Air bags on a 68

[bs25j]

Im starting to get interested in puttin airbags on my truck.. If I was gonna just replace the coils with bags, get 3 inch dropped spindles and a 2.5 notch in the frame how low would i be able to get with the air out? and if i kept my ride height at around a 3/5 would i need to get the drop crossmember so my driveline wouldn't rub?

[N2TRUX]

It would look something like this....More info inside

[revn67]

god i love what he is doing with that truck......is he all done with that now? don't mean to steal the thread, but i think all of our trucks should sit atleast this low!

[bs25j]

What bags would you recomend going with.. I was thinking either airlift or firestone??

[TravisH]

I've got airlift bags on my truck but I've heard slam specialties are where its at.

Whatever you go with I've got to recommend *****************

[bs25j]

Ya thats where ive been doing most of my looking around..I was gonna go with air lift but i think i may be able to get a good deal on some firestone bags, 224c 2600lb. Im just wonderin if they are gonna be a quality air bag. I havnt heard of too many people running firestones except for load leveling or helper springs. Also how much drop would i be able to get out of the rear w/o a notch. roughly. if i cut my bumpstops down and had them resting on the frame.

[revn67]

go with slam specialties it is a much better bag.....certain bags balloon before filling up and firestone is one of them! as for the lowest you can go before notching i believe is 5in......after that you could use the bolt in notch from cpp and go probably 7ish. i second what travish said which is go with *****************!

[bs25j]

What do u mean by ballooning before airing up???

[revn67]

certain bags stretch more than others when filling them with air......firestone bags stretch outwards before actually lifting your truck up.....sooo if your bag is really close to something on your setup, then that is something to keep in mind

[bs25j]

what size of bags would you recomend?..6,7 or 8 inch.

[TravisH]

I'd say go with the bigger bags if possible. More volume and lift

[TravisH]

just a note, do not go with airlift bags

[AKChevyman]

Ok for referance I am running Slam specialty bags I think ES 72 are the model number. I only have my frame, engine and tranny at this point but with all that and the air out the bottom of the front frame rails are 8 in off the ground the back with out notch or shaved bumpstops is 13 3/4 in this is just installing the bags where the coils use to ride. Another plus for the SS bags are they have internal bumpstops so you can rest them on that with out them self destructing. Hope this helps.

[XXL]

Originally Posted by revn67

certain bags stretch more than others when filling them with air......firestone bags stretch outwards before actually lifting your truck up.....sooo if your bag is really close to something on your setup, then that is something to keep in mind

There are not likely to be any interference points near the stock rear coil location, so "ballooning" should matter here... especially given that this effect is on the order of 1/2" or less.

[Shane]

mostly "less"

[bs25j]

Yaa im still up in the air about bagging my truck.. I'd like to bag it but I already got new drop coils front and rear that havnt been ran on and I dont know if I want to Notch my freshly painted frame. But after test fitting my wheels with some of the body panels in place I noticed that I probly got a good three or four inches before there would be any rubbing problems,and i think it would look pretty tite that much lower.

YOu can see some pics here..
http://s26.photobucket.com/albums/c1.../My%20project/

I was makin pretty good progress there for a while.. lately i havent been able to get anything done.

[robsm88]

I am considering bags right now also. Let us know what you decide.

[XXL]

Originally Posted by bs25j

Yaa im still up in the air about bagging my truck.. I'd like to bag it but I already got new drop coils front and rear that havnt been ran on and I dont know if I want to Notch my freshly painted frame.

Sounds like you need to map out a plan for your truck. Like many of us, we start off in one direction, and end up taking the truck in another direction down the road... that can get expensive (moreso than just doing the job once). You should consider mapping out a "final" scheme for your truck, and then determine what it will take in terms of mods to get it there. Then line up those mods in the order that they have the least impact on one another (as in... notch frame before painting it, etc.).

[TravisH]

Originally Posted by bs25j

I dont know if I want to Notch my freshly painted frame.

Never stopped me before. Right now is the best time to do it you may as well bite the bullet

[67chevemall]

I just bought the Slam spec. bags from SD.com
4-- 7" bags with the brackets for the front and a universal bracket kit
for the back.

300+160

Going with the standard valves for now. up at the pump and down with the tumb.

just searching threads to find out how the hell I'm going to put this stuff on the truck.

So far I have

Step 1 take the bed off.

[IvelDesigns]

good start with taking the bed off.

For the rear, you don't need any brakets. just put the bag where the coil is (assuming you have coils).

while you are at it, you might as well throw in a set of lowering blocks. 2" seems to work well. if you're like me, you'll get the bags mounted up, then decide that flippin' switches is way more fun than rollin' up to the gas station or usein' your thumb.

oh, and a set of drop spindles up front is a nice addition as well.

[xtreme80]

Firestone is still a good bag, but I agree that you can't beat Slam bags. Their collapsed height is nearly the same as a firestone, but expanded has another inch or two.

Also, you will definately want spindles up front. If you ever plan to drive low at all (and trust me, you will!) then you need a set of spindles to keep the camber where it should be.

[skunkwerx]

im running firestone with on problems,and gets more lift than i need.im not running any different crossmember.

[Shane]

Firestones are fine. They were one of the first companies to make a small bag for just such applications.

Plus, if "ballooning" was such a big issue, damn near every semi truck and trailer on the road wouldn't be running them.

[SCOTI]

Originally Posted by Shane

Firestones are fine. They were one of the first companies to make a small bag for just such applications.

Plus, if "ballooning" was such a big issue, damn near every semi truck and trailer on the road wouldn't be running them.

The cool thing about 'ballooning' is as long as the bag was installed properly (meaning all possible areas of contact to the bags were thoughtfully removed) is the bag would require slightly more air pressure @ the same given height vs. a bag that just goes straight up.

It has been my experience that a little more air nets a slighly better ride when air pressures are below 80psi. A slightly better ride @ a lower height is what most of us seek is it not?