to choptvan...wood blocks hardcore? dude my truck is the most dependable car i have ever seen. i said JUST IN CASE SOMETHING HAPPENDS I CARRY BLOCKS. I have been draggin that truck all over the place. doesnt matter i guess since it just got hit today. and erock805 is right once its bagged everythign is to high. and 1500 in parts alone is about right as well
Don't forget the shocks. Some say that they run just fine without them. Trust me, luck is not a survival plan and failure to understand the laws of physics does not make you immune to them.
What you need to do is start making some real, in person friends... you can only do so much on-line. Attend some shows, meet some people and start networking with them... sooner or later you'l find the help you need to get done what you need. There are tons of Chicagoland HAMB'ers here...
Another think to think about is what compressor you are going to run. In 3 cars I ran Viair 450 compressors, sometimes 2 of them. They work great, but take a decent amount of juice to run. On my chevy I have an engine driven compressor. Its quieter, and fills the tank 10 times faster. BUT the car has to be on to fill the tanks. Just look for a York compressor from a late 70s to early 80s Volvo. You can find them cheap. I got 4 of them for free from a Volvo guy that was cleaning shop. Plus with minor maintenance, they run forever.
Travisty... Sign up here: http://www.chromeczars.com/board/index.php Lots of knowledgeable Chicagoland guys there who can help you out right in your back yard. If you are looking for a shop to do it, I'd be wary. There are a LOT of hacks out there. I'd meet up with some locals and learn as much as you can. Some of the air ride kits are literally bolt ons now. Maybe there is something like that you could do?
I personally like air ride on a custom. My coupe is bagged best in the 8th is a 6.70 ran 151 in the mile running the wrong gear. What I am trying to say is it not only rides wonderfully it performs great for me. Also I would not drive a vehicle with out shocks.
Youre right. the internet has taught me a ton but i obviously need the hands on help. Thriller: awesome car, looks great. Thirtyfivepickup: thanks for the link im gunna look into that site right now. thanks guys.
no problem choptvan, no worries, we are all brothers here. sorry if i was a bit quik on the response.im not here to upset any fellas, im just here to learn and make freinds. the truck will be okay, hopefully goes into the body shop soon...lady rear ended me while i was stopped at a red light.
What about RideTech? Their stuff seems to be a bit pricier than some of the others I've seen, but is it a "get what you pay for" situation, or is it just hype? My neighbor purchased all RideTech components for his '61 Impala, and recommended the same stuff for my '50 Chevy truck. Is it over kill? About $3,000 for the whole set up. edit to add: I cannot find anything online concerning the popular and often mentioned kustombuilder airlift air ride suspension dealer
Kustombuilder is his H.A.M.B. handle, and I would assume that you could contact him directly, via PM, on this.
if u were closer i would gladly help you out ive bagged about 5 cars now ... my galaxie was the first i did on my own, and ive worked on 4 since for friends or people that drop me a lil cash... ive learned a LOT since the galaxie install, and if i stlil owned the galaxie i would redo most all of it... good luck if this is the path you choose... ill drop a vote in for fluid..
Thanks Todd, i really appreciate the offer. I do plan on going this route now and am going to try to do as much as I can with whoever will help me. Im less interested in taking it to a shop. and thanks to this thread i think ive found the bags i want to buy. but thank again.
I'd like to hear the detail. Did the car go into a spin or do something cool? Hope u can laugh at in now.
if you want the same parts as suicidedoors.com and want to pay less and not wait weeks/months for your parts, then send me a PM and I'll hook you up
Another alternative for consideration - On my 63 merc I did air bags for the rear on top the leaf springs, after removing a few springs. I get about 3-4 inches of travel from up/down. For the front coils, I had my NAPA friend look up spring rating and height for stock springs, then find something similar in rating, but shorter in height. Lowered the front about 2-3 inches and rides great. Of course you'll need to consider shock travel based upon travel of springs up front or bags in back.
i have about $500-$600 total in a complete fbss air ride setup. all quality parts were used. i got some stuff off craigslist and the rest from newmatics
you guys should look up on board air no more messing with little pumps that take forever to fill up the tank my compressor will fill my tank in like 40 secs plus i went to a pick a part junk yard and got this shit for $13 look it up on youtube onboardair
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