? for people w/ air susp. on early '50s cars...

I've got bags and leafs on the rear of my "48 Caddy convert and I really like them but, it isn't really low enough because I didn't notch the frame AND raise the tunnel!! Also, if you do decide to keep your leafs, make sure that the leafs you do keep are in generally good condition. I kept the worn out springs on mine as I thought the bags would serve to replace the spring activity. Well they do when bouncing up and down but, I forgot to factor in spring wrap under acceleration. The worn leaf springs really wrapped up badly and there is nothing the bags can do to stop it. I wound up adding a homemade traction bar to the main leaf such as you used to see on the old super-stocker drag cars from the sixties. It works but is kind of hokey. If my lazy *** can get going this spring, I'm going to replace the whole shooting match with a four bar/bag setup. Do it right the first time always occurs to me after I've done it wrong!!! DOH!

 

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Ive got the bags over chevy trailing arms and havent had any problems with the suspension , except for the front I need to split the air valves and upgrade the sway bar for cornering , the car gets too much front roll in the big hills !

[/ QUOTE ] I thought Kansas was flat.......

 

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maybe a HAMBer does air suspension jobs on the side??

[/ QUOTE ]Kustombuilder....but he's far from CA

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i wonder how much he charges?? just to get an idea. hope he stumbles unto this thread..

 

It is !! but there are some good off ramps

 

Me and the 52 went for years with the bags on top of the axle, with only 3 posies leafs...... they were good for awhile, but they did wear in a couple of years and start to have the wrap up problems......double convoluted bags and leafs were almost too much, the ride was stiff and rode like a buckboard wagon.....all that movement also helped to wear out a ring and pinion on the old 57 Chevy rear axle too....... I have since had the car switched to a triangulated four link, a new 9", and sleeved bags.....we are still working out problems with the shock mounting locations, and I think the bag load capacity is a bit weak for my car, but overall the ride is 200% better and I have no sway through corners like I used to. I am now of the opinion that bags don't mix with leafs, unless it's a very minor lift involved, like one you'd get with airshocks.....My car was done for the first time years ago and there wasn't much road testing done on these systems, so we invented our own. So I know from road experience, to get low, you have to C the frame, four link it and lose the leafs....... only way to go........

 

On my 49 merc, I left the leaf springs and made a bracket that bolts to the leaf springs just in front of the axle and another one that I welded to the frame. the car will drop the lake pipes to the ground.It raises about 6". Oh yea I removed three leaves. I have no axle wrap problems, no problems towing a trailer. The car runs consistant 13's in the 1/4

 

damn!! good stuff mercury.

 

earlier in the post, someone mentioned using 67-72 truck trailing arms. i just went down the block and crawled under a neighbors 69 pickup to check those trailing arms out..... and they are really long!! does anyone have a pic of these installed on a bagged anything? i would be interested to see that. do you cut them down?

thanks
jeff

 

was the truck a long wheel base? because my daily driver 66 chevy truck has the same set up and they don't look that long. But I would be interested in seeing them in a car. Anyone used ladder bars for they're bags? I know a guy with a dodge dakota that has ladder bars on his and the bags on top of the axle. He's always smoking them down in that truck and he never has had a wrap problem or anything.

 

Here's the rear on my 49 Olds.
Long trailing arms just like a Chev truck, came from the factory like that!
I used 255c bags in the rear, I've got 8" of travel from bottom to the top.

 

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Here's the rear on my 49 Olds.
Long trailing arms just like a Chev truck, came from the factory like that!
I used 255c bags in the rear, I've got 8" of travel from bottom to the top.



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Hey rocket thanks for them pics yah sent. I'm comin along on the olds. Next step is swappin rears n bags. I'll try postin pics for everyone to see after the bags. Thanks again for the pics you sent. I might bug yah again for some measurements on yer rig so I can see just how simular the frames might be

 

I really dont care for bags,,alot of friends of mine who run them seem to have nothing but problems. Just take your time when installing what ever kit you chose and make sure nothing will rub/puncture the bags. Most important of all in my opinion is to run hardlines. It may take a little longer but well worth it. The plastic lines are not reliable cause they can be pinched or even come off. The hardlines will not only be worry free but also give you a nice detailed look..I'm no pro at these kits and only given you my advice..Goodluck and please keep us posted. Every little bit of learning counts..Dirty

 

59-64 Chevy P***enger rear suspension in a 56 Chevy
Not really early 50ies but maybe different.I´m running a 62 Chevy rear setup in my bagged 56. It´s still a lot of work to do, but it seems to work well.

 

sorry no pic right now, but on the 67 - 72 chevy trucks.. reguardless of the length of the bed they all have the same length trailing arm.. I am using the chevy truck trailing arm under my 40 ford. I fabricated a new crossmember for the rear trailing arms just behind the frames x member.. sowhat, johnny longhair, motormikey, gl***hole, and MAYBE even onelow48 all are using this same or similar setup..

IT WORKS..

on my 40 I have the bags mounted to the stock coil spring locations that the chevy truck trailing arms provided. they bags sit in front of the rear axle and therefore create MORE LIFT than air springs placed on top or behind the axle..

I liked the rear setup so much on my 40 ford that when I built my 48 ford pickup i built the entire frame on a 72 chevy shortbed ch***is.. again swapped bags infront of the rear axle..


currently I am working on a 48 olds wagon.. I have a setup IDENTICAL to the setup that rocket has shown.. interestingly rocket your 49 olds frame looks ALOT like my 48 olds model 66 frame..wish I would have known that sooner....

good luck with your car.. what are you building anyway??

 

Nice rear end...
looks like a cool set up too.

Reminds me a bit of my 62 C10. 60-66 C10's and 20's run those trailing arms too. They are being repopped now as well. I know LMC has them... @$100 each.

It would appear your set-up utilizes two panhard bars for centering... like the "newer" Caprices, etc.
Mine has the one long bar. I welded a threaded adjustment onto the end of my bar and it helps me with the lowered alignment.