What Were 1968 and 1973 Delivered Height

[Jeff W.]

What were the delivered heights of a 1968 roadster and a 1973 coupe? Is 48" for each of them a realistic number?

I am considering buying a lift so I can own two C3s. That's right, joining the club of one to drive while working on the other.

I own a 1968 and want to acquire a 1973. Vertical height in my garage is tight so this will be very close. My '68 measures 46", but I've been told my rear suspension is soft. When I rebuild the suspension, I don't want to be surprised. Various sources put the delivered height at 47.9". I've found two different numbers for the 1973: 47.4" and 47.8".

This is so close I may have to deflate the tires slightly. A better solution may be to change the structure of my garage ceiling - - that gets complicated as my house was not built with trusses. If you have other suggestions, I'm all ears - - your budget is no more than $1,000 USD over the cost of the lift, so that eliminates building an outbuilding, buying a garage condo, moving, or filing for divorce so my wife's parking spot is available. And please don't suggest parking the second at my girlfriend's house as that would lead to the 'filing' mentioned earlier.

[Patrick B.]

Re: What Were 1968 and 1973 Delivered Height

The AAMA documents list the height of a 69 Convertible as 47.9" and a 73 as 47.8" . The coupes are 0.1" lower, and the 68 convertible is not listed.

I am surprised about the 73 number because the 73 body mounts are thicker than the 69s.

[Terry M.]

Re: What Were 1968 and 1973 Delivered Height

The AAMA documents list the height of a 69 Convertible as 47.9" and a 73 as 47.8" . The coupes are 0.1" lower, and the 68 convertible is not listed.

[B]I am surprised about the 73 number because the 73 body mounts are thicker than the 69s.[/B}

I am pretty sure at the same time the body mounts got thicker (rubber) the mount brackets on the frame were lowered.

[Joe L.]

Re: What Were 1968 and 1973 Delivered Height

I am pretty sure at the same time the body mounts got thicker (rubber) the mount brackets on the frame were lowered.

Terry-----


I've heard that, too, but have never confirmed it. However, SERVICE frames for 1969-74 were once the same. It's possible, though, that some sort of "adapters" were provided with the SERVICE frames for use with 69-72 models.

[Sean S.]

Re: What Were 1968 and 1973 Delivered Height

Is the vertical height of the garage an issue due to the height from the garage door raised, or because of the ceiling height? If it is from the garage door raised, you might consider switching from a traditional panel type door to one that coils up above the finished opening, granted you have enough room to mount it. This might get you an additional 12-18 inches of headroom that you might be losing now due to the space the garage door takes when it's in the raised position. You could also get rid of your opener, and go to a jack shaft type that mounts on the wall instead of the ceiling.

This may not apply to your situation, but just a thought, if it's the door that's limiting your vertical height.

[Jeff W.]

Re: What Were 1968 and 1973 Delivered Height

Thanks! This is helpful. Patrick, I have never seen those documents. Are they available to me somewhere?

As as to my height limitation, it is really driven by the ceiling. I may change the door or its tracks, but the overall ceiling height issue will remain. 104" at the door. 101" at the other end. Thanks for thinking it through, though.

[Terry M.]

Re: What Were 1968 and 1973 Delivered Height

Terry-----


I've heard that, too, but have never confirmed it. However, SERVICE frames for 1969-74 were once the same. It's possible, though, that some sort of "adapters" were provided with the SERVICE frames for use with 69-72 models.

I can't verify that with personal experience, but I have seen several 1969 to 1972 Corvettes that were retrofitted with the later rubber mounts and they sat higher than stock. The only one I ever saw at an NCRS judging was a 1969 with side exhaust and the gap between the side exhaust pipe and the cover was obviously greater than it should have been. That wide gap made it easy to see what had been done to that car. For those with long memories it was at a National Convention in Oklahoma. I can't remember the year, but I vividly remember the car .. and the temperature.

[Terry M.]

Re: What Were 1968 and 1973 Delivered Height

Thanks! This is helpful. Patrick, I have never seen those documents. Are they available to me somewhere?

As as to my height limitation, it is really driven by the ceiling. I may change the door or its tracks, but the overall ceiling height issue will remain. 104" at the door. 101" at the other end. Thanks for thinking it through, though.

Here you go Jeff:

https://gmheritagecenter.com/gm-heritage-archive/vehicle-information-kits.html

Lots of really good information in these materials.

[Gene M.]

Re: What Were 1968 and 1973 Delivered Height

Keep in mind that a 4 post lift needs to raise about 2 inches farther past lock position in order to release it in the lowering of the lift.

[Jeff W.]

Re: What Were 1968 and 1973 Delivered Height

Good stuff! Thanks to both of you.

[Allen N.]

Re: What Were 1968 and 1973 Delivered Height

I have had a Superior four post lift for about 17 years and have had it in several different garages. The lowest garage had a 105" ceiling, and I stacked two Corvettes in it.

I just measured my lift to determine the minimum ceiling height requirement based on my lift. My lift has a stop which has 50" below the ramps which allows a Corvette under it. The ramps are 4" thick and it requires 1" to get on and off the lift locks. So with that 55" and 48" for the height of the top Corvette, the minimum height would be 103" for two Corvettes on my lift, and that would be really tight.

[Jeff W.]

Re: What Were 1968 and 1973 Delivered Height

Thanks, Allen!

Jeff