air bag Qs

[lost wages]

i got my c notch done today and im now ready to build mounts for the bags, what do you guys suggest as far as tanks, commpressors, valves, etc? I know nothing about that stuff and think i could save money over buying a kit. any good links maybe? I want a pretty fast setup but it doesnt have to be real fast.

[70 Jimmy]

Don't skimp on the solinoids. I work with air systems everyday and a cheap solinoid will just irritate the livin' crap out of you. They are slow or leak by or both.

------------------
"KEEP IT DOWN!"
70 Jimmy 454 2wd
56 GMC Big Window

[Rabid]

I thought at first that this topic was about safety air bags. I've always dreaded the thought of getting in a crash with my truck. I should put one of those big balls on the steering wheel like those busses have. As big as my steering wheel is I know that my noggin is gonna take quite a thump in a crash. lol. Sorry, I know you are talking about dropping your truck right? I'm clueless on that whole deal. Just thought I'd add my .02cents on it. Struck me funny.

------------------
72 C-10 Custom LWB, 350, 700R4, Holley 600 carb, Holley Contender Intake, POS Headers, Accel (plugs, wires, distributer, supercoil), ...basically bolt on goodies so far nothing spectacular.
ALASKA

[NSANE68!!!]

OK. I think I talked to you before, but can't remember for sure. I built my own system on my 72, and am half done with my 68. On your mounts just build em, lay under the truck get a visual of how the suspension travels, keep in mind you don't want the bag rubbin on anything. On the front weld a plate across the lower control arm and make a cylinder pocket for the top. I got my valves from a Pnumatic shop, just looked through yellow pages. Same as the ones in the mags at about 1/2 price I ran 3/8in air line. For air I'm runnin Co2 and a spin tank 9gal center return toggles for the switches,and picked up some gauges yesterday for $9 a piece (pnumatic shop). Truck will go from ground up 10" in about 3sec. Sorry so long. GOOD LUCK.

------------------
68 Chevy, with 93stepside,euro tail lights, fast bags, shaved everything, Eagle alloy 17's tuckin rim, 350 with under hood blower TH350 w/ shift kit,12 bolt Auburn posi with 4:11's. 95 chevy Tahoe A.K.A. (PHATHOE) is dropped 4in all around, stripped emblems and mouldings, 18in Niche bellas, flowmaster. 97 CBR 900RR everything aluminum is polished or powder coated candy purple. 6color change chameleon paint at $300 a pint(ouch), jetted and custom fabbed under seat exhaust like on the Ducati

[Primer_72]

NSANE, I may have asked you this before but are the valves you got electric?

------------------
72 chevy future dragger tchsusp@hotmail.com
"Built not Bought"

[wild4wheels]

You need to talk to Primer...He is in the process now of putting together a peice by piece set-up in his ride...But he is good at that kind of stuff...I, on the other hand, would call Air Ride Technologies FIRST and explain to them what you want to do, and that you are on a budget...they are very helpful and can give you a price for the setup you want..then go out and price the stuff seperately..Hope that helps.

Later,

Wild

[wild4wheels]

Ahhh Crap! Man! here I am telling this guy that your a friggin engineering genius..and your askin NSANE about valves!!??? Tsk, Tsk,
Prime, your makin me look bad!!!
hehe
Wild

[lost wages]

thanks for the replies, what i really need to know is how big of tank(s), how many compressors(315, 317) probably 3/8 air line. air ride technologies has those high dollar valve setups, any good?

[NSANE68!!!]

Primer yes they are electric. And for the other ? are the manafold valves any good. Yes they are good but then you run a longer line to each bag. I put a valve at each bag as cloce as possible. The shorter the line to the bag the faster it fills. Make sense?

[SCOTI]

THOSE HIGH DOLLAR SOLENOID SET-UP'S DO A GREAT JOB OF PREVENTING SIDE TO SIDE LEANING BUT A BUDGET WAY WOULD BE USING 2 SEPERATE CONTROLLERS: 1 CONTROLS FRONT L & R, THE OTHER CONTROLS THE REAR L & R. THE RIDE PRO SOLENOID KIT IS 700+ DOLLARS, THE GUAGE PANELS ARE ABOUT 165. 700-330= 370$ LEFT OVER FOR MORE PARTS!!!

[ChevLoRay]

I want to use air bags on the rear, only. AirLift makes a kit that retails for $850. This set up uses Schrader valves (like your tires) so must be adjusted manually. I don't care to have the remote capability for now, although it could be added later.

I am looking for a good ride, with a little bit of higher technology than coils provide. This kit comes with new mounts and a notch that must be added. They said it is good for 3-6.5 inches of drop. Plus, it will haul a load when needed and give a smooth ride.

Comments?

[NSANE68!!!]

