) and he could only find me front wheel drive mags for it, i cant remember but maybe he took me telling him the car had 13 s on it to mean i only wanted 13s or something so he didn't look for bigger ones 15 's would sure give me a lot more ground clearance.

Re: Raising the Front End

PostPosted: Sun Feb 15, 2015 11:45 pm
by ponchonuty
Too low? And they wont let you run? Don't seem right to me...