Register now to get rid of these ads!

Raising the front end with Air Shocks?

Discussion in 'The Hokey Ass Message Board' started by HotRod28AR, Jul 18, 2011.

  1. Looking to get the nose of a drag car I'm working on up in the air as much as possible (late 60's Ford, to be vague for the sake of this forum). If I put a set of air shocks in the front and fill them up all the way, how much will it raise the car? I've never used air shocks before. Thanks,
    -Dean
     
  2. 460 willy
    Joined: Nov 2, 2005
    Posts: 249

    460 willy
    Member
    from wisconsin

    I all depends how long the air shocks are when they are filled up all the way and how long the shocks are at ride height. But it will most likley drive and ride like $hit
     
  3. Not what air shocks are designed for, nor the right way to lift a front end. Without knowing the model of 60's Ford, are you sure you can even get air shocks on the front. Many Fords of that era have the shock inside the coil so I don't think you fill be able to fit them.
     
  4. monsterflake
    Joined: May 13, 2003
    Posts: 3,763

    monsterflake
    Member

    early mini-truckers used air shocks for height adjustment, just be prepared to do some fab work...

    (i'm not saying it's a good idea)
     
  5. Ebbsspeed
    Joined: Nov 11, 2005
    Posts: 6,441

    Ebbsspeed
    ALLIANCE MEMBER

    I'm not sure this is a good idea. As stated, if you fill them up all the way, you're gonna have a really bad handling car. Plus shock mounts are usually not heavy enough to take a lot of the weight that the springs should be supporting, so you'll have to work that out. You said you've never used air shocks before. This is definitely not the appropriate application to start using them.
     
  6. It's a '68 Mustang Fastback C/Stock Automatic, all period correct with a 428CJ. I could just try a bunch of coil spring jacks, they have worked in the past. Any other ideas??
    -Dean
     
  7. Order a longer set of proper coils from Eaton Detroit Spring
    www.eatonsprings.com
    Tell them what you wish to do and they will custom twist a pair for you.
     
  8. I don't think you'll get an air shock inthere

    X2
     
  9. Clik
    Joined: Jul 1, 2009
    Posts: 1,969

    Clik
    Member

    What's a period correct Mustang 428CJ worth? You didn't say numbers matching but if it is, are you sure you want to go hacking something like that up?
     
  10. Von Rigg Fink
    Joined: Jun 11, 2007
    Posts: 13,401

    Von Rigg Fink
    Member
    from Garage

    wont this throw your steering geometry off a bit? I dont think you can keep in adjustment going from full up to full down with out it messing up some alignment issues

    Im thinking bad idea

    do it right or stay in the beer drinking chair
     
  11. tommy
    Joined: Mar 3, 2001
    Posts: 14,757

    tommy
    Member Emeritus

    One thing for sure they never used air shocks on the front in that period.
     
  12. roddinron
    Joined: May 24, 2006
    Posts: 2,676

    roddinron
    Member

    Don't do it. I know a guy who tried it once, and every time he hit the throttle, or a bump in the road, the front end would shoot up. He said it was down right dangerous, especially if that bump was in a turn or something.
     
  13. A correct C/SA car with a 428CJ and you want to Mickey Mouse it? What a shame. :eek:
     
  14. R Frederick
    Joined: Mar 30, 2009
    Posts: 2,658

    R Frederick
    Member
    from illinois

    I'm thinking if you air them up, you're going to bounce the front end right off the road with you following.
     
  15. x3.
     
  16. vegas
    Joined: Feb 6, 2008
    Posts: 269

    vegas
    Member

    This sounds like a really scary, bad idea. I'm sure there are some aftermarket front drag race springs for this application that would do what you want. I have used a set of Eibach drag springs in the front of an O/T Mustang, and it raised the front up a pretty good amount, and still handled safely, and I put a set of Moroso springs in a friend's car that did the same thing.
     
  17. dean
    Pull the spring and put a spacer on top of it like a NASCAR spring spacer. I know there is another name for them I just can't think if it. It is a round rubber donut looking thingy. You know what I mean right?

    Cal Custom used to make them for raising coil spring cars.

    Or you could get yourself a set of 90/10 uplock shocks. then when it comes up it will stay up for awhile.

    Actually Dean,
    I have been thinking about it. Why not set it up like the maalco gasser. It didn't set up very high at all and was extremly competative. If anything it was dropped in the rrear more than raised in the front.
     
    Last edited: Jul 18, 2011
  18. chronisterracing
    Joined: Feb 27, 2010
    Posts: 139

    chronisterracing
    Member
    from N.Il.

    Seeing how it is a drag car I would pull the springs and go to a race shop and havde them rated then increase the rate say 100# or 200# this will increase the ride height then put some shocks on the front with a stiff compression and some rear shocks with soft compression and adjustable rebound so you can adjust the rebound. But to warn you if you get the front up and not sitting back down you will lose SPEED and handling the lower to the ground the better downforce, areo drag and speed. the higher the worse for all of the above.
     
  19. csimonds
    Joined: Jul 24, 2009
    Posts: 546

    csimonds
    Member

    Dean, there is a cat on Ebay who sells the alluminum blocks that go on top of the springs, I had them on the 67 Galaxie. I think even Jegs or Summit sell them now.
    Chuck
     
  20. What are trying to accomplish? Weight transfer? Ground clearance for dirt roads? Poser car? Why do you want to do this? I'm sort of puzzled...
     
  21. Re: Raising the front end with Air Shocks?

    NO
     
  22. What about all these air bag types ....that would be the same issue concerning front end geo.right?
     
  23. brad chevy
    Joined: Nov 22, 2009
    Posts: 2,627

    brad chevy
    Member

    With that heavy of a front end you will probably end up in the wall if you rig airshocks on the front.Go with the blocks so we can at least hear it from you how it helped or hindered the performance of the car.
     
  24. czuch
    Joined: Sep 23, 2008
    Posts: 2,688

    czuch
    Member
    from vail az

    Poser car,,,,,,ahahahahah
    Ever have an air shock blow the line??
    I'm thinkin right after launch would be real uncool.
    I had a real cool 68 Olds cutlass when I was real cool in the Navy. A bunch of the guys and I were going to the mountains and we popped a shock line and stopped real fast when my real cool Cutlass landed on the tires that stuck out.
    That was real cool in the 70's.
    I stopped I-40 just east of Albuquerque in Tejeras pass.
    The cop didnt think we were real cool, but he couldnt stop laughin.
     
  25. propwash
    Joined: Jul 25, 2005
    Posts: 3,857

    propwash
    Member
    from Las Vegas

    your suspension is going to be SO out of whack if you do any significant spring-jacking. I ran a 67 fastback with same engine you have (not OEM obviously). I merely installed a set of 90/10 shocks in front and a pair of Ansen Groundgrabbers on the rear along with a decent pair of slicks and I had all the weight transfer I needed and it always launched well. If you're just going for a jacked up look...stop now while you still have some respect in here.

    dj
     

Share This Page

Register now to get rid of these ads!

Archive

Copyright © 1995-2021 The Jalopy Journal: Steal our stuff, we'll kick your teeth in. Terms of Service. Privacy Policy.

Atomic Industry
Forum software by XenForo™ ©2010-2014 XenForo Ltd.