# Need more ground clearence, raising the car **URL:** \ **Category:** General Discussion\ **Tags:** chevrolet, corvette\ **Created:** [April 21, 2011, 9:32pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/need-more-ground-clearence-raising-the-car/63936 "2011-04-21T21:32:41Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 14\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![duoglide331](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/duoglide331/32/2379_2.png) [@duoglide331](https://community.cartalk.com/u/duoglide331)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2011, 9:32pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/need-more-ground-clearence-raising-the-car/63936/1 "2011-04-21T21:32:41Z")
How can I go about raising my 1981 C3 Corvette to get more ground clearence? ---
**Author:** ![the\_same\_mountainbike](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c89c15/32.png) [@the\_same\_mountainbike](https://community.cartalk.com/u/the_same_mountainbike)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2011, 9:38pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/need-more-ground-clearence-raising-the-car/63936/2 "2011-04-21T21:38:16Z")
Install a hydraulic suspension system, like the kids that “slam” their cars? Find a good shop that does these conversions, bring them a big bag of cash, and they’ll be happy to do one for you. Seriously, try vintage Corvette forums and/or magazines. There are countless ones out there. That’ll be your best source of ideas. ---
**Author:** ![Caddyman](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/caddyman/32/23_2.png) [@Caddyman](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Caddyman)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2011, 9:39pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/need-more-ground-clearence-raising-the-car/63936/3 "2011-04-21T21:39:07Z")
Install new stock springs…That should lift you up a little… Or install some custom made springs…For the rear, air-shocks will do the same thing…A wheel, frame and axle shop will have many options… ---
**Author:** ![duoglide331](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/duoglide331/32/2379_2.png) [@duoglide331](https://community.cartalk.com/u/duoglide331)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2011, 9:54pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/need-more-ground-clearence-raising-the-car/63936/4 "2011-04-21T21:54:26Z")
I really don’t need to slam my car because everytime I sit my big B \_ tt in it, it slams. Thanks for the info as it gave me more options to look at and a place to start. ---
**Author:** ![duoglide331](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/duoglide331/32/2379_2.png) [@duoglide331](https://community.cartalk.com/u/duoglide331)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2011, 10:03pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/need-more-ground-clearence-raising-the-car/63936/5 "2011-04-21T22:03:13Z")
Never thought about the air shock trick. Between the springs and shocks I should get a substantial lift out of it. Thanks for the info. ---
**Author:** ![MikeInNH](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a587f6/32.png) [@MikeInNH](https://community.cartalk.com/u/MikeInNH)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2011, 1:10am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/need-more-ground-clearence-raising-the-car/63936/6 "2011-04-22T01:10:09Z")
I’m sorry…but I have to ask WHY??? Why would you want to do this a truly American Classic vehicle??? ---
**Author:** ![Caddyman](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/caddyman/32/23_2.png) [@Caddyman](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Caddyman)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2011, 2:03am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/need-more-ground-clearence-raising-the-car/63936/7 "2011-04-22T02:03:28Z")
An '81 'vette is anything but “classic”…It’s a smog slug… ---
**Author:** ![dagosa](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/dagosa/32/9837_2.png) [@dagosa](https://community.cartalk.com/u/dagosa)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2011, 9:51am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/need-more-ground-clearence-raising-the-car/63936/8 "2011-04-22T09:51:24Z")
I can certainly understand wanting to raise a car. If the car isn’t up to specs, it may just have worn out springs. Otherwise, the car has to be practical to drive on pothole infested roads. Putting on higher profile tires is a cheap fix but unfortunately, your clearance may not allow it.The other cheap out is spring stiffeners. You’ll love the ride. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![duoglide331](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/duoglide331/32/2379_2.png) [@duoglide331](https://community.cartalk.com/u/duoglide331)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2011, 11:57am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/need-more-ground-clearence-raising-the-car/63936/9 "2011-04-22T11:57:11Z")
I installed a set of Thrush side pipes and I can’t get over the speed bumps at the mall. ---
**Author:** ![duoglide331](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/duoglide331/32/2379_2.png) [@duoglide331](https://community.cartalk.com/u/duoglide331)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2011, 12:14pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/need-more-ground-clearence-raising-the-car/63936/10 "2011-04-22T12:14:40Z")
The car supposedly only had 63K original miles on it when I purchased it. That is not a lot of miles I would think to wear out a set of springs. But I guess they could be. Not a real fan of the spring stiffeners. Not as young as i used to be.I tend to like the smoother ride. ---
**Author:** ![dagosa](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/dagosa/32/9837_2.png) [@dagosa](https://community.cartalk.com/u/dagosa)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2011, 1:38pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/need-more-ground-clearence-raising-the-car/63936/11 "2011-04-22T13:38:33Z")
Man, you have nothing left !!! It sounds like an “I knew and old lady who swallowed a fly” situation which is owner induced and sometimes best solved by avoiding malls or removing the culprit. PS…I like your taste in cars but Other than raising it “on demand” with air shocks, anything else would compromise the handling and looks of the car IMO. ---
**Author:** ![TwinTurbo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/8baadc/32.png) [@TwinTurbo](https://community.cartalk.com/u/TwinTurbo)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2011, 2:07pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/need-more-ground-clearence-raising-the-car/63936/12 "2011-04-22T14:07:48Z")
I’m down to my last Corvette which is a '69 big block with factory side pipes. It’s hard to tell from the pic but that doesn’t look any lower than mine. Price you pay for the side pipes dude. You’ll have to choose between cruising the mall for cougars or driving your Corvette 😉 Lifting it would be lame. Dagosa summed it up pretty good IMO. ---
**Author:** ![duoglide331](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/duoglide331/32/2379_2.png) [@duoglide331](https://community.cartalk.com/u/duoglide331)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2011, 2:21pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/need-more-ground-clearence-raising-the-car/63936/13 "2011-04-22T14:21:40Z")
Yes the bottom line is to bite the bullet and invest in new suspension. May help a little bit. ---
**Author:** ![jtsanders](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/c2a13f/32.png) [@jtsanders](https://community.cartalk.com/u/jtsanders)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2011, 5:28pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/need-more-ground-clearence-raising-the-car/63936/14 "2011-04-22T17:28:58Z")
If you want these side pipes, you should install a hydraulic suspension. Then you can raise the car to negotiate the speed humps and the occasional high driveway while still keeping the low profile on the street. I’d hate to compromise the excellent handling just to drive over speed humps.