Holly shiz you're right. That means that if I just put my stock shackles back on I should get an inch of drop. I bet if I take my overload leaf out I could get one more inch. I don't kneed it anyway because I have the helper bags. So I don't even need to buy the drop shackles.

This is just a temporary fix anyway. I went and talked to my mod shop today about doing a real bag setup front and rear. I hope to be on air in all four corners by February.

I'm gonna do a parallel 4 link in the rear with a panhard par, keep my SP shocks, go to a sleeved bag instead of the standard ones I have now, and C-notch.

For the front I think I'm gonna go with an airstrut but I'm not positive because "SLW SVT" is not very happy with his for some reason. Once I can find out more on that I will make my mind up.

I'm gonna switch from my current 2gal tank and 150psi compressor to a 5 gal tank and a bigger compressor so I can run front and back off them. I'm not sure what I'm gonna use for height control at first but I eventually want to go with an accuair system. I will prob have to wait and do the accuair a couple months after I bag it so I have time to recoop some of that bread I'm gonna be spending on the setup. Prob just use a standard switch box and gauges until then.

I can't wait until I can finally control my height whenever I want. Layed out when parked and nice and low at ride height. Aired way up to get in and out of those ridiculously angled entrances to places. Ahh it sure will be nice. I don't even care about the hassle that comes with a bag setup. LOL. I think I'm gonna get a fox body stang to fix up a little too so I don't have to drive my truck ALL the time.

 

Removing the overload spring wont lower your truck at all since it is now below the axle. the overload spring has no spring rate when unloaded so you wont reduce your spring rate any. And stock since the overload spring is above the axle it acts as a block, which is why when removed it will lower the truck by the thickness of the overload spring.

But sounds like you have a good plan

Are you going to do a step notch or just a c notch? You wouldn't need a huge notch but my plan for whenever I decide to bag my truck is that I will raise the bed floor so it is over the top of the notch, so I still have a stock looking bed. And i have a plan for how to make the tailgate open flush to the floor but thats my little secret. OK maybe it isn't, raise the tailgate hinge and chop up the inner side of the tailgate

 

don't do a pan hard bar! they're fine for static suspension vehicles but for bagged a watts link is what you need. I can't wait to throw my pan hard bar in the trash

 

^^^what he said

 

x3

 

X4 on a watts link over a panhard rod if you can do so easily.

A watts link setup keeps the axle centered between the frame while a panhard swings through an arc so minor side to side ....
.... but then all those years of Chevrolet using coil springs in the rear with two long trailing arms (called "truck arms" in NASCAR 'cause that's where they come from) all use panhard rods to locate the rear axle side to side just as an example. I have owned two such Chevrolet PUs, a '70 and a '72 and never noticed ill affect.

 

That is on something with very little travel compared to an airbag setup

If setup properly you can minimize the side to side movement through travel with a panhard bar, but in an airbag setup where you have 7+" of travel it will still move and when you are tucking there is very little room for error

 

I will be switching to one of these at some point
http://www.dallashotrodparts.com/wattsthreechoices.html

 

Damn you're right. Wasn't even thinking about the leafs being under the axle now. I guess I will get those lowering shackles and c-notch then. The 1" of drop the stock shackle would provide me is not enough to achieve what I want. The lowering shackle will at least get me by until I do the full air setup.

I am just going to do a c-notch at first. Once I get the setup complete and get an accuair then I am going to go the extra mile and do a step notch and stock raised bed floor. I hual my MX around so I don't want the raised bridge all the way across the bed. Plus stock raised floor just looks cleaner IMO.

Ok this is good to know. Thanks. Can you elaborate on why you dislike your air struts so much?
Which one of those three is the best choice for us? I don't have a whole lot of knowledge as far as suspension is concerned and I have almost no experience with air ride other than my helper bags.

 

I didn't like them at first because I didn't know about boring out the camber holes when I first had them on and had to air the struts up a lot to get out of negative camber. I'm pretty happy with 16.5" drop but I need to get some upper arms made (or some drop spindles) so I can get a lower ride height. The next think I don't like about them is that they don't allow me to drop to the trans cross member. I still have to remove my fender liners to do that but I'm a little wary of exposing my engine to the elements like that. The ride is fine with them though

I don't know which watts link I will go with. I'll probably give that company a call whenever I get closer to that point and get there opinion.

 

Someone might be geting an engine upgrade!

 

Whaaaat!!!

 

That is a beautiful truck!

 

My guess is the john deere that appears to not have an engine in it

As for the watts link, it all depends on how much room you have back there. You will most likely have to ditch the spare tire for any of them but SLW-SVT you dont have one anyways

 

I was thinking of using air bags as springs and pretty much same ride height, I wasn't thinking "low riders", parking it on the ground, scraping, and etc.