4x4 with air bags?
 

Ok, before you flame me for not searching, I looked for a couple of hours last night and couldn't find anything:lol:

So here's my deal. I'm working on a project for my dad on his 72 4x4. We are going to be ditching the leaf springs that it has all the way around (cuz it ride like a tank:lol: ) and going to build 4 links for the front and rear and put air bags on it. He wants to keep the stock ride height, he just wants it to ride like a Cadillac. The way it rides now, my mom won't ride in it:lol: and he wants to fix that.

My question is has anyone on here done this or seen anything like this? any ideas and pics would be welcomed. Thanks, Guys.

Re: 4x4 with air bags?
 

So nobody has ever seen a 4x4 with air bags???

Re: 4x4 with air bags?
 

if you dont mind doing some serious fab work you could try this setup http://www.universalairsuspension.co...8c21ccab551d7f

Re: 4x4 with air bags?
 

That's an interesting setup but rather pricey. I guess I'll be in uncharted waters with this build. :)

Re: 4x4 with air bags?
 

Take lots of pictures.............as bad as I hate to say it look at some of the old ford trucks with front coils for suspension ideas.
Welcome to the board from West Virginia
Shane

Re: 4x4 with air bags?
 

Well, I just got the first part of my order for *****************. Got the air bag and an air management system. For bags I went with Contitech 2800 single ports. I'm going to be using 2 of there super lift 4 link kits with panhard bars. They should be here the first of next week. It's going to be a fun little project, and a lot of work at the same time :lol:.

Re: 4x4 with air bags?
 

Take pictures post em and submit it to the FAQ section
Shane

Re: 4x4 with air bags?
 

its been done but ive never seen anyone keep stock ride height

Re: 4x4 with air bags?
 

Well, I guess I'll be the first ;) Here is a pic of the truck
http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y57...uckpics029.jpg
The new motor
http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y57...uckpics023.jpg
and the air bag parts I have so far
http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y57...uckpics036.jpg

Re: 4x4 with air bags?
 

sounds awesome. im real interested in this build, if you could post plenty of pics of the build id greatly appreciate it.

Re: 4x4 with air bags?
 

I did it on a`95 K3500.The bags were from a towing supply catalogue and were for adding to stock suspension.I eliminated the torsion bars in front and used only the mainleaf in the rear,but used a bag in coil set-up.I could run it at a comfortable rate according to my load,raise it for tire clearance off road,or drop it on the job to unload racks easier.Truck was totalled in an accident.
http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b2...5/scan0017.jpg
http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b2...5/scan0016.jpg

Re: 4x4 with air bags?
 

I've heard & have experience, that new springs & shocks make a pretty huge difference in ride quality. Don't get me wrong, I think putting bags on a 4wd truck would be awesome, but I have a feeling that you could make the truck much more comfortable, by just swapping in some new leafs & shocks.

I have put a great deal of thought, (but not much action), into converting my leaf-sprung blazer into coils, or bags, all around as well. I have been kicking around using a trailing arm suspension like those that came from the factory on 2wd trucks. - I'd like to lift mine about 5" so my thought is to put the trailing arm on TOP of the axle tube - and doing a Ford coil bucket & radius arms on the front, similar to an early bronco, just need a way to mount the radius arms to the front axle. I thinks that would be very easy to adapt, and really give a great ride along with some quality shocks.

My other thought, (which is more likely, because it will be cheaper), is to take a leaf out of the 52" rear springs that I currently have on the blazer, & mount them up front, (the front springs are 44" eye-to-eye I believe). Then, getting some 63" late model gm 3/4 ton springs for the rear & mounting them up with brackets under the frame, similar to what sky-manufacturing does for toyotas. Top it off with some edelbrock resevoir shocks and call it done. the extra length of the springs "should" make the ride smoother, & I'd like the extra height that I'd gain doing this as well.

I'm one of the K.I.S.S. clan. less stuff to break the better.

Just my opinion.

Buddy

Re: 4x4 with air bags?
 

is the exhaust manifold upside down onthe motor for the turbo?

Re: 4x4 with air bags?
 

Ya, but I think I'm going to put in on the driver side instead, There's more room to get the down pipe past the transfer case. I need to get the old 350 out, so I can start fitting the new motor and build the turbo pipes.

Re: 4x4 with air bags?
 

go look through the pics on this page and see how us Texans do it... It's a huge bagged suburban that gets crazy lift with air ride http://www.bncoffroad.com/slacker/

Re: 4x4 with air bags?
 

Re: 4x4 with air bags?
 

:eek: That crazy lift! I just want it to ride nice and not have to park next to a loading dock to get out of it :lol:

Re: 4x4 with air bags?
 

have you started on this project?

Re: 4x4 with air bags?
 

Ya, a little, got the bed off and the motor is about ready to come out, but I'm still waiting for the 4-link kits to come from *****************. They should be here some time toward the middle to end of the week. They custom make the bars and brackets to your specs.

Re: 4x4 with air bags?
 

Nice Catch:metal: .....didn't even notice it....I had always wondered if you could do that never saw a reason other than clearance that you couldn't
Shane

Re: 4x4 with air bags?
 

OK, It's been a while since I posted anything about this build, I've been really busy trying to get a house I have remodeled and ready for sale, but its almost done so I finally got a chance to work on the '72 today. My dad got the motor and trans out a couple of weeks ago and today, I got all the rear suspension brackets cutoff and all the new 4-link stuff ready to start fitting. I got most all my parts in, and I will tell you, ***************** is a great company to do business with. More than helpful with all my questions, and there parts and kits are top notch. Here are some pics.

http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y57...uckpics070.jpg
http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y57...uckpics068.jpg
http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y57...uckpics072.jpg

Tomorrow, I plan on getting most of the rear 4-link installed. We will see how that goes :), then it will be on to the front ;)

Re: 4x4 with air bags?
 

how much travel will the bags have?

Re: 4x4 with air bags?
 

The bags themselves have about 6-7 inches from fully compressed to full extend. The way I'm mounting them on the 4-link bar, I should get about 4.5" of compression and 4" of rebound. Should be enough for a nice ride.

Re: 4x4 with air bags?
 

Any progress on this one?

Re: 4x4 with air bags?
 

Ya some, but I had to go out to OR to do some work and make some $$$, so won't get back to if for about 1-2 months, but will hit it hard when I get back.

I got the back half pretty much done, just need to do some finsh welding on the axle and clean and paint every thing, here are some pics.

http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y57...7-27-06015.jpg
http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y57...7-27-06009.jpg
http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y57...7-27-06019.jpg
http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y57...7-27-06020.jpg
http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y57...7-27-06014.jpg