I've been thinking about putting air bags on my car. It's a 1958 chevy delray. I put lowered coils on it, but now it's a little too low...I can't make it back up the driveway. So far I've collected: 2 three gallon tanks 1 3/4 HP compressor 4 bags 1 pressure switch 1 valve housing/ 4 manual valves switches I know I still have to collect the hoses, but my question now is installing the bags. 1. do i remove the springs? 2. do i use different shocks? 3. brackets for the bags? Brackets: DOES ANYONE HAVE EXPERIENCE, OR A TEMPLATE FOR MAKING THE AIR BAG BRACKETS FOR THIS CAR? MAYBE SOMEWHERE TO PURCHASE PRE-FAB BRACKETS.
i have pictures some were when i did my 59 chevy. we removed the spring, plated the arm, added a 5 inch long tube welded to the frame cup with a plate on the bottom of it to bolt the bag to. we used stock shock they worked pretty well
ride tech makes a kit for your car http://www.ridetech.com/store/suspension-systems/coolride/1958-1964-chevy-coolride-front-system.html
Yes you replace the springs with the bags You'll want to get shocks that have a longer travel to them depending on your ride height. You can make you own, buy universal ones or like Stan said buy the kit.
There are plenty of companies that have brackets for the 58 Chevy that are much less expensive then Ridetech and work much better too. Mine are only $85.00 per axle and mount Slam Bags. Next is you will need at least 6 seperate valves but 8 are better or 1 valve block for 4 wheels. The reason you need more valves is 1 to inflate the bag and 1 to deflate it. The reason you should have 6 or 8 valves instead of 4 is air shifting between bags. If you only have 4 valves (2 per axle) then when you make a turn the car will lean to one side because the air will shift between the bags and yet the pressure will stay the same making the car ride crooked. By having 4 valves in the front (1 per wheel) that eliminates the air shift and the car will ride straight. You remove the coil springs and shocks in front then replace them with the air bags attached to thier brackets with the air line run to the bag. You can use the stock shocks in back but you will need a shock relocator kit and shorter shocks in front. I sell the components and I am installing the products on my own 58 Chevy. If you have any questions my number is on my website linked below.
Del, couple questions. One is: will a wagon get as low in the back as a car will? My wishbone (or whatever it is called) seems to bottom on the floor when some Imps seem to look lower. And two, how much for a kit on the rear of my wagon? Thanks!
I just sold my 64 SS that layed frame on air,long before that it wasjust bagged and not all cut up so I have tons of great info on the 58-64 impalas..you do not need different shocks the stock rear ones work great,as for front I never had them nor do most other people...coolcar or cce has a great bracket set that bolts in..both front and rear!!! You want to use 2600 bags ...suicidedoors.com had deals all the time..they won't rub and you will get all useable lift POSSIBLE AND ALL DROP OF COURSE...I to all the rubber bump stops out with no problems on any of my impalas....I can just go on and on and on with this stuff if you have any questions pm and ill give you my cell# I. Have tons of time spent on these cars can give lots of good advice...tubular lower arms will get you laying frame in font and I know where to get the dirt cheap CB
all good advice...like most of us I don't have a lot of $ to buy a bolt on complete kit. Im purchasing, bartering, and trading for parts as I go.
i had a 58 2dr wagon. i always wanted to bag it. easy to do. when laying frame, mods will have to be done. a different upper link can be made fairly easily. having the split drive shaft will help as far as hitting tunnel goes...
i've got a ridetech system and i'm happy with it. i guess laying frame depends on your interpretation. i can grind the crap out of asphalt with the front crossmember if i want but the rockers or quarters don't sit on the ground. i have tubular arms with bags ,self leveling and 8 valves as described. i do run shocks all around but have driven with and without and there's not much difference. the front shock is justa regular monroe shock if you need the number let me know also the size of your tires can make a difference but i dont see how you could make the rockers hit without lowering the body
did you guys have any issues with the exhaust needing to be move or getting squished when you drop it all the way down??
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