63 c10 custom air bags f/b how to correct body roll

[jserrato714]

Hey peeps...so I have my 63 short bed with custom airbags. By custom I mean not a bolt on kit. I have front and back only...The rear is a 4 link with a panhard bar and has a custom rear clip. The front has cpp 2 1/2 and 2600 firestone airbags. It has a sbc 305/700r4 trans.The truck feels like crap on turns and even when on a straight away. On straight aways it swerves a bit .It has alot of body roll. The front has no sway bar nor shocks!...NOTE: It has a 73 chevy front suspension. What will correct my problem? shocks?sway bar? etc....I want this to be a daily driver....Also does cpp or other companys carry a bolt on sway bar.Thanks ahead of time!

[Rich 5150 69]

Go to your local pick a part, grab front sway bar from a 1 ton gm pickup, all hardware with it, for the rear you`ll have to buy off a site or build your own from a later model camaro, you won`t believe the differance. one ton trucks use a 1 13/16 front sway bar...

[Ghostwhite]

Anit-Sway bar and shocks will help but if you wanna do it right you need to add 4 more valves, even if you never hit sides. Shocks will do wonders for the overall ride too.

[Sick5]

Originally Posted by jserrato714

Hey peeps...so I have my 63 short bed with custom airbags. By custom I mean not a bolt on kit. I have front and back only...The rear is a 4 link with a panhard bar and has a custom rear clip. The front has cpp 2 1/2 and 2600 firestone airbags. It has a sbc 305/700r4 trans.The truck feels like crap on turns and even when on a straight away. On straight aways it swerves a bit .It has alot of body roll. The front has no sway bar nor shocks!...NOTE: It has a 73 chevy front suspension. What will correct my problem? shocks?sway bar? etc....I want this to be a daily driver....Also does cpp or other companys carry a bolt on sway bar.Thanks ahead of time!

does it swerve as you hit the gas and let go the gas
just asking i have a custom airbag set up on my 65
i have shock all around and no sway bar. i do know you have to have the bags at a certain psi to get the best ride out of it not to full and not to empty. you got any pics of the custom rear clip. oh belive me the shocks makes a big diffrents

[jserrato714]

Thanks guys. So Rich you know your Sh**T huh ?Lol. To answers to my questions.Thanks a ton....Ok so...I am definetly on a budget here so the junk yard will be my first stop..So it has to be from a 1 ton? Any year? Is it bolt on?My lower control arms have no holes for the sway bar. I probably have to drill the holes myself on the arms and frame right. Also Ghost and Rich My truck is pretty freaken low on the front. Will my shocks go that low and what should I use? Autozone over here in Cali has them for about 30 for both out the door. Will that work or do I need drop shocks. Once again thanks for the quick 411.

[jserrato714]

Originally Posted by Sick5

does it swerve as you hit the gas and let go the gas
just asking i have a custom airbag set up on my 65
i have shock all around and no sway bar. i do know you have to have the bags at a certain psi to get the best ride out of it not to full and not to empty. you got any pics of the custom rear clip. oh belive me the shocks makes a big diffrents

No pics yet... I ride at like 50-75 psi I think. Not to high and not to low...Im right at the middle. Thats what I keep on hearing asfar as the shocks go. I want this to be my daily but its no safe enough for me in my eyes. Looks good thought lol!!!

[Sick5]

Originally Posted by jserrato714

No pics yet... I ride at like 50-75 psi I think. Not to high and not to low...Im right at the middle. Thats what I keep on hearing asfar as the shocks go. I want this to be my daily but its no safe enough for me in my eyes. Looks good thought lol!!!

lol i drive mine everyday to work .
and yah shocks is a most cpp has them.
thats were i got mine from

[protrash64]

You need drop shocks....any sway bar will work off 1/2ton. I agree that the heavier one would be better. CPP bars have an end link set-up that is easy to install. My 'burb is bagged with a bar and good shocks and has NO sway or weird handling whatsoever.

Do it.................

[Rich 5150 69]

Originally Posted by jserrato714

Thanks guys. So Rich you know your Sh**T huh ?Lol. To answers to my questions.Thanks a ton....Ok so...I am definetly on a budget here so the junk yard will be my first stop..So it has to be from a 1 ton? Any year? Is it bolt on?My lower control arms have no holes for the sway bar. I probably have to drill the holes myself on the arms and frame right. Also Ghost and Rich My truck is pretty freaken low on the front. Will my shocks go that low and what should I use? Autozone over here in Cali has them for about 30 for both out the door. Will that work or do I need drop shocks. Once again thanks for the quick 411.

