This how-to "navigating sharp rises, crossing dips and/or similar elevation changes" works for all Corvettes, though the lower a car is, AND/OR the bigger the splitter, the greater your potential risk.
With my stage 2 Z06, lowered 3/8" so that each lowest part of front corners of the splitter/winglets have only 4 5/8" clearance (on a flat level surface), just came across, while leaving the public street, in order, a dip, then a really bad combo of a rising concrete "driveway apron," then, finally, upon entering the parking lot, the asphalt driveway dropped off sharply. (Neither of the first two pictures shows the severity of this situation.)
View from opposite direction (successfully went out over this mid-day today).
There are many deep scrapes at edge of this particular asphalt driveway (becomes asphalt once you get past the apron), there are many many scrapes, some up to 1/2" deep. You are looking at them (though again reverse perspective).
This picture immediately below helps to understand the degree of this situation, for not only does the parking lot rise significantly, but as shown, does so as to completely "hide" the driveway apron (basically traversing a steep rise up, upside down "V", sharp drop).
As is always the key, approached it very slowly and at a 45 degree angle, and MADE IT. Closest point of hitting was not the corners of my splitter, but where the skirts start just behind the front tires. It is important to note that on a Z06 with skirts (probably similar for a StingRay with skirts), the vertical clearance betwen the bottom of factory skirts and the ground is 1" less right behind the front wheels as compared to just where the skirts end just in front of the rear wheels. On today's challenge, my outside-the-car-spotter Annie, said there was about 5/8" between the bottom of the skirt at its front edge and the driveway, about 1" just below my splitter/winglet corners.
This thread is not about what I did, but sharing some keys to help others avoid car underside damage. Again, as most of us already practice, the critical keys in avoiding damage are:
1) If you have an adjustable MSRC suspension, set to "track setting" before you start over dips and rises that you are concerned about; thanks Buzz for teaching me this!;
2) Go incredibly slowly, the slower the better!!!; and,
3) Go across all dips and rises at a 45 degree angle.
And a fourth measure/option, though have not needed to use it yet, is if your outside-your-car spotter (and have your windows down while doing this) says and hand-gestures STOP, would be to get out my "go under your wheels, height clearance boosters." Thought I was going to need them this time. This cheap option, which travels with me at all times inside my detail bag, is the following:
Went to Home Depot and bought one 18" square of Envirotile rubber tile ($6.99). Cut it lengthwise, so it is now have three pieces about 6"X18". They are approximately 7/8" thick (made of recycled rubber tires). This idea is one I learned from Chip; thank you!
Envirotile, Cobblestone 18 in. x 18 in. Terra Cotta Rubber Paver, MT5000638 at The Home Depot - Tablet
Again they are unused in my over 3,000 miles, and the two I travel with are still pristine clean in my detail bag, ready if/when needed when my spotter says, STOP!
While I have rarely touched the factory rubber, under splitter, corner flexible air dams, my splitter remains factory pristine.
I have also installed Curb Alert on my car. Works to assist/in conjunction with, the above measures.
Good luck!
With my stage 2 Z06, lowered 3/8" so that each lowest part of front corners of the splitter/winglets have only 4 5/8" clearance (on a flat level surface), just came across, while leaving the public street, in order, a dip, then a really bad combo of a rising concrete "driveway apron," then, finally, upon entering the parking lot, the asphalt driveway dropped off sharply. (Neither of the first two pictures shows the severity of this situation.)
View from opposite direction (successfully went out over this mid-day today).
There are many deep scrapes at edge of this particular asphalt driveway (becomes asphalt once you get past the apron), there are many many scrapes, some up to 1/2" deep. You are looking at them (though again reverse perspective).
This picture immediately below helps to understand the degree of this situation, for not only does the parking lot rise significantly, but as shown, does so as to completely "hide" the driveway apron (basically traversing a steep rise up, upside down "V", sharp drop).
As is always the key, approached it very slowly and at a 45 degree angle, and MADE IT. Closest point of hitting was not the corners of my splitter, but where the skirts start just behind the front tires. It is important to note that on a Z06 with skirts (probably similar for a StingRay with skirts), the vertical clearance betwen the bottom of factory skirts and the ground is 1" less right behind the front wheels as compared to just where the skirts end just in front of the rear wheels. On today's challenge, my outside-the-car-spotter Annie, said there was about 5/8" between the bottom of the skirt at its front edge and the driveway, about 1" just below my splitter/winglet corners.
This thread is not about what I did, but sharing some keys to help others avoid car underside damage. Again, as most of us already practice, the critical keys in avoiding damage are:
1) If you have an adjustable MSRC suspension, set to "track setting" before you start over dips and rises that you are concerned about; thanks Buzz for teaching me this!;
2) Go incredibly slowly, the slower the better!!!; and,
3) Go across all dips and rises at a 45 degree angle.
And a fourth measure/option, though have not needed to use it yet, is if your outside-your-car spotter (and have your windows down while doing this) says and hand-gestures STOP, would be to get out my "go under your wheels, height clearance boosters." Thought I was going to need them this time. This cheap option, which travels with me at all times inside my detail bag, is the following:
Went to Home Depot and bought one 18" square of Envirotile rubber tile ($6.99). Cut it lengthwise, so it is now have three pieces about 6"X18". They are approximately 7/8" thick (made of recycled rubber tires). This idea is one I learned from Chip; thank you!
Envirotile, Cobblestone 18 in. x 18 in. Terra Cotta Rubber Paver, MT5000638 at The Home Depot - Tablet
Again they are unused in my over 3,000 miles, and the two I travel with are still pristine clean in my detail bag, ready if/when needed when my spotter says, STOP!
While I have rarely touched the factory rubber, under splitter, corner flexible air dams, my splitter remains factory pristine.
I have also installed Curb Alert on my car. Works to assist/in conjunction with, the above measures.
Good luck!