Bags?

[pat66]

Am totally humbled by the things that I am seeing done on this board.I started my project as a brake job........Oh well
Question is :Project is stock.New spindles,springs shocks ect.Is it too late to be thinking of bags?Not looking to lay frame ,more ride and safety?

[ChiefRocka]

Originally Posted by pat66

Am totally humbled by the things that I am seeing done on this board.I started my project as a brake job........Oh well
Question is :Project is stock.New spindles,springs shocks ect.Is it too late to be thinking of bags?Not looking to lay frame ,more ride and safety?

No, it's not to late for bags.....Just purchase a simple, bolt in bag set-up and your on your way !! The hardest part would be drilling the four mounting holes in the front and one for the airline (per side) and thats it !!

Very easy to do, and you could have it installed in less than a day.

Of course there are air-supply options....easy as schrader valves to compressors/tanks/valves.

How far have you gotten ? Is it still a rolling chassis ??

[David Flores]

Haha, mine started out to just just get a few things fixed and painted. and it ended up in a million pieces and going on a year.

[pat66]

Yes,still a rolling chassis.Changed directions,Got cab,doors and fenders blasted and in primer.Packed it all in my900 sq ft shop before cold weather hit So I'm into bodywork and finishing up some loose ends on the chassis.Hope to lay paint in the spring.Can you recommend a vendor/manufacture for the bags?

[isdeleon]

for the bags i recommend slam specialties. i just bought those and haven't tried them yet, but heard many many good things about them. now for a good complete and affordable setup consisting of bags, compressors, tanks, etc. you can go where i went, to fender bender international (fbirides.com) or also try ***************** among others. (don't go with aim industries, heard nothing but bad things about them...) now if money is not a problem i definately recommend Air Ride Technologies (ridetech.com) hope this helps

[pat66]

Thanks all.Seems like now is the time to do this,before the sheetmetal is attached.Going to put in a CCP c-notch and start shopping for bags.Can't get in too much of a hurry.$$$$$$$$ or lack of it

[ChiefRocka]

Originally Posted by isdeleon

for the bags i recommend slam specialties. i just bought those and haven't tried them yet, but heard many many good things about them. now for a good complete and affordable setup consisting of bags, compressors, tanks, etc. you can go where i went, to fender bender international (fbirides.com) or also try ***************** among others. (don't go with aim industries, heard nothing but bad things about them...) now if money is not a problem i definately recommend Air Ride Technologies (ridetech.com) hope this helps

The above are all good vendors...stay away from AIM...they are ghetto.

Anyway, for sure use the Slams...RE7's would be perfect.

ART is the s#it....warranty....but pricey !!!

Later

[pat66]

Thanks again.Now Im hyped,just checked out slamspecialties.com.New to this so I need to get as much info as I can before I jump in.Definitely the way to go

[pat66]

Had to split the system up to keep Santa happy$$$.Bags ,brackets ,line and fittings arrived just in time for Christmas.Any tricks or things I should be carefull of when I mount'm?
Thanks and Merry Christmas

[PrerunnerRob]

Originally Posted by pat66

Had to split the system up to keep Santa happy$$$.Bags ,brackets ,line and fittings arrived just in time for Christmas.Any tricks or things I should be carefull of when I mount'm?
Thanks and Merry Christmas

Make sure there is no rubbing of ANYTHING!!!!!! Even a little will eat airline and bags incredibly fast, and it's no fun being aired out of the side of the road without any way to lift back up. Just pre-assemble everything, check it all for rubbing and fit, then install!

[**grumpy**]

Robs right about making sure nothing rubs.....Ask me how I know.

My old 53 Suburban layed on the running boards. Actually, it didn't have much of a scrubline. I could push up on the runningboards if I dropped it too fast.

Long story....we were on the way to a weekend show where we were going to camp in our vintage Shasta camper.
At 65mph, I had the left rear airline blow because......I had it too close to the center of the rearend, and while going up a hill, the tranny heated up some and the fluid expanded and some came out the overflow tube, blew back and melted the line.

So it dropped to the ground suddenly at highway speed with the camper attached. It shot to the left and I about **** my pants...All the while my wife and 2 kids were screaming....!

I learned my lesson right there. Be very careful and aware of where the lines are run.

Said Suburban and camper....VVVVVV

[merlin65]

Now that is one nice burb. thank you for taking it down to metal and not painting. The world smiles at you.

[isdeleon]

Originally Posted by pat66

Had to split the system up to keep Santa happy$$$.Bags ,brackets ,line and fittings arrived just in time for Christmas.Any tricks or things I should be carefull of when I mount'm?
Thanks and Merry Christmas

like they said, be carefull with the rubbing. Also, use teflon, i used the liquid type but it's up to you which you want to use. Once you installed the airlines use soap and water to check for leaks, just how you would for a flat tire. several leaks will constantly keep draining your tanks and making your compressors run overtime. on another note, keep your lines away from heat, specially headers, they will do great damage to the lines. hope we get to see some pics when you're done with the install, i'll go the same with my 65.

grumpy: you got a nice suburban there, i'm glad its okay, i mean you're ok...

