airbag suspension - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

dropped_71chevy · 09-30-2002, 01:14 PM

I want to lower my truck with 'bags and I'm not sure what would be the best setup and company to work with. I'm 16 and I have a 71 cheyenne with the 350/350 combo. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

73GMC · 09-30-2002, 02:28 PM

You can try Air Ride Technologies, great products.

www.airride.com

BaggedC10 · 10-01-2002, 12:55 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by 73GMC
You can try Air Ride Technologies, great products.

www.airride.com

I agree! ART is more expensive, but highly advanced compared to the competition in terms of design, durability, and reliability. Remember, you get what you pay for.

NSANE68!!! · 10-01-2002, 12:36 PM

Check me out too.

www.phatcustoms.com

guitarman · 10-01-2002, 04:28 PM

This a copy of what I posted on another site.

I just today got the front end aligned now all that's left is the a/c (that can wait until next spring. I've yet to paint it but it's sealed and drivable. I was begining to think there was no end to getting the thing ready to roll under it's own power again. I found myself riding down the road giggling to myself. My Chrysler a/c compressor works like a champ as an air compressor for the air ride system I made. If you research all the components you can bag your truck for less than you think.
#1. 4 bags @ $60.00 ea.
#2. 4 Solenoid air valves @ $90.00 ea.
#3. 2 50 amp (momentary SPDT off in the middle) switches @ $4.02 ea. [these switches perform exactly like power window switches]
#4. 1 used Chrysler rv2 a/c compressor with clutch and brackets @ $40.00 [salvage yard] (You must modify the brackets to fit a Chevy and remove the expansion valve)
#5. No brackets used for the rear 3600 lb. rated bags on the rear. (You have to drill some holes and they bolt on where the rear coils sat)
#6. Front bags 2500 lb. rated require 4 plates of 1/4" steel @ $10.00 from a scrapyard. One bolts to the lower control arm over the spring pocket and the other bolts over the spring pocket on the frame on each side. (Again you have to drill some holes)
#7. One used 4 gallon air compressor tank with control switch and safty 150 psi pop off valve. @ $35.00 (Went to a local place that services and repairs air compressors)
#8. 3 pressure gauges @ $11.00 ea. (one for the front and one for the rear and one for the holding tank)
#9. 22 Parker 3/8" air line fittings @ $5.00 ea. (average) and 40 ft. of DOT truck air brake hose @ $0.58 a foot.
#10 1 30 amp relay and an inline fuse holder about $5.50

The grand total if my math is correct is:

$864.74 adding a fudge factor of $35.26 for tax, wire, Adel-clamps, terminal connectors bumps it up to $900.00

$900.00 is way cheaper that those kits out there and guess what they don't give you Parker fittings or a compressor that can put 150 psi in your holding tank in 45 seconds from empty at idle. At three thousand rpm's it will fill the tank from 100 psi to 150 psi in less than 5 seconds.

Edit on 10-02-02: The above mentioned air valves are 300 psi

SCOTI · 10-01-2002, 06:48 PM

If you just get the 4-wheel installer kit from air-ride it's approx 900$. My truck doesn't need to air up in 3 seconds so the little 315 compressor works fine for me + no need to fabricate brackets to mount to the engine. I don't have time to run around town searching for all the little stuff so air-ride worked better for me + I've got warranty and/or tech help if needed since everything was purchased @ one location. If you can't do the fab work required for the a-arm/crossmember plates then they sell a kit for these trucks but I feel it's a little overpriced for the few brackets that are included.

jay-dawg · 10-01-2002, 06:58 PM

you can get those brackets from nsane68

Bagged72 · 10-01-2002, 11:02 PM

Hey guitarman, can you hook me up with some more information, and or pictures on your compressor set up? That sounds awesome. Thanks.

NSANE68!!! · 10-01-2002, 11:36 PM

I offer the complete kit for $1200+ S&H, taking all the guess work out of brackets drilling ect. My kit offers the ability of 4 wheel independent control (4valves & switches)

Kit includes
4-3/8 175psi valves
4- switches
2- dual needle gauges
1- single needle gauge
2- compressors
1- 6gal tank
1-120 on 150 off pressure switch
2- front bag mounts
40' of DOT 3/8" air line
40' of 1/4" DOT air line

This is a complete kit priced for the builder on a BUDGET! We've all been there and done that. LOL

guitarman · 10-02-2002, 10:26 AM

Nsane68, how can you fill and dump with only 4 valves and control all four corners? I have one fill for the front and one dump for the front. The same for the rear. I also have emergency shrader valves to fill the front and rear should something spring a leak at the tank or any valve should fail.