Wish I could remember everything that I did know, one ton will fit, shocks are a differant issue, get a measurement of your fixed ride height, that will be your static ride height, your shock will be in that demension at its centerpoint ( fully extended and collapsed) I`m guessing about 9 inch shock from eye to eye centerline.

[jserrato714]

Here are some pics of the rear clip! Hopefully they uploaded.

[VA72C10]

shocks are a definite need....but as mentioned the biggest difference after that will be more valves....not a sway bar....with only two valves if I'm reading correctly....all the air is transferring from one side to the other and will continue to do so until you get more valves.

[Sick5]

Originally Posted by jserrato714

Here are some pics of the rear clip! Hopefully they uploaded.

i like the pan bar!

[jserrato714]

Originally Posted by VA72C10

shocks are a definite need....but as mentioned the biggest difference after that will be more valves....not a sway bar....with only two valves if I'm reading correctly....all the air is transferring from one side to the other and will continue to do so until you get more valves.

I just had a peek under my truck and it has 4 valves....but I only have two switches.Does that change anything? Thanks to all you guys!

[Sick5]

i have the same thing>>

[protrash64]

Originally Posted by jserrato714

I just had a peek under my truck and it has 4 valves....but I only have two switches.Does that change anything? Thanks to all you guys!

8 valves and 4 switches makes every corner independent.

[jserrato714]

So what do you guys think of the truck? God I miss my 22" wheels. I decided to change the look of the truck so I went with some old school centerlines wrapped in some cooper cobras..My truck sat like 4 inches lower which I think is a plus!!! Any ideas as to what to used as a replacement floor bed..I was contenplating using the original rotten wood boards.

[Sick5]

Originally Posted by jserrato714

So what do you guys think of the truck? God I miss my 22" wheels. I decided to change the look of the truck so I went with some old school centerlines wrapped in some cooper cobras..My truck sat like 4 inches lower which I think is a plus!!! Any ideas as to what to used as a replacement floor bed..I was contenplating using the original rotten wood boards.

im going with the raised Orig look

[protrash64]

Originally Posted by jserrato714

So what do you guys think of the truck? God I miss my 22" wheels. I decided to change the look of the truck so I went with some old school centerlines wrapped in some cooper cobras..My truck sat like 4 inches lower which I think is a plus!!! Any ideas as to what to used as a replacement floor bed..I was contenplating using the original rotten wood boards.

I think it looks cool.....I did the switch from 20 to 15 and love it. Changes the whole attitude.

[jserrato714]

Thats what I said. It looked good with 22"s but I love the old school look. The back as at full ride hight on the pic. And the front is fully slammed.The back sits like 2" off the ground when fully dropped. The front as you can see sits pretty high. I have cpp 2 1/2 spindels on the front..3" bag cup and a firestone 2600 in between. What do you guys suggest I need to slam the fron a bit more. I also removed my front wheel tubs.

[VA72C10]

Is that 4 total valves? 6 would be the min if you used check valves for the rear, but 8 is ideal. Either way shocks will also make a huge difference.....

[7T2]

Originally Posted by VA72C10

shocks are a definite need....but as mentioned the biggest difference after that will be more valves....not a sway bar....with only two valves if I'm reading correctly....all the air is transferring from one side to the other and will continue to do so until you get more valves.

This post is right on. If your front two air bags share an air line and your rear air bags share an air line, there is nothing stopping the air from one side from going into the other side in a turn. You need to separate each bag from the others to eliminate the transfer of air. There's really no other easy way to eliminate the problem.

[hotrodhomi]

^ agreed, you need eight valves and more switches.

[ChiefRocka]

If you just want FRT and BCK ... all you would need is SIX valves, a few fittings and some checks to correct the air transfer. No need for 8 valves.

Two switchs aree enough, unless you want a pancake and a front to back 'rock'...

[hotrodhomi]

Originally Posted by ChiefRocka

If you just want FRT and BCK ... all you would need is SIX valves, a few fittings and some checks to correct the air transfer. No need for 8 valves.

Two switchs aree enough, unless you want a pancake and a front to back 'rock'...

I hate to disagree with the chief but more than two switches will allow for fine tuning. It's not just for playing. I have seven switches , theY come pre wired. One switch for each corner, one front and one back. The last one is to air it out on all corners known as pancake.

[ChiefRocka]

Again ... I said IF all he wants is frt and back.

If you want 'seperate' control of 'each' corner, then you 'will' need 8 valves.

Otherwise you can still have precise control of the truck, using 6 valves, with more switches ... just with a downward travel.

Prewired switch boxes huh ??

I hate those things ... I'm ol'school man. I still make up my own panel and switches boxes.

Since '88 when I was (still am) messing with the hydros ...

BTW, your allowed ONE disagreement with me !!!



JK, it's all good !!!