HELP! GT500 Height Measurements

Crackerballer

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Gentleman (and the few ladies present),
It has been entirely too long since I have frequented SVTP. Nonetheless, I am looking to buy a 2010 GT500, but I need some help from you all first.

Situation: I have a large, tall 2-car garage. My plan is to keep my CTS-V, install a 4 post lift, raise my garage door track and go to a wall mounted screw drive door opener, and park the GT500 above the Caddy. However I want to ensure this is going to work because I have a large cross-beam in my garage that serves as the low point. I believe there is more than enough clearance, but better safe than sorry.

Request: I need some height measurements at different lengths of the car. Referencing my image I posted, I need heights 1 (tallest, Google says around 56"), 2 (mid-windshield), and 3 (where the hood cowl ends and windshield starts, tallest point here, so probably hood cowl). But I also need to know where those heights are in relation to the length of the car, but both from the front and back of the car. So I need 2 measurements for A, B, and C, one from the front and one from the back.

Summary: I am essentially asking for 9 measurements. The goal is that I establish the height of the car related to the length from front to back so I determine if between the placement of my 4 post and raising my garage door as high up as possible, I can get the car in there on the lift, facing either direction, and get it high enough up to get my CTS-V under it.

First let me say a tremendous thank you in advance for anyone that can help me. Second, if it does work out that I can fit the car and end up buying it, I promise to contribute back to this community hopefully even beyond what I did when I owned my 99, 03, and 04 Cobras. 'Merica!

GT500 Measurements.png
 

1st usa car

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i would hate to measure wrong - Probably best to meet up someone or a few GT500 owners and measure it yourself. Just my thinking because it is a big decision for YOU.
 

merkyworks

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I'm jealous of your tall 2 car garage and possible 4 post lift. :D

How close do you think that beam is to the car, are we talking under 2" of clearance? Do you even need it to be a GT500, technically any S197 mustang that has the same front end as a 2010 should work.

I would be happy to measure my '12 and report but as @1st usa car stated I would hate to measure wrong cause if 2" is the difference between works and doesn't work I don't want to be the a-hole who gave you bad info. I mean even between various 2010 GT500's you could have different dimensions due to different springs or tire sizes.
 

1st usa car

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Yes - great idea !! Good luck with the research and hopefully project! I am located too far but I know you can find someone closer -- perhaps coffee and cars meet.
 

Crackerballer

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You all rock! Yes I will get some pictures of the garage tonight as well as some measurements. From my initial measurements, I don't see any way in which it DOESN'T work. Still, I'd rather validate.

Good call on the measure any S197 Mustang. I honest will take any measurements and no, being able to fit the car on the lift is not the sole determinant for purchasing the car. So even if I get lots of data and proceed with the purchase, if it doesn't work, I'll make it work. Lower the Caddy and GT500, store the GT500, kick the wife out of the garage, etc...

Seriously, I'd be more than happy to have ANY measurements from any member. I'll get pics this afternoon and upload them so everyone can visualize. Also, a garage door company is meeting me this afternoon to discuss retooling my door and lift. Called them and had a same day appointment scheduled in like 3 minutes! JACKPOT.
 

Crackerballer

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Found a combination of pics that shows the garage really well! So in total, the garage is about 600 sqft, I did the math on it a few weekends ago, including both side alcoves.

Here's the wife's GX460 in it. Where her truck is right now is actually the side I park my Caddy on, but closer to the wall. When I park, the relief cut in the concrete that runs to the garage door is about 4-6 inches from the side of the car. For depth, where her car is in the picture is probably a bit shallow, but the door might actually close without hitting.
20150702_102430.jpg

Here's the exterior angle. The overhead lift is actually mounted on the joist/support beam. that is the lowest part. The beam pretty much runs right below the other relief cut in the concrete that runs from side to side, so the start of the back alcove in the picture below.
20150702_102519.jpg


This is from when we first moved in. You can see the support beam in the top right of the picture. For reference, that work bench is 6 foot long. It now sits against the left wall in the pic and when I pull the Caddy in, I have enough room to walk between the Caddy and bench with ease. There's probably nearly 3 foot between the car and bench.
20150809_192403.jpg


Finally, a pic so you can get an idea of size. When I park in there, the Caddy is much further right, basically where the side mirror just clears the edge of the door opening.
20150803_130856.jpg


My plan would be to move the large industrial rack I have against the wall beside my car (there's a little over 2 foot between the wall and where the door opening begins) and offset the 4 post so the right hand posts actually sit within the side area so when I pull the bottom car in, under the lifted car, I still come in like I am just clearing the passenger mirror with the garage door frame, without concern for the lift posts.

