Raising ground clearance

[Wwissman]

This may sound wierd but I need to raise the ground clearance of my NSX. Just purchased a '94 with nice side skirts but they are so low, leaving only 3-3.25" of ground clearance under the skirts. The car is not lower anywhere else, just under the skirts. Otherwise the car's height is stock. If I could easily remove the skirts I would. But they were done very nice with no seem etween the door and skirts. I don't know what the previous owner did but I can't drive anywhere where I don't scrape the S___T out of the bottom of the skirts. Even in a gas station with an uneven lot I scrape. I just noticed last night's scrape caused a slight crack in the side skirt below the vent. The skirts were georgous when I bought the car. I don't know how the previous owner kept them so nice.

My '94 is running 17" 215x40 17 tires and 18" rear 255x35x18. The tire presssure measured only 27# so that's a start but not much. Can anyone suggest the least expensive solution to increase the ground clearance? I'm looking to increase the height to at least an inch to 4-4.5". I know tire diameter will, but my tires are brand new. What about shock adjustment?

Such a great handling car but I have to drive it like an ole lady in neighborhoods and shopping areas. I can stay away from major speed bumps but in and out of gas stations is Hell. This ground clearance has taken all the fun of driving this '94 low rider vs my old '93.

[Friedhouse]

I dont think lowering springs would lower your car as much as you are talking about, so maybe you have coilovers?? And they are height adjustable.

[Wwissman]

Maybe you misunderstood. My car's ground clearance is just over 3" from under the side skirts. Since I don't have the front or the rear body kit this problem is only on each side under the skirts. I want to raise my car up at least an 1-1.5 inches, Not lower it. If adjustable can the coilovers give me this height?

[NSXDreamer2]

Originally Posted by Wwissman

Maybe you misunderstood. My car's ground clearance is just over 3" from under the side skirts. Since I don't have the front or the rear body kit this problem is only on each side under the skirts. I want to raise my car up at least an 1-1.5 inches, Not lower it. If adjustable can the coilovers give me this height?

jack up your car and take a photo of it, then we can give you some idea. In the case that you have a coil over suspension, you only need to take off the wheels and start turning the perch to raise up your ride height.

If you have some sort of side skirts that really is too big, without a bigger front lip or rear valence doesn't look good anyway, so the best way is swapping them with someone who has oem skirt before you damaging it.

3rd option, is pm to member KANE, he has a proven air bag system that can raise up a few inches by a touch of a button. and the system still use your coil over, so after you went thru all the speed bumps, you just lower it back and you will have all the handling back. (Sick system, Lambo has them for years, Porsche GT3 has it too now.)

[PhiAlpha44]

Originally Posted by NSXDreamer2

If you have some sort of side skirts that really is too big, without a bigger front lip or rear valence doesn't look good anyway, so the best way is swapping them with someone who has oem skirt before you damaging it.

Agreed!

[Wwissman]

I like the side skirts and am adding front spoiler, but don't want to be handicapped with 3.25" of ground clearance. If I have coilovers- how much height adjustment can I get? This is just a fun weekender and don't want to sink a bunch more $$ in it like the push button elevation.

[NSX-Files]

Looking at pics of your car, that is NOT stock height. It looks lowered by at least 1" front and rear. So if you have ride-height adjustable coilovers you should be able to raise it easily. If you have non-adjustable shocks with lowering springs, you'll need to get different (probably oem) springs if you want to raise it.

[Olyar15]

Is your front lip missing, too?

[Wwissman]

Thanks Guys,
You all have been a big help. I like detailing, accessorizing and driving these beautiful cars but my mechanical experience have been minor.
A replacement front lip has been ordered from Dali which should add balance to the center skits and protect front scraps. It diffinitely needs to raised up. It has really effected my driving style, and the continual scrapes on the pass.side, which measures 1/2 lower than the driver side.... and my 120 lb, wife rarely rides with me.

Thanks again.

[Wwissman]

The answer to my question is that my '94 has H&R Sport Springs 50146 which can lower front & rear 1.5-2.0". Unfortunately the springs can not be adjusted only replaced. They would have been keepers if it were not for the side skirts hanging so low.
Thanks you to all who provided me their information.
Forums like these are great.
Wayne

[W]

You can use spacers to raise the height and keep the stiffness or go back to oem springs for a softer ride.

[drew]

I installed later model 97+ shocks/struts on my 1991 and it raised the car about 1". I suspect it is because those cars weigh a bit more.

I also increased the tire aspect ratio for another 0.5" (requires new tires).

I live in a rugged mountain area, it is common for softball sized rocks to fall on the ground and it is nearly impossible to navigate around them on the narrow winding roads.

My neighbor took his 1991 NSX for a $29K ride when his car skipped over a large rock. Pretty amazing how much damage was done.

Drew