BB proper dynamic ride height

I have heard a lot of people comment on the height of the 512bbs and bbis ,and how tall they look with the tires looking low away from the body as the cars sit too high.
The first 4.4 liter cars seem to be lower at the rear as seen on most photos.
The factory work manual translated by Angelo Wallace to English shows clearly that the BB at static ride height, should have the rear lower a arms at the same height in relation to each other on both pivotal points ,which makes the lower rear a arms parallel to the ground when looking at the car from the rear.
At the front end it calls for the inner points to be nine mm higher than the outside ones.

One would think they are very tall empty since they have very low spring rate for the street for best performance on rougher surfaces so with a full load of two passengers and some load at the front trunk they should achieve the proper suspension geometry.

In order for that to happen you need a heavy driver and a very fat girlfriend ,wife or another heavy passenger......lol

With slightly higher rate springs, the variation empty to loaded becomes much smaller and a BB looks right empty and performs way better this way while comfy on any street surface.

Why do the experts out there think were they set up like this from the factory?

Mario

 

The only reason that makes sense is the headers need clearance. Its a design flaw they worked around by changing ride height. Even at the higher setting the headers still get scraped. The welded in rear transverse cross member effects how high the headers can be tucked up. The gearbox transfer case / bellhousing determines that cross member position and the headers are limited by that cross member. Without that cross member the headers could be tucked up higher and the car could be lower without bottoming out on the headers. So, its compromise by the factory to fit that engine in as low as possible and fit the frame design. Thats my opinion anyway.

 

Does anyone know how racers did it? I know that one of the contributing factors in these cars not having more racing success (Porsche ruled the roost) was the high center of gravity. The engine on top of the transmission has been cited as a reason. I had not realized that the headers could be the problem.

I'm not sure but think I read that the BBi had a lower CG than a BB or a 365BB. Also I think the BBLMs may have a lowered CG possibly by lowering the engine/tranny.

For whatever reason, they do seem to ride high. Several of the guys here have lowered them a bit.

 

It looks to me almost like the body sits too high on the frame.
Or like the wheel well arch goes up to high on the body.

Maybe it's just me, but I think the black bottom paint design negates the too high effect somewhat.

I thought of lowering my car, but I have only one inch of driveway entry clearance now, so in the end decided to just live with it.

John

 

This one was lowered by Carobu Engineering. When I look at the rear a arms they are actually a little bit higher on outside than inside......past parallel. So far I have had no major scrapes. But the roads here in FL are pretty smooth.....including Sebring!
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Interesting points.
I never had any issues with headers even coming close to touch the ground.

Paul ,which headers sit lower the originals or the ones that fit the high performance Ansa ?

I think the front end with stock springs is very close to specs but the rear is where the big difference is at.

My car has the arms as called by the manual and I see lots of clearance while the car looks and performs right.
We should not forget tires make a world of difference so if one has after market rims should make sure clearance will not suffer by too small of a tire diameter.

Car from Caribu looks great!
I would love to know what size ,profile and rim size is wearing.
The rear looks like it can use more tire but I am sure is photo issue from the the rear a arm being close to the end of the compression stroke on that corner.

Mario

 

Ansa sport headers are a little larger but even the 512 headers hit. If running a lower ride height than stock maybe a stiffer valving on the shock to prevent the rear from dipping down would help, stiffer springs too? I had an 80 BB here with 512 headers and Eibach lowering springs, headers were destroyed. The mint used ones I bought had a few scrapes on the collectors and mine have a few marks as well - stock height. Depends on where you live but the fact is the headers will hit before anything else because the collectors are behind the rear wheels and they hang low. If the cars were lower from the factory they would be replacing headers under warranty left right and center.