[JCIP]

Need some help from the suspension gurus. I need a quick and easy way to raise the ride height of my MCS. Need to get it up over 1". Just to get it on and off a ferry. They won't take the car unless it has at least 5" of ground clearance, and I have only 4". I am going to try some shipping blocks/spacers from the dealer, but I am open to any suggestions. I have only a couple of days to get this working before I need to ship the car.
Many thanks!

[paulmon]

Quote:

Originally posted by JCIP
Need some help from the suspension gurus. I need a quick and easy way to raise the ride height of my MCS. Need to get it up over 1". Just to get it on and off a ferry. They won't take the car unless it has at least 5" of ground clearance, and I have only 4". I am going to try some shipping blocks/spacers from the dealer, but I am open to any suggestions. I have only a couple of days to get this working before I need to ship the car.
Many thanks!

Why not just put a larger wheel/tire combo? Pick up some used tires that have a higher sidewall.

Paul

[JCIP]

Thanks Paul, I would then need to transport 4 wheels & tires along with the car. It's not really a ferry, its a barge, and they do not permit 'loose items' in the car. If I could even get all 4 wheels & tires in an MCS. I am trying to transport the car to get to a BMW sponsored high speed driving event, and would like to use my exsisting wheels and tires so as to get a better feel for the performance characteristics of the runflats. Thanks for your suggestion though.
Jim

[chris@helix]

What on your car besides the lip spoiler will not clear the 5 inch rule? Take the chin spoiler off and but it in the car. The lifting blocks might be under 5 inches but I think that is it. I looked @ a few of the cars in the shop and everything else looks OK. Which island is the track on? Good Luck!

[JCIP]

Thanks for checking Chris, always nice to have an expert survey the situation. I am on the Big Island of Hawaii, the track is Hawaii Raceway Park, on Oahu. It takes a week each way to barge the car. If it can't be driven on, they insist on putting it on a pallet, and charge $350 each way ($700!). Drive on/off would be less than half, about $215 round trip, so it does make a difference. Chris - How do those spacer blocks go into the springs?
Thanks for viewing this thread and your input.
Jim

[chris@helix]

To be very honest with you Jim, I have never seen the shipping blocks. We got our first cooper from the Sweden and when we picked it up @ the docks it did not have them on it. Maybe your dealer can help you with that one. Which side of the island is the track on?

[JCIP]

http://www.hawaiiracewaypark.com/
Try this link, it gives you an overview. I will try the dealer, but they are on Oahu, and it's sometimes difficult to actually talk to somebody. Often goes to voicemail. I just thought you might know. I have a mechanic here who is going to take a look a little later. Thanks again Chris.
Jim

[cristo]

I know that in the past, I have bought rubber and
aluminum spacers that fit between the spring coils.
Jack the car up, wedge them in, and lower them, and
you can easily get a half or whole inch more ride
height. If you drive around with them on long enough,
I guess you could stress or bend the springs at the
insertion point especially with the metal ones,
but this is probably the easy, quick
and dirty and effective solution.

[Boris]

JCIP,

Have you tried coil spring spacers??
http://www.daymotorsports.com/product/352/c/13/

Regards,
Boris

[JCIP]

Now that looks like the best yet Boris! Thanks for the link! I don't have time to get a set of these, but they sure look like they would do exactly what I need, and I will pursue them in the future. I have to ship the car tommorow, so there is no way to get them in time.
I did get a set of shipping spacers from the dealer, I haven't had time to put them in yet. Today I really need yo get it together.
Thanks,
Jim

[JCIP]

I have discovered another area where I don't have the clearence: the rear lower shock mounts! I can see where a taller wheel/tire combo would help here, but I don't see how the spring spacers will improve this measure.
What about it Boris? Chris? Is there a way to raise the point from the ground of the lower shock mounts?
Help!
Jim

[JCIP]

Here is a picture of what I am talking about. The wood is my cheat stick at five inches. As you can see its close, but dips below the 5" mark!
Thanks,
Jim

[JCIP]

MADE the INSPECTION! I took Chris's advice, and pulled off the chin spoiler. We had to use some plastic tie-downs to secure the front bumper - that chin spoiler accounts for about 90% of the front bumper cover's stiffness!
At the docks they have this little T-shaped piece of metal set up on some castors, and welded to the the end old golf club. They ran the 'techical device' under the car in front, back and sides, and anything they thought might be a problem, and gave it a clean bill of health. So, I'm off to the races! (or at least driver's school).
My thanks to all who made suggestions, and viewed the thread. And a special thanks to Chris at Helix, who saved me $500! and made it possible to participate in the speed event.
Aloha,
Jim

[robd]

Hi Jim,

Glad to hear this worked out!

Let us know how the event goes. The wife and I have be thinking about moving down to Honolulu (she grew up there) and I would love to know you impressions of the track and the CCA event.

Thanks!
Rob

[JCIP]

robd: see link to Hawaii raceway park above^