David
Finally got my engine to it's final resting height and now I'm worrying about ground clearance!
With the Caterham sump on the XE engine, I have approx 3" of ground clearance under the sump at what I think will be ride height (could be run up
to 3/4" higher though)
The "fin" on the bottom of the gearbox is at the same height roughly.
Is this enough? I have seen better and worse on other cars but what do folk on here run interms of sump+gearbox to ground clearance??
[Edited on 21/1/05 by NS Dev]
When I went out for a ride in Dave Ashursts car he couldnt get it over the rubber speed hump at the flats. But I dont know what his ground clearance
is exactly... 3-3.5" maybe?
Cheers,
David
That's a bit better to hear then, at least one local locoster will have similar limitations to me!!!!!
FWIW, I've seen *loads* of cars running about 3" ground clearance.
General opinion on this forum was to have 4" clearance when laden, if you want to get over speed bumps intact.
David
quote:
Originally posted by Dave Ashurst
The speed bumps outside Flakmonkey's place were steep and very tall
Dave
I have 4 1/2" front and rear, and thought that was suicidally low, perhaps not!
Dave,
Numanuma link is great 
For SVA I am going to use 185 60 13's, but 70's will be used as soon as I have burnt out the rears - should take about 2 minutes if I pass fist time - SMOKE
Flipping hell Dave, you run a low ride height if your sump's flush with the chassis at 3.25" clearance. I have 3" ish to the sump but approx 5" to the chassis! Also, same as you, the bellhousing flange is probably the lowest bit, although the k2rum sump is about the same height as it.
100mm/4 inch is really the minimum for road use, for circuit use where the surface is smooth ans swept clean it is different but on the open road
you need to be able to clear any debris lying on the surface. Bear in mind we share the roads with demolition trucks, scrap merchants, fly tippers and
mindless vandals if the ground clearance is set at 4 inches a house brick lying in he road hasn't he potential to wreck a chassis.
[Edited on 22/1/05 by britishtrident]
quote:
Originally posted by britishtrident
100mm/4 inch is really the minimum for road use, for circuit use where the surface is smooth ans swept clean it is different but on the open road you need to be able to clear any debris lying on the surface. Bear in mind we share the roads with demolition trucks, scrap merchants, fly tippers and mindless vandals if the ground clearance is set at 4 inches a house brick lying in he road hasn't he potential to wreck a chassis.
[Edited on 22/1/05 by britishtrident]
The brick will clear my chassis ok, that's about 5 inches up, just the sump that's low!!!
I've got my engine sump at the same height as the bellhousing Rs Alloy jobbie, the engine looks to fit under the bonnet line, i guess only time
will tell if it's too low
Jason
I am running about 5.5 at the front and 6 at the back and not quite 4 under the sump. I will be putting a nicely sloped both fore and aft skid plate
under the sump.
Dale
in NZ the minimum legal clearance is 100mm (4 in) - if you can't drive over the piece of 4x4 timber in the boot of Mr Plod's car, it's
pink-sticker time 
Im bang on 4 inches to the sump with standard pinto sump.
Only cought it once going real slow out of a carpark, reversed a bit and one wheel up the low kerb was enough to get me out ok.
Mine is 150 to chassis, 125 to sump guard...not tested on road yet.
Here is a pic of my sump guard. its 1.5mm steel bent up, welded to two cross braces. bolts onto chassis rails.
Rescued attachment Image02.jpg
Just remember that the oil is cooled to a certain extent by the air flowing round the sump - so you don't want to block it off completely.
David
up until a few weeks ago my ground clearence was minus 1"
The sump was on the ground and and the wheels were't