4x4 with air bags?

[kbracing96]

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

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 ) 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 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.

[kbracing96]

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

[lvscott]

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

[kbracing96]

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

[Chevrolet4x4s]

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

[kbracing96]

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 .

[Chevrolet4x4s]

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

[GMC71k20]

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

[kbracing96]

Well, I guess I'll be the first Here is a pic of the truck

The new motor

and the air bag parts I have so far

[GMC71k20]

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

[special-K]

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.

[BUDDY]

Originally Posted by kbracing96

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 ) 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 and he wants to fix that.

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

[GMC71k20]

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

[kbracing96]

Originally Posted by GMC71k20

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

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.

[Chevrolet4x4s]

Originally Posted by GMC71k20

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

Nice Catch .....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

[camaro__thunder]

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/

[kbracing96]

Originally Posted by camaro__thunder

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/

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

[GMC71k20]

have you started on this project?

[kbracing96]

Originally Posted by GMC71k20

have you started on this project?

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.

[camaro__thunder]

[kbracing96]

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.





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

[GMC71k20]

how much travel will the bags have?

[kbracing96]

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.

[smbrouss70]

Any progress on this one?

[kbracing96]

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.