Ground clearance and protection

[luckywingnut]

I'm looking for suggestions and opinions. I had set my car up to have about 5-6" of ground clearance, but when I got it on the ground it settles to around 4 1/2-5". Now the question is, especially for the really low vehicles, do you use any kind of protection? I mean like a skid plate or like a bar underneath to protect any drivetrain components. The lowest part of my car is the oil pan, and I definitely do not want it to hit anything if possible.

 

[bob w]

I actually tore the drain plug off the oil pan in my Fiat. Was slowly going over a speed bump. Bought a pan with the drain plug on the side and welded a 1/8" thick skid plate to the lowest part of the pan.

 

[luckywingnut]

See that's what I am afraid of. I was thinking of putting some kind of shield on the oil pan, but thought maybe a cross bar of some kind would be better.
Bob, how low was your car?

 

[bob w]

The pan was only 3" above the ground. 5" is pretty good clearance.

 

[soltz]

wingnut, not sure what car your working with, what ever hits the ground first needs to be protected if it's a vital part, as bob w said. My sprint is on bags and the first thing to hit is the front cross member, not a problem, does spark a little at night if i go to far

 

[Old Iron]

The engine looks like its sitting too low in the chassis.
I'd be for raising it up until the header collectors are about 3/4" below the body.

 

[Blue Eyed Devil]

Wow yeah, engine is way too low. Raise it up a couple inches = Prolem solved.

 

[luckywingnut]

I was going to raise the engine up, but could only get about 1-1/2" more clearance. I am going to change the oil pan back to a stock pan, which would give me another 1" of clearance. I could raise the suspension a little more too and get another inch or so. I am still more concerned about protecting the oil pan than getting more clearance. Around here the roads are terrible. You could drop into a 4"-5" pothole and take everything out.