I am just about done installing air bags on my 49 plymouth. Got a few questions before i buy my compressor and vavles. I am running firstone bags. Looking to buy vavles, compressor and plumbing supplies. Not looking to spend alot of money on an expessive air management system. What is a good setup 1 big compressor or 2 smaller compressors, 1 big tank or two smaller tanks big compressor with small tank or big tank what is a good compressor to use? what are good vavles to use? You get the idea.
One or two will both work fine.It just depends on how fast you want your tank to fill up and how big of a tank you have.For your tank it just depends on how much room you have. If space is limited then two smaller tanks are probably best.I would stick with viarr for compressors.Basically any valve will do,SMC's are the best i think,but they can be a bit pricey.But pretty much any valves will do.
It pretty much all comes down to your budget. A nice compromise between price/playtime is two smaller compressors and a medium size tank, say about 5 gallons. As far as brands you'll always find people who prefer one over the other. I love Viairs, i believe there's a reason they're the industry standard. They're also not too expensive, buy the best one you can afford. If you can save a little extra Viair even has 'two packs' where you get to compressors for a better price than if you bought them seperate. For valves, again, some people will swear by one brand and hate another. Personally i've had a couple SMC's stick, but i also know some people won't use anything else. On the next setup i'm doing i'm going with Parkers. People i know who have them love them, but i've also come across people who said they had them and got rid of them. In the end i think all the better, slightly more expensive valves are about on the same page. Just stay away from cheap stuff. My dad always told me i'm too poor to buy cheap. Replacing parts ****s!
check & see what suicidedoors.com has on special, they have good deals going on pretty often. I ordered from them a couple of times with no problems at all. I started off in my wagon with 8 valves, a 5 gallon tank and 1 airlift 450 compressor. Later I ended up adding another tank and running 2 Air Zenith compressors.
Cool. I am running firestone 25 bags, 3/8 line and a 7 gallon tank. Probably will only buy 4 vavles (front and back) They guys that are installing the bags suggest Viair 480C SMC valves 3 switches (1 front, 1 back, 1 both) 2 gauges Will basicly piece together a reiable simple and economical setup. Hopefully will be able to upgrade later without taking anything out. Any other suggestions??? Any help greatly appericated. Thanks.
That sounds like a good setup.The only problem with front and back is that it might set crooked when you get in it and you wont be able to level it.Also with that setup it allows the air from one side bag to transfer to the other side bag which will make it sway when you turn.
I would suggest running at least 6 valves and not just for the side to side play factor. The easiest way to explain why is with a demonstration i did for a friend. You hook two bags together with an airline and a t, then the third side of the t to a valve. Fill the bags with air. Then step on one bag and watch the other one rise. Basically if you're only running two valves for both front corners this is what your suspension is doing when you go around a turn. A lot of people want to save money so they only go with four valves, but body roll ****s and with just two more valves the left front and rite front will be separated and it will ride better. Its not the kinda thing that you're going to be unsafe with just front/back, but i also know that even though many of us intend to upgrade we usually don't ever really get around to doing it. So if its in the shop anyways, two more valves are what? Like an extra 100 bucks depending on where you get em.
Deifinitley do not T the front and rear and run them off the same valves. The lean will **** and your car will handle like ****. Also, don't get too big of a tank for not enough compressor. I wouldn't go over 5 gallons unless you are running a lot of compressors. I have a York belt driven (on the motor) on my Kaiser and it kicks the **** out of any electrid compressor. If you have the room on your motor I would go that route. A York is only like $100 for Auto Zone too. I am running a 12 gallon tank with 1/2" line and I can literally watch the needle rise on my air gauge, it makes a TON of air. You can't do that with an electric compressor...
basically all compressors are rated on a "duty cycle" basis, that rating per manufacturer is "realisticly" based on each compressor filling a 3 gallon or less tank, the harder a compressor has to work the shorter its life will be. Especially if the car is a bit on the heavy side, you need more pressure to achieve your desired ride height. It is a lot better to spend a few bucks more on a couple more compressors now than when you are stuck on the freeway somewhere pissed off and stranded......... Ans as for solenoid valves if your run 2 in the rear and 4 in the front you will be good to go, front to back is not the most desirable set up, but if you just add the 2 valves up front the "body roll" situation really isnt that bad.....oh and ford starter solenoids!!!! NO RELAYS!!!!!!!!
PM Kustombuilder. He's a dealer for Airlift and will set you up with what you need and no jackin around.
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