The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network







Register or Log In To remove these advertisements.

Go Back   The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network > 47 - Current classic GM Trucks > The 1960 - 1966 Chevrolet & GMC Pickups Message Board

Web 67-72chevytrucks.com


Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
Old 06-26-2016, 08:33 PM   #1
chevy49
Registered User
 
chevy49's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: coal city indiana
Posts: 159
air ride in winter in the midwest can it be done?

anyone know if I can get away with air ride in the winter in Indiana?
chevy49 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-26-2016, 08:48 PM   #2
BR3W CITY
meowMEOWmeowMEOW
 
BR3W CITY's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: MKE WI
Posts: 7,128
Re: air ride in winter in the midwest can it be done?

I drove a FBSS 3-linked S10 for a couple winters up here in WI. Our winters are a bit more bitter, and way saltier. Can it be done? Yes. Should it be? Well, probably not.

the problems I ran into;
All relays have to be the weather sealed ones or put in weather tight boxes. Relays get wet and freeze, or get salty and corrode. Same goes for all the wiring on the valves, it needs to be the higher end fully-sealed stuff (semi truck style), or put somewhere that it isn't exposed.

The bags themselves are like tires, they don't care what kind of weather they are in, BUT they will be a tiny bit stiffer or softer if its very cold or very hot. You shouldn't have an issue with the bags, but be wary of the metal cups or plates, as those areas are prime for moisture buildup and corrosion. Gotta keep an eye on the fittings on the bags if water can sit around them.

If you have to channel/tub/hollow/drill any major parts of the body or cab, you need to weatherseal them and grommet any openings. Moisture can and will get in everywhere.

Run shocks, and make them good. Air ride is bouncy, and thats bad in winter.

Oh and the last thing is make sure any wiring you buy is high quality. Cheap non-auto rated wires can get brittle with cold temps and vibrations. Brittle wires mean bad grounds or bad supplies, and weird stuff happens.


Like I said I've done it but I don't really love the idea. I had 4 relays freeze or corrode and break wires back in the day. The sealed compressors didn't care but drew a bit more amperage in the cold, my EDC hated life as it ran on SAE 50.
__________________
'66 Short Step / SD Tuned / Big Cam LQ4 / Backhalfed /Built 4l80e / #REBUILDEVERYTHING

MY BUILD THE H8RDCPTR //\\ MY YOUTUBE CHANNEL REV J HD
BR3W CITY is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-26-2016, 09:05 PM   #3
DaddyOh
Registered User
 
DaddyOh's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2015
Location: Southern California
Posts: 180
Re: air ride in winter in the midwest can it be done?

That's good info....you hit a few things I would not have realized that would be effected....good stuff
__________________
'65 Tiki Sea 10: http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=682356
DaddyOh is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

Bookmarks


Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off

Forum Jump


All times are GMT -4. The time now is 01:11 PM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.11
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions Inc.
Copyright 1997-2022 67-72chevytrucks.com