NSANE68!!! · 10-02-2002, 10:34 AM

3 position valve, one valve does up and down.

guitarman · 10-02-2002, 10:38 AM

Bagged72, I'll try to get some pictures up soon for you. In the mean time try this:

I used pieces of two by fours to shim up the correct placement of the old style Chrysler RV2 A/C compressor. I mounted it on the passenger side of the motor. That old cast iron thing is very heavy and thats why you must stack wood to get it lined up. After it's lined up you must fabricate some brackets to support it. The brackets do not have to move because if you get the A/C assembly from the Chrysler, Dodge or Plymouth it has a belt tensioner pully on the factory pump bracket. Do not forget to remove the expansion valve on the A/C pump it wont put out "doodly squat" with it in there.

guitarman · 10-02-2002, 10:47 AM

Nsane68, three position valves? That sounds very cool and I wish I had known about those sooner. I'd like to know where you get them and how much they cost. Please understand I'm not selling bag systems nor am I installing them for anyone. However my son has a Caprice Wagon and he wants me to bag it for him and doing all four corners would be a definite plus.

NSANE68!!! · 10-02-2002, 11:45 AM

www.phatcustoms.com under air suspension. The golds are 175psi and silver are 150psi.

guitarman · 10-02-2002, 12:54 PM

Thanks for the info Nsane68.

guitarman · 10-02-2002, 01:49 PM

Bagged72 here are the pictures I hope they help as you can't see much.

bag page

jay-dawg · 10-02-2002, 02:21 PM

any pics of the whole truck aired out?

jay

Bagged72 · 10-02-2002, 06:29 PM

Thanks for the pictures guitarman. One more question, what kind of cars does that particular compressor come on? Types and years would be great. I like the set up, and would like to do something similar. Thanks

guitarman · 10-02-2002, 07:21 PM

jay-dog, here are the pictures:

bag page

Bagged72, any Chrysler, Dodge or Plymouth from 64 thru 72 they may have come on even earlier year models or later models.

jay-dawg · 10-02-2002, 07:33 PM

whoah...pretty solid!!

jay

guitarman · 10-03-2002, 08:06 AM

Thanks for the praise Jay-Dawg. I hope to get it painted soon. I've still got some more body work to do and stripping the roof. I'm sort dreading the roof because it's so big. I'll probably use a DA sander with 40 grit because the previous owner painted the whole truck with enamel house paint and it's tough to get off.

nate68 · 10-03-2002, 10:56 AM

can you put a bigger picture of your kit? its nice to get a better visual. what are you doing with your 17's when you get your 20's?

10-02-2002, 10:34 AM	#11
NSANE68!!! SLICER AND DICIER Join Date: May 2001 Location: Quuen Creek Posts: 1,383	3 position valve, one valve does up and down. __________________ 01 Tahoe 22's 2/4 drop and tv's 68 chevy money pit 51 chevy belair 95 Honda 900RR 05 GMC Siearra (company truck)

10-02-2002, 10:38 AM	#12
guitarman Do it well or don't do it Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Georgia Posts: 457	Bagged72, I'll try to get some pictures up soon for you. In the mean time try this: I used pieces of two by fours to shim up the correct placement of the old style Chrysler RV2 A/C compressor. I mounted it on the passenger side of the motor. That old cast iron thing is very heavy and thats why you must stack wood to get it lined up. After it's lined up you must fabricate some brackets to support it. The brackets do not have to move because if you get the A/C assembly from the Chrysler, Dodge or Plymouth it has a belt tensioner pully on the factory pump bracket. Do not forget to remove the expansion valve on the A/C pump it wont put out "doodly squat" with it in there. __________________ Try to be the person your dog thinks you are. Excellent paint and body site: http://www.autobody101.com/ Visit my Web Site http://home.attbi.com/~agfosteriii

10-02-2002, 10:47 AM	#13
guitarman Do it well or don't do it Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Georgia Posts: 457	Nsane68, three position valves? That sounds very cool and I wish I had known about those sooner. I'd like to know where you get them and how much they cost. Please understand I'm not selling bag systems nor am I installing them for anyone. However my son has a Caprice Wagon and he wants me to bag it for him and doing all four corners would be a definite plus. __________________ Try to be the person your dog thinks you are. Excellent paint and body site: http://www.autobody101.com/ Visit my Web Site http://home.attbi.com/~agfosteriii

10-02-2002, 11:45 AM	#14
NSANE68!!! SLICER AND DICIER Join Date: May 2001 Location: Quuen Creek Posts: 1,383	www.phatcustoms.com under air suspension. The golds are 175psi and silver are 150psi. __________________ 01 Tahoe 22's 2/4 drop and tv's 68 chevy money pit 51 chevy belair 95 Honda 900RR 05 GMC Siearra (company truck)

