Ground Clearance and scraping

[artanisman]

Hi, I'm thinking about buying an Ultima GTR or Can AM as a fun weekend car. I live in the city, (dover, Delaware, USA), and my driveway has a rather large angle coming from the street. It is probably a 10 to 15 percent grade. The large angle is only about 3 feet long, (about 1 meter for you metric guys). the driveway is fairly level after that. Would I have any trouble puting an Ultima in my driveway? Thanks.

--Kevin Coleman

[steve_D]

artanisman said:

Hi, I'm thinking about buying an Ultima GTR or Can AM as a fun weekend car. I live in the city, (dover, Delaware, USA), and my driveway has a rather large angle coming from the street. It is probably a 10 to 15 percent grade. The large angle is only about 3 feet long, (about 1 meter for you metric guys). the driveway is fairly level after that. Would I have any trouble puting an Ultima in my driveway? Thanks. --Kevin Coleman

Can't get my head round 15 percent grade.
So, road is level and drive almost level. How high does it lift in that 3 feet? If it's more than 6 inches your out of luck i'm afraid.

Steve

[artanisman]

It's 6-1/4 inches exactly. I just measured it. I guess if I go slowly and at an angle It would be alright. You think so?

[steve_D]

The nose may not be the problem.
Wheelbase is about 101". Spec has 110mm under front axle line and 160mm under rear axle line. The dropped floor pan gives about 3" clearance half way back.

Make yourself a template with those measurements and a piece of timber with bits nailed on.
Drive it off the street and up your drive.
Prepare to ward off sarcastic comments from the neighbours.

Steve

Edit... I was assuming the use of a dropped floor which you will not need if you're not that tall (short arse). If so just use 110 at the front 160 at the back.


>> Edited by steve_D on Wednesday 29th September 23:21

[bigmack]

Just break out a pair of 2x10's and you'll be o.k..
Cheers!
-Mack

[gdr]

Sounds much the same as entrance to my garage - I have to throw down a couple of planks to get the nose up an inch or two to avoid taking splitter off. If you could approach your drive at an angle may be OK, not sure. In my experience its only the front overhang that grounds, but I don't have the lowered floorpan to worry about.

[artanisman]

I'm 6'3" tall so I need the lowered pan. My father in law suggested comeing up the driveway at an angle. He used to have a lowered '47 mercury. He siad it was 5 inches at the front bumper and 4 inches at the back bumper. He lived in north philadelphia and he was lucky enough to have a driveway. He told me he never scraped the bumpers becuase he went in at an angle.

I have a friend with a '67 buick riviera with air bags. I'll have him do some tests for me. Thanks guys.

--Kevin Coleman

[usagtrman]

Kevin:

I don't know if you've seen the post on our US Ultima Gathering but you are welcome to attend. Check out the the details at

www.markkoch.net/ultima/home.asp

This would be a big help in your decision making process. Just my 2 cents.

Brad Z
www.bradzeman.com
Ultima Gathering November 5-7
West Chicago Il.