You guys with air bags tell me all that I need to know about installing/using/towing with air bags. Many of you know that I use my 76 455-5sp Cutlass for towing. Currently I have air shocks on it and I am considering air bags.
1. Would air bags be better?
2. Are they difficult to stuff into the rear springs (I assume it is necessary to remove the springs to install them)?
3. Are they air adjustable just like air shocks (together or seperately)?
4. Are they durable/long lasting?
5. Are they available from local parts stores, mail order, where?

Thanks http://www.chevelles.com/forum/cool.gif

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Tom Parsons

Tom,

1.Air bags are great... especially when you don't need the lift help like just cruising around town. You can let the air out and run on quality street shocks and springs. Much better than air shocks. When you need the lift just pump them up.
2. They are not difficult to install and it will depend on your individual coil springs whether or not you can install them on the car. I have been able to get away with jacking up the rear end (to unload the coils)and feeding the fully deflated bag through the coils. Just make sure that you run the air line and connect it to the bag before you shove it in or it will be nearly impossible to connect it after.
3. You can run separate lines or run a "T" fitting to a single valve.
4.My experience on the race car is that they are extremely durable.
5. Summit Racing and many local parts stores have them.

Now go get em!

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My 70 Chevelle Race Page

hometown.aol.com/mkrauser/gmracing/gmracing.htm (http://hometown.aol.com/mkrauser/gmracing/gmracing.htm)


70 Chevelle Fathom Blue
70 Malibu Convertible Midnight Regatta Blue

I've got a pair on my 68 and i love them. I ran two seperate lines so i can load up one side more then the other if I so choose. The air bags themselves went in the springs deflated with no problems, but the hose they give you to run is king of chinsy. One of these days i plan on running small diamater metal tubing and only have the rubber tubing on the ends. Just some food for thought.

Like 68Sedan says the only part that I dislike are the cheap plastic lines. Have them in my '65 and run separate lines for side to side adjustments. Am thinking of going to Airbag suspension...


'65 Maliblue 406SBC/PG TC #811

Tom, if you're looking for lift, you won't get much out of the bags. They're designed more for maintaining ride height under a load than for lift. I can get my car up 2-3 inches with them, and no more. Installation is a snap, no need to remove springs, and my Airlift brand bags came with a nice quality rubber line. Mine are set up on individual valves like the other guys but you can put both on one. I like em, and I think you will too.

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Don - Chicago 'Burbs
'67 Malibu Street Machine
"Under Construction" - Still!
Gold #43

Got em on my el camino and my 69 caddy and I tow a 8000# trailor with them and love em, very easy to install just remember to keep lines away from exhaust they melt real easy.

TOM,air bags are great,I ran them on my 72 bronco,lifted the front 3 inches,did hard 4 wheeling and never even blew a line.as stated they dont do much for lifting,but they ride very nice,a valve for each bag is the way to go.plus installing is very easy,very very easy if you take the bottem shock mount off,jack her up, and wd-40 the bag before ya slip it in!also,if you get any foam pads with them,use them,saves the bag for long life,have one on the chevelle,right side,with a short 4 inch hose to the valve,mounted in a hole in the trail arm bracket on the rear housing,oh yea! they hold air long time!longer than dreaded air shocks--67rat member #199

[This message has been edited by 67RAT (edited 02-07-2001).]

Thanks a lot. What I need them for is to maintain ride height when I hook up the trailer with the Chevelle or the Vette on it. I figure with the Chevelle on the trailer its around 5500#.

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Tom Parsons

tom, i'm looking to do the same thing w/ my truck. it is lowered 6" in the rear. i want to maintain ride height while towing.
try looking into a company called air ride technologies. talk to tony or brian.
the sporttruck crowd uses them often.
you can also use an onboard compressor and reserve tank.
w/o the tank or compressor they quoted me $279 for a leaf sring setup.
much better then air shocks.
if you want more info contact me.

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ss396 (http://chevelles.com/feature/feb2000.html)
custom truck (http://chevelles.com/showroom/sig.jpg)

where / how does the airline run from inside the spring to outside without gettting pinched if the spring compresses??

out the top or bottom???

is there any such thing as airbags (cylindrical) or something similar for the fron end??
i would like to limit the front suspension from bottoming out as my headers bang and are getting crushed

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Rich
Cocoa Beach, Fla
Team Chevelle #380
wa3men@aol.com
www.chevelles.com/showroom/70_SS_454.jpg (http://www.chevelles.com/showroom/70_SS_454.jpg)

I got the full air bag system from Air Ride Technologies on my 65 chevelle.
It rides like a caddy and can lay frame with the best of them.
Took me about a week to install and worth every minuite I invested into it. Just make sure no frame rubs on the bags or you will have SERIOUS problems like a corner diving into the pavement at 60 and grinding down your frame to nothing.

Tom
I recently installed Airlift Airbags in my 70SS , Best money I've spent in a while.I have ladder bars and airshocks and the ride was really stiff. I bought the airbag kit from Summit ($70.),easy to install without removing the springs. They come with a 3/4 inch thick by 3" diameter rubber piece that you place under the bag, with holes through it for the hose so it won't pinch it.They also come with shields and hose clamps to mount to the exhaust pipes to prevent heat from damaging the bags.Install separate lines so one does not bleed air into the other when you corner!Max, I think, is 35 pounds of air and then you can back off the airshock pressure.You won't believe how smooth the ride is after and the first thing you'll want to do is figure a way to put some in the front! http://www.chevelles.com/forum/smile.gif http://www.chevelles.com/forum/smile.gif

The last time I used the car, the system wouldn't hold air. It leaks out fairly quick. I haven't taken the time to run down the leak yet. When I first installed them, they were great (back about Mar 01). I just need to take the time to trouble shoot it.

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Tom Parsons

Summit bags are a joke, those are for trucks and towing. Whatcha doing towing whith a chevelle anyways?!?!

I tow a Red White and Blue jet boat.

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Tom Parsons

<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by ssvelle65:
Summit bags are a joke, those are for trucks and towing. Whatcha doing towing whith a chevelle anyways?!?!<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

I got my Air Lift air bags from Summit and haven't had any problems with them. http://www.chevelles.com/forum/confused.gif Mine work great, but then again I didn't know a 76 Cutlass was a Chevelle http://www.chevelles.com/forum/tongue.gif

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Steve B.

69 Malibu ZZ4-350
79 Trans Am WS6
93 Camaro Z/28
01 Silverado LT Z/71
Chevelle pics (http://hometown.aol.com/zz69chevelle/myhomepageauto2.html)

Plan for the worst, hope for the best.

[This message has been edited by ZZ69chevelle (edited 09-28-2001).]

Chevelles and Cutlass are 1st cousins------------------------ESPECIALLY 454 Chevelles and 455 Cutlass.
By the way, I use 3 cars to tow the jet boat, 56 Vette, 70 conv and 76 455 Cutlass (but not at the same time). And one of my sons uses his 71 SS454 clone.

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Tom Parsons