10-02-2002, 12:54 PM	#15
guitarman Do it well or don't do it Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Georgia Posts: 457	Thanks for the info Nsane68. __________________ Try to be the person your dog thinks you are. Excellent paint and body site: http://www.autobody101.com/ Visit my Web Site http://home.attbi.com/~agfosteriii

09-30-2002, 01:14 PM	#1
dropped_71chevy Registered User Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Northern Colorado Posts: 198	airbag suspension I want to lower my truck with 'bags and I'm not sure what would be the best setup and company to work with. I'm 16 and I have a 71 cheyenne with the 350/350 combo. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

09-30-2002, 02:28 PM	#2
73GMC Proud American Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Great State of Texas, USA Posts: 97	air bags You can try Air Ride Technologies, great products. www.airride.com

10-01-2002, 12:36 PM	#4
NSANE68!!! SLICER AND DICIER Join Date: May 2001 Location: Quuen Creek Posts: 1,383	Check me out too. www.phatcustoms.com __________________ 01 Tahoe 22's 2/4 drop and tv's 68 chevy money pit 51 chevy belair 95 Honda 900RR 05 GMC Siearra (company truck)

10-01-2002, 04:28 PM	#5
guitarman Do it well or don't do it Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Georgia Posts: 457	This a copy of what I posted on another site. I just today got the front end aligned now all that's left is the a/c (that can wait until next spring. I've yet to paint it but it's sealed and drivable. I was begining to think there was no end to getting the thing ready to roll under it's own power again. I found myself riding down the road giggling to myself. My Chrysler a/c compressor works like a champ as an air compressor for the air ride system I made. If you research all the components you can bag your truck for less than you think. #1. 4 bags @ $60.00 ea. #2. 4 Solenoid air valves @ $90.00 ea. #3. 2 50 amp (momentary SPDT off in the middle) switches @ $4.02 ea. [these switches perform exactly like power window switches] #4. 1 used Chrysler rv2 a/c compressor with clutch and brackets @ $40.00 [salvage yard] (You must modify the brackets to fit a Chevy and remove the expansion valve) #5. No brackets used for the rear 3600 lb. rated bags on the rear. (You have to drill some holes and they bolt on where the rear coils sat) #6. Front bags 2500 lb. rated require 4 plates of 1/4" steel @ $10.00 from a scrapyard. One bolts to the lower control arm over the spring pocket and the other bolts over the spring pocket on the frame on each side. (Again you have to drill some holes) #7. One used 4 gallon air compressor tank with control switch and safty 150 psi pop off valve. @ $35.00 (Went to a local place that services and repairs air compressors) #8. 3 pressure gauges @ $11.00 ea. (one for the front and one for the rear and one for the holding tank) #9. 22 Parker 3/8" air line fittings @ $5.00 ea. (average) and 40 ft. of DOT truck air brake hose @ $0.58 a foot. #10 1 30 amp relay and an inline fuse holder about $5.50 The grand total if my math is correct is: $864.74 adding a fudge factor of $35.26 for tax, wire, Adel-clamps, terminal connectors bumps it up to $900.00 $900.00 is way cheaper that those kits out there and guess what they don't give you Parker fittings or a compressor that can put 150 psi in your holding tank in 45 seconds from empty at idle. At three thousand rpm's it will fill the tank from 100 psi to 150 psi in less than 5 seconds. Edit on 10-02-02: The above mentioned air valves are 300 psi __________________ Try to be the person your dog thinks you are. Excellent paint and body site: http://www.autobody101.com/ Visit my Web Site http://home.attbi.com/~agfosteriii Last edited by guitarman; 10-02-2002 at 10:15 AM.

10-01-2002, 06:48 PM	#6
SCOTI Registered User Join Date: Apr 2001 Location: DALLAS,TX Posts: 21,915	If you just get the 4-wheel installer kit from air-ride it's approx 900$. My truck doesn't need to air up in 3 seconds so the little 315 compressor works fine for me + no need to fabricate brackets to mount to the engine. I don't have time to run around town searching for all the little stuff so air-ride worked better for me + I've got warranty and/or tech help if needed since everything was purchased @ one location. If you can't do the fab work required for the a-arm/crossmember plates then they sell a kit for these trucks but I feel it's a little overpriced for the few brackets that are included. __________________ 67SWB-B.B.RetroRod 64SWB-Recycle 89CCDually-Driver/Tow Truck 99CCSWB Driver All Fleetsides @rattlecankustoms in IG Building a small, high rpm engine with the perfect bore, stroke and rod ratio is very impressive. It's like a highly skilled Morrocan sword fighter with a Damascus Steel Scimitar..... *Cubic inches is like Indiana Jones with a cheap pistol.*