Ok I agree the manafolds are great but a little over priced. I put a valve at each bag to prevent the side to side lean $50 each, I used center return toggle switches $1.50 each, and air gauges one for each bag $9 each, for a grand total of $238.00. A hell of alot cheaper building your own. Manafold $750 no way, paddle board $ 150 yea right build your own save aome $$$$$$

[Smooth68]

I hope to be traveling down the air bag road in the near future...This is some good info!
Do most of you guys use the factory spindles and arms?

------------------
**'68 Chevy**
*** BB 402 **
Will this thing
ever get finished???
West Fork, AR

[Number98]

Personally I think that Air Ride technologies is the best place to get Air Bag Equipment for our trucks because they make kits and parts exclusivly for our trucks. Here try this:
http://ridetech.com

------------------
1971 C-10 shortbed fleetside with a/c and big block currently in ground-up resto process.

[SCOTI]

850$ FOR THE AIRLIFT KIT SEEMS A LITTLE STEEP. I BOUGHT 2 2600lb BAGS FOR THE REAR OF MY BEATER,2 SCHRADER VALVES TO FILL,A SMALL SECTION OF DOT APPROVED AIRLINE,& MISC FITTINGS TO HOOK IT ALL UP FOR 3 BILLS. THIS IS A MANUAL FILL SYSTEM BUT ALL I NEEDED IT FOR WAS TO RIDE LOW DURING NORMAL WEEKLY DUTY & WHEN LOADED W/A TRAILER I COULD LEVEL IT OFF & NOT BOTTOM OUT. I NORMALLY DRIVE AROUND TOWN W/30 PSI AND IT RIDES NICE. NO LEAK PROBS SO FAR & IVE DRIVEN THIS SET-UP FOR OVER A YEAR NOW. I BOUGHT THE AIR-RIDE 4-WHEEL INSTALLER KIT FOR MY 67 W/O BRACKETS FOR ABOUT A GRAND W/EXTRA CONTROL PANEL.

[GMC Under Construction]

Take a looks at these guy's kit also. http://www.airliftcompany.com/easystreet/aspsysch.htm (Scroll down to the 67-72 truck kits).

From what I've heard, their kits are about the same quality as Air Ride Tech. In my opinion, both companies are a little over priced but have good reputations for quality and excellent customer service. I purchased my parts individually from a wholesale supplier, but have not installed them yet. I'm going to fabricate my own mounting brackets. I really can't recommend an air tank size or types of valves. I bought a 3 gallon tank and a Thomas 315 compressor. A buddy of mine has a similar setup on his '58 Nomad and it seems to work just fine, so I think it'll be okay on a short bed truck.


------------------
Jason - 1967 GMC short bed fleetside, engine-350, Trans-700R4, air bag suspension in progress. (Kansas City, MO area

jaySpot.com

[69panel]

These questions for "Scoti" or anyone for that matter. Why did you choose 2600 lb. bags? Where did you purchase them and how much? Where did you place them? (in the stock position of the springs?) or elsewhere?

------------------
'52 Buick Special Dlx
'68 Camaro
'69 C-10 Panel truck( no windows right now)
'77 LeSabre
'78 Monte-bu (Malibu w/ Montecarlo front clip
'78 Malibu
'79 Malibu
'83 280ZX
'83 280ZX (w/ LT1 and 460LE out of '94 Formula Firebird)
'93 Roadmaster wagon

[SCOTI]

I PURCHASED MY BAGS THROUGH AIR-RIDE BECAUSE THEY WERE VERY HELPFUL EVEN WHEN I TOLD THEM I WAS JUST LOOKING FOR INFO & NOT READY TO PURCHASE. THE REASON I WENT W/2600'S ON MY 68 WAS STRICTLY TO BE ABLE TO TOW THE CAR TRAILER I WAS PLANNING ON USING TO MOVE MY RESTOROD 67 BACK-N-FORTH AS NEEDED DURING BUILD-UP.MY 67 HOWEVER DOES HAVE THE LIGHTER RATED(2200lbs. I THINK) AIRSPRINGS BECAUSE I DONT PLAN ON HAULING ANYTHING ELSE BUT @$$! THEY EVEN TOLD ME THE LIGHTER DUTY SPRINGS WOULD WORK TOWING BUT I WANTED THAT EXTRA ASSURANCE. I MOUNTED THEM IN THE FACTORY LOCATION W/ 1.5 BLOCKS BETWEEN THE REAREND/TRAILING ARMS & MODIFIED THE STOCK SHOCK BRACKETS TO WORK PROPERLY.

[herauf]

master image concepts makes a kit that looks pretty good. check out their website www.mic.com

ryan.

[Primer_72]

hehe...thats Modular Industrial Computers, not Master Image Customs...

------------------
72 chevy future dragger tchsusp@hotmail.com
"Built not Bought"