Just wanted to get some input on people that have airbags, how much it cost them generally and is it worth doing it. Right now Im working on a 62 mercury meteor that Im learning how to work on. Id like to lower the drive height but was curious about airbags over just cutting the front springs and so on. I also already have rear air shocks, is that a major difference? Any input would be appreciated. Thanks.
air bags and air shocks,theres a huge difference. i have a bagged 98 pickup for my daily, had a bagged 74 before that as a daily. i will say go for it. its a lot of work but its nice to be able to get the low look and raise up and drive like a normal car, i recomend using shocks as well with the bags, i have ran with and without. with shocks is much better.
I have had airbags on 3 cars now, and I have set them all up myself. They are alot of fun and being able to drive low is fun. That being said, if I had to build a car as a daily driver, or a car for my wife, I would not bag it. Maybe I am used to them enough where I dont care anymore. But yeah man, if you have never had a bagged car, the go for it. Just make SURE that it is set up where nothing can rub thru. I blew a bag at 70mph on the 405 freeway, and it SUCKED!
Was it a difficult undertaking for either of you guy? Im still new to everything and am learning as I go. unfortunately i dont have contacts with people who work on cars so Im going it solo on most my endeavors. and hooligan is right, i dont care about the change in drivability.
my daily 68 chrysler is bagged. i kinda had to do it because my driveway is steep and that car is so long and low it would scrape the tail pipes every time i'd leave or come home. it's really a nice feature to have. plus it's cool when you roll into a parking lot or a show at normal driving height and then hit the release when you park. PSSSSSSSSSSH and the car's suddenly 5" lower. i like it. just make sure if you do it, you do it properly and with quality components. i had mine done by a shop that specializes in lowering and bags because i drive this car every day and i didn't want to have any problems, or have a bunch of downtime while i worked on it in my driveway. but, they aren't that complicated really and can be done pretty easily at home if time allows for it/you're competent.
well as long as you take what blown240 says advice on the "make sure nothing rubs" cause hes dead on with that statement. i think youl have the most trouble doing the rear, cutting into the trunk area to c-notch the frame, and to mount some type of rear four bar, or three link set up. im running a 4 link with panhard. if you want it to drag its body make sure you make hte notches big enough. i get about 2 hair microns from dragging the ground and i wish it was lower. i just recomend, shocks, and when its all done carry extra air line and a few fittings as a backup. and they are FUN.
I have done many airride setups and there are ways to set up the car in case that something goes bad to where you can still drive it. you can install bumpstops and so on. Air bags are cool of you do it right! pricing depends on the application...
yeah but if you have the provisions to were you can still drive it ,you cant slam it on its frame! i carry around 4x4 small wood blocks. and a small jack. if something goes wrong. i jack it up and shuv the blocks above the axle or in between the a-arms. it gets you home. you can look up...suicidedoors.com,airbaggit.com,avs.com all have kits and parts. i would say just order the fittings, and bag kit and make your own 3 or 4 link
I would have a hard time doing it myself since im all totally new to this. so talking about going through the trunk and notching into the frame and all that is way over my head. plus i dont have a garage or driveway. im a street parker. @Scooter54. how much did it run you to have it done.? id like to do it myself but i know enough to know that i would need some experienced hands working with me.
If that car has coil springs front and rear then the install will be fairly easy. The "Notch" is where you cut the frame above the rear axle and install a notch that allows the rear end to drop lower. some of the 58-64 cars dont really need a notch because of how the frame curves above the rear axle already. I know there are a lot of people who out there who say they know how to install air bags but do not be fooled into getting someone to do it cheap. I suggest checking around at car shows and cruise-ins for people with bags on anything and talk to them about it. I am sure you will find a company close to you that can get you right. As long as you dont use Air Ride Tech products it is not that expensive. I would say an average of about $1800-2500 depending on rear spring setup and if it needs a notch. That would be for a 2 tank, 2 compressor, 8 valve system. Figure on about $2000 tops for the install if the car has leaf springs in back and needs a notch.
what ever you do dont use airbagit.com!!! please dont!! spend the extra money and buy from suicidedoors.com or fbirides.com
you might want to check and see if you can even get it done on the street. Got a welder? Gas welder? 220 or 110? Know how to bevel the steel? Have another car to drive? It will not happen overnight. Also, as a tip, I reccomend using bushings NOT heim joints. They wear faster, make more noise and are stiffer. Bushings are not. Make the ride more cadillac like. IMO. I have bags on my daily as well. I also rec NOT laying frame. The wood block thing he was talking about is hard core. But do you want to be that guy? Or have a way home reliably? Wood breaks you know. Besides. You ever had a tire go flat while driving? It pulls you ALL over the place. Now imagine the frame dragging the ground. NO steering control. Like the steering wheel is not even there. And to top it off, if you had to get it on a tow truck, the bumper would get torn off at your expense. They are not responsible for something like that. There are safety aspects to think of. Think of what you want. How you want it to handle, drive, sit. How fast you want it to air up. How much time you want to play with the switches. So much more. Ask any questions you can think of. PM if you need anything else. and FUCK airbagit.com. I used suicide doors as well. Good prices. Good quality parts.
