[maleEscort3208]

hi, im new on the forums. I recently got a 1997 Ford Escort from work, with MD inspection, new brakes all around, and 119000 miles for $300 with tax and tags...hehe.. anyways, my intentions are about 3-5 inches of suspension lift, reinforced body, full cage and built motor with a t28. Now what I wanna know is has anyone on here lifted their escort....? (i'm completely serious btw too) thanks

 

[madmatt2024]

I don't think anybody has lifted an Escort, at least not in a normal way. And why would they? You lift a truck, not a car.

 

[maleEscort3208]

true but for my intentions i dont want the car to bottom out, im sure theres a way to shim it up. im only lookin for a few inches. i mean ive meet people with like 6 inch lifts on crown victorias

 

[ciento44]

Yeah, they do that to clear 30" wheels....

 

[maleEscort3208]

im just looking for a few inches to fit slightly larger diameter tires/wheels on it.

 

[LOWETGT]

With the MacPherson strut setup, the one way I can see lifting car would be to find longer springs and shocks. I am unaware of anything that would work like that. The only other way I could see is to build brackets to allow the strut to be bolted to the steering knuckle/hub so the strut becomes "longer", but the integrity risks there are enormous. Especially if you are going to be hard on the suspension; sounds like this is the case. Plus It would put extra stress on the ball joint and change many suspension angles that I can't believe would be easily solved. In my opinion, get wheels that will fit. I plus sized to a 205/40ZR17 Yokohama Parada Spec-2 on Enkei RS5 rims with no fitment issues. The car is also lowered 1.8" and I rolled the rear lip just in case. I drive this car hard on some bad roads and if never bottoms-out or scrapes, but a lowered, tighter car will make you a more aware driver. There are those how get from A to B, and then there are Drivers.

 

[madmatt2024]

Even if you lift it you won't be able to fit any bigger tires than you can fit right now. They will hit on the spring perch on the front struts. Look and see what it mean, there isn't a lot of room.