Before getting all torqued about a 1/2 to 3/4 inch difference between
measurements taken from the top of the tire to the fender lip, you
should verify that the surface that the car was sitting on, was flat and
level. Poured concrete garage floors and asphalt parking lots are
generally neither. Another thing is that fender lips are easily
distorted and tire diameters can vary from sample to sample to a
surprising extent.
If you really want to verify your frame's squareness and each spring's
spring rate and sag to a subtantial degree of accuracy then you're going
to need some time with a surface plate and corner scales. Measure the
distances from various chassis points to the plate, not from the flexy
parts of the bodywork. And like Bob N says, if you're doing this for
competition reasons then weight the driver's seat appropriately. If
you're doing it so it looks right at a show 'n' shine, then leave the
seats unoccupied.
Theo
|