Suspension Help/101

[gdink1970KS]

Hey guys here is the problem....
I am currently working on my 1970 chevy truck i am wanting to do a street/strip truck. I was wanting a setup that could be lowered (Preferably airbags) and still hook up on the track.. i have seen many people running trailing arms with a small notch and coil overs/bags i was wondering when this is done does the entire bed have to be notched to clear for the coils and the notch, I was wanting to tubb it for larger tires but the entire bed.... not so much

Also i have seen a number of different 4-link setups most of them a KP style where they mount to the outside of the frame rail i was wondering if this made it so they had to run a smaller tire and if so if the 4-link could be moved inside the frame rails....

I have looked at so many and they all look good i just don't know......

[djracer]

First of all Welcome to the board from Al.

I think I would keep the trailing arms and try the bags. I use coilovers but the bags may work. It depends on how low you want to go as far as cutting the bed floor out! I would suggest an adjustabe pan hard bar. I would use a slam bag. the bag is shorter than a coilover so you could go lower than a coilover. I would put the bags behind the rear axle and make an upper crossmember.

[Super73]

I suggest keeping the factory arm as well but would rather see you put the bags in the factory location. My reason for saying that is I think you will get more movement with them there do to the leverage ratio. You would see even more movement going further forward on the arm but then you run in to a packaging/mounting issue.

I don't know how bags react compared to springs as far as storing energy so I don't know if they would hook as well, worse or better than a conventional spring set up.

As DJ mentioned, you will need an adjustable panhard bar.

[chevy72blu]

I planned on doing the same before I learned that many tracks wont allow bagged vehicles. I would look into this

[djracer]

Originally Posted by chevy72blu

I planned on doing the same before I learned that many tracks wont allow bagged vehicles. I would look into this

I wonder why that is! They rarely tech anything around here.

[Super73]

But they allow a right rear bag don't they? One could argue that I would think. I would also think if the vehicle didn't lay anything on the track at full bag drop, they might consider it. Interesting though.

[71Dragtruck]

Originally Posted by Super73

But they allow a right rear bag don't they? One could argue that I would think. I would also think if the vehicle didn't lay anything on the track at full bag drop, they might consider it. Interesting though.

That bag is used in conjunction with a spring type suspension, I think the hazzard they are fearing is if a line blows and your bags deflate going down the track. Not 100% sure but it might be a NHRA tech rule?????

[gdink1970KS]

Thanks for all the help guys!

[hotrodhomi]

I'm going with the stock trailing arms and a watts link.

[djracer]

that sounds sweet! I think I might get a wishbone since I have a 9 inch.