Post by basher on Apr 2, 2007 23:09:49 GMT -5
Hey All,
So neccesity is the mother of invention. The guy before me cut my front coils and left about a 1/2" of travel, so my choices were new springs or something different. I chose something different.
Disclaimer: I am not a professional engineer, fabricator, etc. Just an unfrozen caveman hot rodder that is willing to try. We shall see how this all holds up. I have done air springs in the past and have had good luck, so I dont expect too much trouble.
Here are some pics to get the ball rolling.
I started with some cardboard templates and found that the spring pocet wasn't quite deep enough, so I designed the spring-mounting plates with a 1" offset to the outside of the car.
When I pulled the coils out I found that the top coil pocket would be perfect to weld into the top bracket. My coils measured 11" from the A-arm to the top of the pocket. Knowing that thy had been cut, and that I liked the stance, I started there. I used Firestone airsprings that are 4" fully deflatedand 8" fully inflated. I figured that my ride height would be with the springs at 6" so i used 5" schedule 40 water pipe for spacers.
This is what it looks like on the bench. Actually the picture is wrong. The stock spring pocket that is on top has a taper to it, and the higher side goes to the outside of the car.
Here it is mocked up. The shock tower is out of a mid-70's F-100. They are the same as early Bronco's except they are riveted into the Bronco's; the F-100's unbolt. The lower mount is custom and bolts to the lower A-arm.
Here are the parts on the floor after paint.
Here they are assembled.
Here they are in the car.
All-in-all it was pretty easy and I am happy to answer any questions. I jsut ran a screader valve (like a tire valve) up to the front of the car under the hood. I will install a compressor and interior controls later; I just wanted to get it back on the road. Due to some other issues, I haven't driven it but around the block a few times. I am running at about 65psi and the fender lip hovers just over the sidewall of the tire where I like it. It is a hell of a lot nicer than before. It is squishy, but that is what I was going for; to be a cruiser, not a Max-G ride. I will comment on it more after I have driven it more.
I have made complete CAD files of the brackets I made if anyone is interested. Here is a breakdown of the parts:
Firestone Airsprings - PN 26C-7325 = $75ea on eBay
Monroe Gas-Matic Shocks - PN 55801 = $21.99ea at Sears
F-100 Shock Towers - PN D6TA-18A009-AA (Left)
D6TA-18035-AA (Right) = Free from brother
Lasercut Plates = $12ea from buddy at lasercutter (lumped in with other order)
Hose and fittings = $30 from local hose and fitting supplier
5" Pipe = $10/foot (need about a foot)
Not bad!
There are more pics on Photobucket. Here is a link
s149.photobucket.com/albums/s66/mbasher/Airbags/
Take care.
So neccesity is the mother of invention. The guy before me cut my front coils and left about a 1/2" of travel, so my choices were new springs or something different. I chose something different.
Disclaimer: I am not a professional engineer, fabricator, etc. Just an unfrozen caveman hot rodder that is willing to try. We shall see how this all holds up. I have done air springs in the past and have had good luck, so I dont expect too much trouble.
Here are some pics to get the ball rolling.
I started with some cardboard templates and found that the spring pocet wasn't quite deep enough, so I designed the spring-mounting plates with a 1" offset to the outside of the car.
When I pulled the coils out I found that the top coil pocket would be perfect to weld into the top bracket. My coils measured 11" from the A-arm to the top of the pocket. Knowing that thy had been cut, and that I liked the stance, I started there. I used Firestone airsprings that are 4" fully deflatedand 8" fully inflated. I figured that my ride height would be with the springs at 6" so i used 5" schedule 40 water pipe for spacers.
This is what it looks like on the bench. Actually the picture is wrong. The stock spring pocket that is on top has a taper to it, and the higher side goes to the outside of the car.
Here it is mocked up. The shock tower is out of a mid-70's F-100. They are the same as early Bronco's except they are riveted into the Bronco's; the F-100's unbolt. The lower mount is custom and bolts to the lower A-arm.
Here are the parts on the floor after paint.
Here they are assembled.
Here they are in the car.
All-in-all it was pretty easy and I am happy to answer any questions. I jsut ran a screader valve (like a tire valve) up to the front of the car under the hood. I will install a compressor and interior controls later; I just wanted to get it back on the road. Due to some other issues, I haven't driven it but around the block a few times. I am running at about 65psi and the fender lip hovers just over the sidewall of the tire where I like it. It is a hell of a lot nicer than before. It is squishy, but that is what I was going for; to be a cruiser, not a Max-G ride. I will comment on it more after I have driven it more.
I have made complete CAD files of the brackets I made if anyone is interested. Here is a breakdown of the parts:
Firestone Airsprings - PN 26C-7325 = $75ea on eBay
Monroe Gas-Matic Shocks - PN 55801 = $21.99ea at Sears
F-100 Shock Towers - PN D6TA-18A009-AA (Left)
D6TA-18035-AA (Right) = Free from brother
Lasercut Plates = $12ea from buddy at lasercutter (lumped in with other order)
Hose and fittings = $30 from local hose and fitting supplier
5" Pipe = $10/foot (need about a foot)
Not bad!
There are more pics on Photobucket. Here is a link
s149.photobucket.com/albums/s66/mbasher/Airbags/
Take care.