[PrerunnerRob]

I'm using diesel airbrake like on my truck for all the flexable lines. Very expensive at around $3 a foot, but well worth it.

[ChiefRocka]

Originally Posted by PrerunnerRob

I'm using diesel airbrake like on my truck for all the flexable lines. Very expensive at around $3 a foot, but well worth it.

I used to use that stuff for shop air-hose...with the spring ends....great stuff.

This was back when I working on Semis....


Personally...I would NOT use teflon tape....I was turned on to the Locktite 545 stuff, and have never looked back !!!

Teflon tape is ok, but doesn't seal like the LT. Also, it actually allows you to 'over-tighten' stuff because it is so slippery.

Just my preferance. I use that stuff on air, fuel, oil, natural gas lines, water-pipes...whatever...works good.



THE PERFECT COMBONATION !!!!!

[pat66]

Power Products "The Heavy Duty Connection"is the line FBI set me up with.Fittings are BOed.Have made progress,C-notch and bags on rear installed minus fittings and a few grade 8s.Starting on front tomorrow?One step back and two steps forward

[PrerunnerRob]

Originally Posted by ChiefRocka

I used to use that stuff for shop air-hose...with the spring ends....great stuff.

This was back when I working on Semis....


Personally...I would NOT use teflon tape....I was turned on to the Locktite 545 stuff, and have never looked back !!!

Teflon tape is ok, but doesn't seal like the LT. Also, it actually allows you to 'over-tighten' stuff because it is so slippery.

Just my preferance. I use that stuff on air, fuel, oil, natural gas lines, water-pipes...whatever...works good.



THE PERFECT COMBONATION !!!!!

Royal Brass, they rule!!!!

I was thinking about it, the line I used isn't airbrake line, it is a hydraulic line that is made of rubber, a steel winding, and a braided black fabric cover. You have to cut it on a chop saw, super tough, and uses threaded on fittings. I'll see if I can find a picture of it...

[pat66]

First, I want to thank yall again for help.I'm into plumbing this thing need to know witch type fittings you recomend.Push in or compression?

[ChiefRocka]

Originally Posted by pat66

First, I want to thank yall again for help.I'm into plumbing this thing need to know witch type fittings you recomend.Push in or compression?

They are both ok....However the pushin fittings are obviously more convinient.

As long as it's a good quality DOT push in...you'll be ok

[pat66]

Happy And Prosperous New Year to all.Hope everyone had a safe one.C-notch and rear bags done!!!Now working on fronts.Having trouble figuring plumbing from front bags.Coming through crossmember to route line inside frame puts it uncomfortably close to the headers.Any suggestions?Have a little time,tank is BOed.Thinking coming out to the front high and inside and making a U in the line to head back towards valves.

[PrerunnerRob]

Originally Posted by pat66

Happy And Prosperous New Year to all.Hope everyone had a safe one.C-notch and rear bags done!!!Now working on fronts.Having trouble figuring plumbing from front bags.Coming through crossmember to route line inside frame puts it uncomfortably close to the headers.Any suggestions?Have a little time,tank is BOed.Thinking coming out to the front high and inside and making a U in the line to head back towards valves.

Where are you placing the valves? Could you run the line on the outside of the framerail to keep it away from the heat?

[PrerunnerRob]

You could also run the line I use, it's expensive, but will withstand a ridiculous amount of heat. When I helped bag my friend 96 chevy, we only used a short leader hose of this stuff from the bag, through the spring pocket, then back to the firewall. From there on back it was regular poly line. I'll try to find out what this stuff is called.

[pat66]

Valves are not mounted yet,am open to sugestions.This is my 1st bag install and have been using this board and the FBI to help me thru it
Thanks Pat

[PrerunnerRob]

You have options with the valves, either mount them all in a central location and run line from there, or seperate you system to front/rear, or all 4 corners if you are running individual valves per wheel. It all depends on how you want to do it, I'm leaning toward putting everything in one spot so its easier to wire and plumb. The only drawback to placing everything in a single spot is that anything downstream of the valve is now a part of the air adjustment and quantity. What I really mean is that there will be more air capacity per circuit due to the amount of air in the bag and the line, instead of a short line and the bag. I know this may be confusing, but I'm trying to explain it as best I can.

Also, place everything where it is accessable when the truck is aired out if at all possible. Trying to lift a truck that is literally on the ground to repair an airline on the side of the freeway is not fun!