Can a car be bagged for under $1000???

I am in the process of purchasing a 62 Buick Lesaber. (waiting for it to get here from NY) I want to get hack'n on it right away before winter sets in. I want to slam the car down on the ground, and air bags seem to be the best way to get it as low as I want and still able to drive it comfortably. I just sold a 62 Bel Air that had a Air Ride Technologies Cool Ride system installed by the previous owner, and I loved the way it sat and drove.

So, My question is... has anyone peiced together and airbag system and installed it themselves for under $1000. The parts all seem relitively simple and available. I am pretty good with a wrench and not bad at fabrication. I am just trying to avoid going out and buying a "kit" from Air Ride. On the other hand I dont want it to be an unsafe "hack job"... I want the car to sit on the ground for as little $ as possible without cutting corners.

I considered heating the coils to get it down on the ground, but this car will see alot of drive time. And I'm not sure that will get it as low as I want it to go, and not screw up the steering and suspension geometry.

Ideas and suggestions appreciated.

Dan

 

if you do it yourself, i'm sure it can be done for that much. i've seen kits you can buy from a little over $1000 that includes everything you need except for a 2-link or whatever. i hear Slam Specialties airbags are really good.

 

www.suicidedoors.com


they have good prices and nice stuff

 

If you make your own brackets and convert an old A/C compressor to an engine driven air compressor you can definitly come in at a grand. Just be sure to use DOT line. It seams like people think using anything but that saves money...

 

No!

 

mine was bagged for 1k

 

I seriosly doubt it if your using good parts and fittings and want a fast set up.

What do you want it to do?

How fast do you want it to go up and down?

Do you want to be able to adjust all four corners?

 

Yea it can be done but it depends on how much work your willing to do your self and how good you are at scrounging for stuff. Check the swapmeets for stuff and your buddies. I've got a damn near whole setup from one of my buddies for way less than a grand but I'm going to have to build my own brackets. Plus mine is just a 3/8 line set up instead of the fast 1/2 or 3/4 inch setups. But I'm just looking for smooth when my car goes down not teeth jarring.

 

super notch in the back with a "universal" triangulated 4 link
299.00

camaro sub frame
100.00 (i didnt have to pay for mine as i own a salvage yard too but that is going price for one)

bags
140.00

3/4 hp compressor
215.00

dump manifold
150.00

misc plates and brackets machined by myself
0.00

and i will throw in an extra 100. for misc wire/ connectors/ solenoid..etc etc

1004.00 total

and mine is in no way "half ***ed" or ****ty equipment. the only time you spend stupid money on a kit is when you dont know what the **** your doing and actually buy a "kit" buy what you NEED a kit comes with alot of stupid ****.

and mine is just as fast as the rest of them. im running 1/2 line all the way. its fast its great rides like a ****ing cloud!!!!!

 

and Dan ,

you can do it even cheaper than i did cuz you wont need a triangulated 4 link. you got stock rear trailing arms.

your car will be cake walk, PM me i will walk you through it. don't listen to the haters!

 

I would like to know where i can get for bags for 35.00 each and misc wire/ connectors/ solenoid..etc etc for 100.00? does the etc etc includes fittings and air line?

 

Ditto....

 

If I could do it again on my Rambler, I'd have custom springs wound. You can get plenty low that way and still have a good ride. Cheaper and less headaches too.

 

bags from ch***is tech, 2600 up front. and 2500 out back.


last time i was at pamona a month ago or so, there were all kinds of guys selling em for like 30-35-40 a piece new unused

 

what about the rest of this GRSMNKY?

 

Fittings and lines are cheap, if you buy "what you need"
see most companies sell you a bunch of **** you dont need, like a fire extinguisher??????? anytime i have done a bag install im stuck with lots of extra ****. solenoids from the parts store 6 bucks a piece....blah blah

if you guys need help with parts i can do what i can for you, no problem

 

I understand what your saying, i was just wondering where you get all these CHEAP prices and what it was that your getting for that price.

 

For bags and cheap parts - pick up the trucking magazines (truckin, mini truckin or whatever) - they've got complete kits listed for like $799 (or was it $899) with bags, DOT lines, solenoids, compressor, small tank, switch box, brackets, c-notch, and front circle plates. A little welding and basic fab work and you should be good to go...