As mentioned above: What are your plans for the setup? How fast do you want it? electric or manual valves? How long do you want to be able to play with the switched? For example. Here is my chevy with 1/2 inch line, and 5/8 valves. In this vid its hooked to my shop compressor, so disregard the play time.. http://www.youtube.com/v/Qco449RC7eU
The front end is coils and the rear are air shocks. Im in the market for a welder (110 mig/flux core) but dont own one yet. I live in an apartment so having big equipment is tough. I dont know how to bevel the steel or putting a notch into the frame. from the reading ive been doing some of it looks pretty doable and fairly straight forward but theres big chunks Id need help with. as for what i want: i want it to sit low. when its parked and also fairly low when it drives at times. im not concerned with spending a little time with the switches. i dont really care either way if it goes up fast or not, im not looking to make a hopper or anything like that. I dont want it to fuck too much with how it handles and rides but am fully aware that that will change if bags are installed and can handle that. Im looking for upcoming events in my area so i can find some people to talk it over with and get some local shop info. @blown240: thanks for the vid. i dont really want it to go up that fast but again dont really care either way, im more going for the right ride height. @choptvan: thanks for all the info and such. I may PM you with more questions. thanks everyone so far for the help.
I would recommend 1/4 inch air line for you. Its a lot easier to work with, but is slower. Figure no more than 3-5 seconds to life the heaviest front end. Even though there are a lot of guys that will disagree with me, my first welder was a 110 volt flux core Lincoln that I got on clearance at Home Depot for $135. Even though the welds are ugly, with correct prep, they are very strong. I did framework with it and never had any issues.
t I have 4 bagged vehicles. if this is a toy and you want to expand your horizons? sounds like you are doing the right thing...take the time, research if you feel you can do it or if you need a shop. It isnt that hard but it will take time an knowledge to do it without hurting you or the car. Id static drop it until you learn more. see if you like messing with this stuff it gets very addicting...once you have something on the ground, everything else is too high..
FBI is no longer in business. suicidedoors.com, gaugemagazine.com or American Pastimes are excellent to deal with on air suspension
btw...if your gunna bag it with good parts your looking at about 1500 in parts. yes you can get it cheaper than that...but I always seem to end spending that.... for new stuff. no airbaggit.
erock: did you do all 4 bags on your own or did you have a shop do some. if its $1500 for parts i wonder how much labor would run you. yeah ive heard some contradiction thoughts on a 110 welder. i just havent had the extra dough to get a massive 220. heres one ive read some good reviews on for automotive work... not just amazon reviews. http://www.amazon.com/Hobart-500500...UTF8&coliid=I3NDFOBV85RMCB&colid=13ZIBL3VZICV i dont know, maybe its a shitty welder for frame work.
1500 is dead on!! its worth it if you do it right, and overkill on every thing IMO. cuz comoressors always runnin sucks. or small tank never enough air. cuz each time you lift vehicle and gotta here the compresors suck. high amp alt to easily support comressor "s". so you dont have to kill your battery. i use optima's. but apprently there being made in mexico, well thtas another sub. and the 8 valve valve blocks are the only way to go IMO. cuz dealing with seperate vb or the individaul valves sucks. withe the 8 vb all wires and hose go to one spot. and make it so the car is still operational if theres afault with air system. so u dont get stranded. well thats my .02
ive heard on here many times kustombuilder & gambino kustoms have good deals on bags & parts, hit them up before you try the other guys JT
there prices are cheap for a reason. with my experience, some thing s are ok to get from them. other parts i go to suicide doors, but with airbagit i can drive there and pik it up which is nice
Well, I recently got a kit from them and now am wondering which parts should I be expecting to have issues with I hope none, but this is also my first attempt with bags and can use any helpful input
Carlos, that seems a little over the top, maybe craftsman/kobalt vs harbor freight? (Because a good percentage of snap-on is the cachet of the brand, plus, if you break them and don't work at a garage, replacements are hard to come by)
i am bagging my 50 fleetline as we speak and got all my parts though gravity-werx.com from bags to 4 link they costom build to your specs on the links
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