I think the car on the lift would have either the middle of the windshield (so point 2 in my picture in the original post) or closer to the hood. So there are those measurements, plus total height because garage door will be retooled to track as close to the ceiling as possible all the way up to the edge of the beam.
 
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1st usa car

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Working out in the garage in front of mine.

2011 Gt500 Vert w/ svtpp -- wheels stock but tires are larger. Nitto NT555 275/40/19 & MT street comp 305/35/20
1: (@ keyhole on the door handle) 55 inches - my highest point on the vert top.
2: 46.5 inches
3: 38 inches

Front to C 60 inches ---B 75 inches --A 96 inches
Rear to C 124 inches -- B 108 inches -- A 85 inches

Overall length 184 inches -- as you can see my eyeball measuring doesn't add up very well. Need string, dowel and tape... hope this helped a little bit.
 
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1st usa car

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Don't forget to include the actual rack in your clearance measurements. Not a likely mistake from someone doing this much research but had to mention it.
 

Crackerballer

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Working out in the garage in front of mine.

2011 Gt500 Vert w/ svtpp -- wheels stock but tires are larger. Nitto NT555 275/40/19 & MT street comp 305/35/20
1: (@ keyhole on the door handle) 55 inches - my highest point on the vert top.
2: 46.5 inches
3: 38 inches

Front to C 60 inches ---B 75 inches --A 96 inches
Rear to C 124 inches -- B 108 inches -- A 85 inches

Overall length 184 inches -- as you can see my eyeball measuring doesn't add up very well. Need string, dowel and tape... hope this helped a little bit.
I appreciate it, FAM! Yes Rack height will be included. The other factor, which is going to be interesting, is I know some models have locking points that are not continuous, as in there are essentially staggered height settings and the lift only locks in at those points.

There is a actually a local guy who has a couple of lifts and a GT350 that I am hoping to talk with pending my discussions this afternoon with the garage door folks and hearing back from the dealer.
 

sleek98

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What is your ceiling height at the highest and at the beam. I can measure the height under the lift with the car set to clear that height. Factory height car

I have 12 foot ceilings in the detached garage and i can get my car high enough to walk under the runways without ducking. Roughly 73-74” high.

Also your going to have to look at the lock levels. Most are every 4 inches. You can’t get too tight as you need to lift the car off the locks which is usually 2” off the locks.
 
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Crackerballer

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What is your ceiling height at the highest and at the beam. I can measure the height under the lift with the car set to clear that height. Factory height car

I have 12 foot ceilings in the detached garage and i can get my car high enough to walk under the runways without ducking. Roughly 73-74” high.

Also your going to have to look at the lock levels. Most are every 4 inches. You can’t get too tight as you need to lift the car off the locks which is usually 2” off the locks.
Lock levels... that's the term. So I measured last night: 9'7" floor to bottom of the beam, 10'5" floor to ceiling. I took pictures yesterday afternoon as well. Ignore how dirty the car and garage are. Spring cleaning hasn't happened yet!

This is the total clearance I am dealing with. Where the Caddy is right now is where I park it. The door can easily close behind it and you can see the clearance I have between the car and the work bench.
Caddy in Garage 3.jpg


I was slightly off on beam placement relative to the car. It is more above the top of the windshield than middle. This is why I needed the front and back measurements for the GT500. This could be problematic.
Caddy in Garage 2.jpg


The garage door installers came out yesterday and we talked through raising the door, needing a new spring pack (which I am not sure I need for the door relocation, but mine are 20 years old so I think replacing them is a good idea anyway), and the Liftmaster 8500 jack shaft. Seems like the garage door isn't going to be an issue because the beam would be the lowest point of clearance for what is nearly the highest point of the GT500.