 

i buy alot of stuff from ch***is tech in phx but im a dealer, although prices arent that different from retail

 

suicide doors is a really good shop with good prices... They are really good to there customers and will do anything for them.. you can do the whole setup for cheap money, but it all depends on the kind of stuff you want... What about just baggin the back and drop the front some?? That would be even cheaper... Just my 2 cents... Nate

 

just don't buy from AIM. i've heard shady things about ch***is tech. you can get bags, valves, etc. just about anywhere. tons of people rave about suicidedoors.com as far as bracketry, link setups, etc. goes.

 

Thank's for the input, I may just go the custom spring route and now worry about the bags... I want the car low, but dont want it to drive like a dump truck either, so i'm considering bags. I checked out a few of the sites you guys recommended and looks like it "could" be done for under $1k, depending on how fast I want the system. I found the complete brackets for my car, for $109 a pair.

I was really happy w/ the bag set up on my bel air. I sold it b/c I wanted something that I had less money in, so I found a great deal on a super nice 62 buick. The car is an all original 40k mile 2dr LeSaber. The only way to make the grandma car look cool is to lay it as low as possible, so i'm just considering my options with out blowing the bank account.

Dan

Below is a photochop pic of what I hope it to look like...

 

never had problems with aim (ch***is tech) with the products at least.

i think ch***is techs biggest problem is that they target a younger crowd that think they know what they are doing, and make alot of mistakes and blame it on the company.
i have NEVER had failure or problems from any product i have gotten from them. aside from pressure switches. but thats my own fault. and i can admit it. and we do LOTS of bags

 

This was Bagged for about $1000 in parts, which was 4 Firestone bags, 4 solenoids, the Lines, Pump and Tank. I did not use a kit but instead made my own "C" notch and platted my "A" arms.

 

Ive never done any airbag stuff from them because ive had such negative experience with other products they sell. Maybe they have fixed it by now that was 6 years ago.
You have it right about tageting the younger audience also.

 

i got my kit here,
http://store.gaugemagazine.com/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWPROD&ProdID=1751

and the brackets and what not i have made so far.

 

https://www.jpkustoms.com/catalog/product_info.php?cPath=22&products_id=428&osCsid=6b269ebcea76a9f5715ee5bc897a9b36

This is the kit I just bought. The only thing missing was a gauge. If Ray jumps in this thread he can comment on this kit because he is the one installing it. It's pretty quick.

 

Ch***is Tech is AIM is ****.
Do you think the thousands of tractor trailers are rolling AIM bags? wonder why? cause it is ****. horror stories all over the internet. they are using firestone so therefore Ill use firestone. cheap peace of mind. Do what you want, but Caveat Emptor.

Go with suicide doors for bags and solenoids. If you need to buy (cant fab)the brackets etc. he is cheap and it it is quality, not made in china shAIM ****. I got dot hose and dot fittings from a local hydraulic/industrial hose place, a Truck mechanic told me about them, but if you look for in the phone book I'm sure you can find one local. Fittings were about 25% what I would have paid from a bag supplier, but were still quality dot fittings not home depot plumbing ****. There is lots of money to be saved by doing your homework, just don't buy **** just to save a buck.
Ryan

 

Anyone that buys anything from Ch***is Tech or AIM are fools. No offence, but their products are anything BUT quality.

And to the genius that posted his prices for his less then a grand kit, airline sells for 50 cents a foot. Your NOT gonna get airline AND fittings for 100 bucks, theres no way. Also, there are no valves in your setup. What the hell is a dump manifold? Manifold valves, if for a f/b setup, will cost more then a buckfiddy unless you buy used. No guages? No shocks? Your only rolling on half of a suspension system if thats the case.

 

As for suicidedoors.com, I have been selling his brackets and using nothing but his parts ( when I cant make my own ) at Crash customs. I have known jason for years, 5 years BEFORE he ever thought about running and operating such a huge company like suicidedoors.com. He is not in it for the money as much as customer satisfaction, if he ****s up an order he will make it up 10 fold. Every have questions about his products and want a fast answer, pm me or call and ask for RICKY or JASON.