ok here is my question. i am goign to make a front skirt for my car and im making a model/prototype in cardboard and then i am going to glass it and such.

my question though, is how much ground clearance should i have? the car needs to bea daily driver, and is using a stock suspension now but plans for later include some stiffer springs and illuminas so i was wondering how much ground clearance should i have to accommodate for the lowering that will be done in the future. right now i have about 4" of clearance and i was thinking about shaving at least another inch off of it but i wanted an oppinion and generally some advice from anyone who has done this.

its not done yet im still trying to get the length right before i make it all pretty but here are some pics so you can see what im looking at now

 

damn pics were too big
lemme resize them and try again

 

ok they are posted on my cardomain site

http://www.cardomain.com/ride/2213090/2

any input is greatly appreciated. thanks in advance

 

You're probably better off buying an airdam that is very similar. Kudos though for being original and trying something. You may wanna try something more of a splitter/spoiler that could tie into some fender flares. Good luck and keep being creative

 

That's too low if you are going to lower it, it is at the hieght you want it at after lowering.
I have a urethane front dam and it get's wacked once in a while, a "glass" dam will just crack or break. Be careful and do your home work.
Here's a thread on my front end after lowering the front
https://www.rx7club.com/1st-generation-specific-1979-1985-18/coilover-install-results-531992/
Lowering the rear thread.
https://www.rx7club.com/1st-generation-specific-1979-1985-18/fender-cut-wide-wheels-pics-part1-533610/

I would drive around with the cardboard and see if it hits when you pull into a drive way or go over a speed bum....

 

thx for the input. after having posted that and after about 3 or 4 bowls, a beer, and a lot of looking at it i decided that it was in fact too low. i have started to correct this problem by changing the mounting point that i will mold the skirt to the body with. in the pictures i posted earlier you will notice that i attatched the skirt just where the body starts to curve by the grill. on further assessment of the skirt and the desired ground clearance i decided to attatch it just under the rubber moulding on the factory bumper skin. i also noticed that on the fenders where the kit was sitting it made the front end seem too blocky so i contoured the sides a little bit to flow more naturally with the factory curves.

i will take more pictures tomorrow provided that it doesn't rain on me and i also home to start on the side skirts tomorrow as well. future plans include widebody fender flares and rear skirt when the kit is finished. the fendre flares will be only what is needed to keep factory fender to tire proportion i.e : 6 inch tires up front and 7 inchers in back mean that the front fender must come out another .5 inch and the rear must come out 1.5 inches. the flares will be the last thing i make and install as i will still have to look for the right rims.

i will put the cardboard on the DD and test it to see if i scrape going into driveways/parking lots, and i will make sure to post the results here. While buying a pre made airdam may be easier in the long run i want this car to be an extension of my personality so for better or worse i have decided that i must do it all myself. This car is my first true project car and maybe that makes it even worse but when i think about some other gear head putting his filthy mitts all over her i just feel so dirty. there are great artists out there who i am absoloubtly sure could do a much better job than me, but this whole pride thing kinda messes with me lately. i wanna be able to say that i did it.

anyways thank you all for the input. i look forward to hearing more as the project continues.

 

Try using styrofoam for the master/mold and epoxy resin for your first coat. My front is 5" and it clears speed bumps and parking lot entrances fine.

 

4" is the lowest I have been able to live with - and you have to be pretty careful with it then.

 

I ran like this for years and years. I took the front spoiler off after I started autoxing again.

 

Are you really looking for aerodynamic improvement or more asthetic enhancements? Ca roads are generally better than say the northeast or midwest so you can get closer to the ground with less chance of damage. Stiffer springs will help if you want to keep it lower.