Now the other option is I ditch the work bench, push the 4 post to the back wall, far away from the door, and back the GT500 in onto it. It would be more than adequate as the back half of the garage is over 11" to the beam. I could then pull the Caddy in deep as well, and just circulate around the backside of the Caddy to get to my big tool box. Not ideal, but if it was the only option, it'd be an easy decision for me. Either way, I know whenever I build my next house what I will be doing in all of the garage space!
Garage Layout & Measurements.jpg
 

1st usa car

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I think the option may be --- put the lift in front of the Caddy -- So, that it is T-bone-ing the lifted GT500 -- this means it will not be super easy to get the car in and out.... May need wheel dollies to position it in and out of the rack.
 

kodiakmustang

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I have a 2010 GT500, and I wouldn't mind taking the measurements for you. However, you should know that I am lowered 1" using H&R Sport Springs along with supporting struts/shocks, panhard bar, and supporting hardware. I know it's 1" because I did height measurements before and after the install. I also have Continental Extreme Contract DW stock size tires, and not the Goodyears anymore. I'll wait for your reply before I take the time to take the measurements.
 

Nutty 5.0

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I will say it may be tight. I have a four post with 12' ceiling height. I have very little room so good call on the jack shaft opener. I think you'll be able to make it work pending your total height. My wife parks her car under daily but it is a PITA to set up ramps to pull the car.

IMG_7903_zpskrl6arq2.jpg

IMG_7923_zpswolhuaeh.jpg
 

Crackerballer

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I think the option may be --- put the lift in front of the Caddy -- So, that it is T-bone-ing the lifted GT500 -- this means it will not be super easy to get the car in and out.... May need wheel dollies to position it in and out of the rack.
I thought of that as well, but I don't think its an option considering the next truck for my wife is likely a Denali, regular or maybe even XL. I did some math and I honest think it is going to all depend on how tight they can tuck the door and the model lift. Assuming I need 5 foot clearance for the Caddy and almost as much for the GT500, I am only left with 5 inches at the HIGHEST point of the garage, not the beam. That assumes the lift adds very little total height and can lock in at the perfect level. Not looking good. Might have to consider something lower like a Viper or Vette.
 

sleek98

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Personally, I don't think you will fit.

At 10' 5" your going to lose 4-6" for the garage door being overhead.

Your now down to 9' 9" or 117".

Take off 60" for the clearance on the CTSV nets you to 57" for the gt500, the ramps I think mine are 3.25" thick and the clearance for the getting the car off the locks. That assumes you can find a 4 post that will sit exactly at 60"
 

Crackerballer

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Personally, I don't think you will fit.

At 10' 5" your going to lose 4-6" for the garage door being overhead.

Your now down to 9' 9" or 117".

Take off 60" for the clearance on the CTSV nets you to 57" for the gt500, the ramps I think mine are 3.25" thick and the clearance for the getting the car off the locks. That assumes you can find a 4 post that will sit exactly at 60"
Yup, my thought as well. Unless I can cut the ceiling and have my garage door go up into attic space off the second floor, there's no way. I actually looked at pulling the door up, and it wouldn't be as hard as you think.

Do they make split garage doors that swing out or pocket? Would only suck when we have people in the driveway.
 

Crackerballer

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Welp folks, did some more measuring this weekend and I just don't think it's going to work. I believe the garage door is going to be a minimum of 4" off the wall even when remounted. Based on my initial measurements and those by @1st usa car, I don't see it being possible. Even worse, I think it would be tight for something much lower, like a C7 Z06 which the google says is 48" tall.

My plan for now is to proceed with getting the quote on the garage door retool, discuss with them needing maximum clearance, and if they think they can do what I need and I like the price, I'll go ahead with that portion of the retool. Then at least I'll have firm clearance numbers while I do some lift shopping.
 

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