Air suspension

[Jim's 72]

Ok, I'm kinda new to this, but I know I want the best of...all worlds..lol. I'm thinking some kind of air suspension is the way to go. Please feel free to correct me if I am wrong, but I want to be able to cruise the local strip, corner like crazy and drag race with the boys. I'm guessing the adjustability of an air ride system would be the best of all worlds. Just to make things a lil more...ummm...interesting...it's a 72 Monte Carlo. From what I have heard Chevelle stuff fits, just a different weight distribution due to the longer frame. Some say its better, some dont agree. This site has the knowlege floating around I have been trying to aquire, but I guess I just need to hear something specific about MY car and not the rest. I would love to hear any and all opinions, so let it out....lol
Thanks
Jim

[ProdigyCustoms]

We sell and install a lot of air systems and they are awesome. The A Body kit is a real niice kit. If you search around a bit you will find that evertime Ride Techs 66 Chevelle is in a shoot out, it is always a all around favorite.

We used Air Ride on the Bull Run Racer we built for the 2009 Bull Run Rally and credit the Air Ride as one of the reasons we did what other muscle cars have not been able to do....................finsh! The different roads one deals with on Bull Run, air is a big advantage.

http://i169.photobucket.com/albums/u212/ProdigyCustoms/DSC04157.jpg

You can see more of this car in the project section of our website.

Call me if you have questions and need a deal on Air Ride

[Jim's 72]

Not gonna hold you to it until there is alot more info, but what is a ball park figure for a 4 corner system? I dont want to waste your time if i dont have to, but I would like to know what my options are
Thank you for your time
Jim

call me illetiterate...that was meant to be a pm...so feel free to pm back...sorry

[ProdigyCustoms]

There are so many options with these sytems, you can do something for as little as a few grand and spend $6800 if you try.

A phone conversation will go a long ways towards me getting a better feel for what you want, and what you need, which may be two totally different things. I will be around the shop all weekend working on a project for a magazine How To article, feel free to call 8AM to 5PM eastern time

You can do allacart and get just what you need or a complete package.

Here is a direct link to Air Rides Packages for your car.

http://www.ridetech.com/shop/index.php?dispatch=categories.view&category_id=1865&subcats=Y&features_hash=V40.V99

[JRouche]

Ok, I'm kinda new to this, but I know I want the best of...all worlds..lol. I'm thinking some kind of air suspension is the way to go. Please feel free to correct me if I am wrong, but I want to be able to cruise the local strip, corner like crazy and drag race with the boys. I'm guessing the adjustability of an air ride system would be the best of all worlds.

Hi Jim. An air ride is nice, for some folks. I have one. But there isnt any more adjustability with them. I think some folks think there is because the air springs do allow for the body to be raised or lowered. But thats only good for static needs. Like say a car show where its parked and you want to put it in the weeds cause it looks better.

But for dynamic purposes (driving) the air ride suspension still only has one sweet spot. Just like any other types of springs.

You mount the air springs so they are at a pre-determined height that corresponds to the suspension arms, front or rear arms.

The suspension arms need to be at the designed angle for a proper ride (performance). When you raise or lower the body with the air springs you are putting the control arms at an angle that is not ideal. The control arms should be at the proper angle during driving.

And as far as some good info and prices. Talk to Frank at Prodigy. I enjoy talking with Frank and he wont even try to sell you something you dont need. Rare breed of dealer that man. JR

Ok, I thought I was done but maybe not. One more item. Coilovers have the advantage of the driver being able to change spring rates and pressures. Air springs dont. You are stuck with the rate that the container (the air bag) holds. A smaller container (smaller bag) will have a faster rate. A larger bag will have a slower rate. And the spring pressure is fixed. The pressure needed to hold the body up at a certain distance is the pressure you are stuck with. With coilovers you can over spring the car if thats your desire. Cant under spring it for obvious reasons.

So my point is with coilovers you can swap around settings to work with a high rate roll bar and loose springs or vice versa. Loose bar and tight springs. You cant do that with an air spring. The way I see it is you have MORE adjustablity with coilovers than you do with air springs.

[Jim's 72]

The call will be calling Frank, I want to explore all options, just when I thought we were slow at work and I could find some time to "play" things are getting crazy. I'm quite sure it won't be a 5 min call lol.
Jrouche, that is exactly what I was looking for, feedback from those that have "been there, done that". Believe me, nothing is happening tomorrow