VintAGE-Vans

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BRINGING IT ALL TOGETHER.... A's, G's & E's


5 posters

    Air Ride Information

    Blea-Van
    Blea-Van


    Number of posts : 24
    Location : Las Cruces, NM
    Registration date : 2014-01-06

    Air Ride Information Empty Air Ride Information

    Post by Blea-Van Thu Jan 16, 2014 2:17 pm

    Any of you guys use any air ride kits on your vans? If so which kit's did you use and on what model/yr van were you working on? Any info would be good.

    Thanks
    jimthefred
    jimthefred


    Number of posts : 326
    Location : Parksley VA
    Registration date : 2012-01-15

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    Post by jimthefred Thu Jan 16, 2014 4:42 pm

    Ditto here! Want to bag but keep the straight axle drunken 
    RodStRace
    RodStRace


    Number of posts : 3046
    Location : Chino Valley
    Registration date : 2010-01-21

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    Post by RodStRace Thu Jan 16, 2014 5:07 pm

    When you are talking about changing from leaf springs to air springs, you have to look at 3 things.
    1. what is going to locate the axle? You can use only the main leaf, but this limits you to movement as original, no super low. Most people that ask about air bags want the vehicle to lay real low at rest. If this is what you are really asking for, you gotta replace the leafs and design, fabricate and install a complete suspension. Take a look at a couple projects here and check the web for more info.
    2. Where will the bags mount? Almost every bag is at least 4 inches tall in the fully collapsed position. This means it won't just fit between the axle/spring location and the frame. You need to mount it to the inside of the frame rail, and build a mount off the axle. Welding forged axles is NOT simple and is a safety concern.
    3. Do you have the experience and skills to do it yourself (NO, if you are asking about it) or the money to pay someone to do it properly? Kits for a Chevy truck of the same vintage (C-10 series) which has IFS is 2200-9500 bucks. That is JUST the parts, and no compressor at the low end. Then it's gotta be modified, made to fit the van and installed.
    http://www.ridetech.com/store/suspension-packages/?subcats=Y&features_hash=V259#pagination_contents

    Too many vehicles have been hacked up and scrapped after first attempts and lack of money. If you want it AND have the money/skills/time to do it right, go for it. But don't start hacking without a plan of attack and the drive to finish it.

    EDIT: BTW, this section is titled "This is How it's Done".
    Better to ask in all the other sections and keep this one for real world finished tasks!


    Last edited by RodStRace on Thu Jan 16, 2014 7:12 pm; edited 1 time in total
    donivan65
    donivan65
    Governor
    Governor


    Number of posts : 12218
    Location : San Diego, California
    Registration date : 2008-05-12

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    Post by donivan65 Thu Jan 16, 2014 6:25 pm

    Van Go


    Air Ride Information Good_g12



    Air Ride Information Good_g13
    Blea-Van
    Blea-Van


    Number of posts : 24
    Location : Las Cruces, NM
    Registration date : 2014-01-06

    Air Ride Information Empty Re: Air Ride Information

    Post by Blea-Van Mon Jan 20, 2014 8:26 am

    So you have not done it than, RodStRace? I was hoping someone that had would jump on and turn this into a "real world finished tasks" post, so I'm pretty bummed. I was really hoping that there was a comparable "bolt" on system like the ones for the c10's you mentioned. That was the exact website I was looking at when I decided to pop the question on the forum.

    That was some good info and thanks for taking time to post
    avatar
    Van crazy


    Number of posts : 533
    Location : buffalo ny
    Registration date : 2011-08-04

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    Post by Van crazy Mon Jan 20, 2014 2:00 pm

    That van is sweet do you have more pics of that one donivan? I like that roof paint .
    jimthefred
    jimthefred


    Number of posts : 326
    Location : Parksley VA
    Registration date : 2012-01-15

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    Post by jimthefred Mon Jan 20, 2014 2:28 pm

    Im going to try and fab some bolt-on brackets for my bags on the front end. Im keeping my leaf springs, just want a few inches when I need it ( dont we all!!!) tongue
    RodStRace
    RodStRace


    Number of posts : 3046
    Location : Chino Valley
    Registration date : 2010-01-21

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    Post by RodStRace Mon Jan 20, 2014 5:27 pm

    Nope, haven't done it. I dig being able to lower it too, and checked out what it would take to do the back of my Dajiban (2002 Dodge Van), but found that there is no bolt in replacement. They do offer a helper bag setup, but it still requires a bunch of work and stays at stock height, but with added load capacity.
    There are a couple members here who are doing one, and a guy on the HAMB that did one, then sold the van before he finished it.
    http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=684598

    LINKS HERE
    https://vintage-vans.forumotion.com/t23399-bagged-vans?highlight=bagged

    https://vintage-vans.forumotion.com/t2324-lowering-a-pickup?highlight=air+bags

    https://vintage-vans.forumotion.com/t37687-triangle-4-link-suspension?highlight=air+suspension

    So there is info out there, but it's going to take a bit of searching and everything I've seen points to NO bolt-in kit that will allow different ride heights.

    By the way, that incredible Econoline is called VanGo, owned by Coby Gewertz who sells a mag called Church (it's also his handle on a forum or two). If you do a Google image search for "van go econoline" you can see a ton of pics. Follow the web links for more info. In my humble opinion, it's simply the most radical and best modern show van out there.

    Here's one to get you started...
    http://blogs.truckinweb.com/6741552/opinions/63-ford-econoline-van-go/
    Blea-Van
    Blea-Van


    Number of posts : 24
    Location : Las Cruces, NM
    Registration date : 2014-01-06

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    Post by Blea-Van Tue Jan 21, 2014 10:25 am

    There's a guy close to me in El Paso Tx that has a bagged corvair for sale, I'm going to try and go kick the tires. I hope he doesn't get mad, at the looky lou.

    http://elpaso.en.craigslist.org/cto/4281721084.html

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