10-01-2002, 06:58 PM	#7
jay-dawg chevelito Join Date: Jun 2001 Location: Honolulu, HI USA Posts: 1,609	you can get those brackets from nsane68 __________________ New deadline...when my son can drive. Aloha from Honolulu, HI

10-01-2002, 11:02 PM	#8
Bagged72 Registered User Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Saint Paul Minnesota Posts: 53	Hey guitarman, can you hook me up with some more information, and or pictures on your compressor set up? That sounds awesome. Thanks. __________________ 72 Chevy Longbed. Being bagged and shaved. To be Completed by Carcraft 03

10-01-2002, 11:36 PM	#9
NSANE68!!! SLICER AND DICIER Join Date: May 2001 Location: Quuen Creek Posts: 1,383	I offer the complete kit for $1200+ S&H, taking all the guess work out of brackets drilling ect. My kit offers the ability of 4 wheel independent control (4valves & switches) Kit includes 4-3/8 175psi valves 4- switches 2- dual needle gauges 1- single needle gauge 2- compressors 1- 6gal tank 1-120 on 150 off pressure switch 2- front bag mounts 40' of DOT 3/8" air line 40' of 1/4" DOT air line This is a complete kit priced for the builder on a BUDGET! We've all been there and done that. LOL __________________ 01 Tahoe 22's 2/4 drop and tv's 68 chevy money pit 51 chevy belair 95 Honda 900RR 05 GMC Siearra (company truck)

10-02-2002, 10:26 AM	#10
guitarman Do it well or don't do it Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Georgia Posts: 457	Nsane68, how can you fill and dump with only 4 valves and control all four corners? I have one fill for the front and one dump for the front. The same for the rear. I also have emergency shrader valves to fill the front and rear should something spring a leak at the tank or any valve should fail. __________________ Try to be the person your dog thinks you are. Excellent paint and body site: http://www.autobody101.com/ Visit my Web Site http://home.attbi.com/~agfosteriii

10-02-2002, 01:49 PM	#16
guitarman Do it well or don't do it Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Georgia Posts: 457	Bagged72 here are the pictures I hope they help as you can't see much. bag page __________________ Try to be the person your dog thinks you are. Excellent paint and body site: http://www.autobody101.com/ Visit my Web Site http://home.attbi.com/~agfosteriii Last edited by guitarman; 10-02-2002 at 01:52 PM.



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10-02-2002, 02:21 PM	#17
jay-dawg chevelito Join Date: Jun 2001 Location: Honolulu, HI USA Posts: 1,609	any pics of the whole truck aired out? jay __________________ New deadline...when my son can drive. Aloha from Honolulu, HI

10-02-2002, 06:29 PM	#18
Bagged72 Registered User Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Saint Paul Minnesota Posts: 53	Thanks for the pictures guitarman. One more question, what kind of cars does that particular compressor come on? Types and years would be great. I like the set up, and would like to do something similar. Thanks __________________ 72 Chevy Longbed. Being bagged and shaved. To be Completed by Carcraft 03

10-02-2002, 07:21 PM	#19
guitarman Do it well or don't do it Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Georgia Posts: 457	jay-dog, here are the pictures: bag page Bagged72, any Chrysler, Dodge or Plymouth from 64 thru 72 they may have come on even earlier year models or later models. __________________ Try to be the person your dog thinks you are. Excellent paint and body site: http://www.autobody101.com/ Visit my Web Site http://home.attbi.com/~agfosteriii

10-02-2002, 07:33 PM	#20
jay-dawg chevelito Join Date: Jun 2001 Location: Honolulu, HI USA Posts: 1,609	whoah...pretty solid!! jay __________________ New deadline...when my son can drive. Aloha from Honolulu, HI

10-03-2002, 08:06 AM	#21
guitarman Do it well or don't do it Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Georgia Posts: 457	Thanks for the praise Jay-Dawg. I hope to get it painted soon. I've still got some more body work to do and stripping the roof. I'm sort dreading the roof because it's so big. I'll probably use a DA sander with 40 grit because the previous owner painted the whole truck with enamel house paint and it's tough to get off. __________________ Try to be the person your dog thinks you are. Excellent paint and body site: http://www.autobody101.com/ Visit my Web Site http://home.attbi.com/~agfosteriii

10-03-2002, 10:56 AM	#22
nate68 Registered User Join Date: Jan 2000 Location: ca Posts: 1,110	can you put a bigger picture of your kit? its nice to get a better visual. what are you doing with your 17's when you get your 20's? __________________ 68 short step, 406/700r4, 9" w/discs.

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