coil springs or airbags?

[QUINNMOTORSPORTS]

i am new to this and i am looking to set up the suspention in my chevelle. what would be the best thing to go with coil springs lowering or ajustable? or air ride suspention? any help would be help full
thanks

[Beige]

How much do you intend to change the ride height?

[formula]

depends almost entirely on what you're going for with the car. Airbags can perform very well, but do not allow you to change the ride height without changing the spring rate at the same time. Coilovers allow you to change both ride height and spring rate independently of each other. However, air bags allow you to change your ride height and spring rate almost instantaneously at the push of a couple buttons.

For a full track car, coilovers are the way to go, no doubt. For a street/track ride, or just a street car, you'll have to evaluate what you want out of the car.

[QUINNMOTORSPORTS]

i want to build a street car that takes exit ramps like a new vette and i can take to the track from time to time and make some good laps. i see most of you guys are running coil overs or lowering springs on the rides i have looked at. thank you

[QUINNMOTORSPORTS]

How much do you intend to change the ride height?

i am looking to do about 2" overall

[MonzaRacer]

Air Ride Technologies, Look at both Cool ride and Shockwaves. I would slide in a set of Shockwaves V3.0 in double adjustables in front and cool ride with double adjustable shocks in rear, Add on a decent size(but not too big unless you want to autocross a lot) sway bar front and rear and enjoys the ride.
Bret and company make an awesome setup and dont let it fool you on ride even down or up it rides awesome.
I have a 78 C10 and it will take 50 mph off ramps at 100 (honestly had to swap carbs till FlexFI is done) with stuck throttle shaft..
I just cant wait for next spring and hopefully some sticky SO3's and some autocross fun with a C10!.
OH and yes you can ride low ,smooth and cool and still turn a corner with air ride,,,, done it for over 2 yrs on truck and had a 71 Monte Carlo with rear air ride but never got to do the front before wrecking it.
Lee Abel

[QUINNMOTORSPORTS]

thank you for your input glad it works well i was heading to the air ride originaly and i have very large sway bars and about to buy ajustable upper front control arms. thank you

[marolf101x]

take a look at our Street Challenge page. It shows our stock Camaro and Chevelle vs. our air suspended Camaro and Chevelle. There are also some quotes from the drivers and tech info to prove our stuff works.
http://ridetech.com/streetchallenge/streetchallenge2006.asp
-Britt-

[Tony@AirRideTech]

take a look at our Street Challenge page. It shows our stock Camaro and Chevelle vs. our air suspended Camaro and Chevelle. There are also some quotes from the drivers and tech info to prove our stuff works.
http://ridetech.com/streetchallenge/streetchallenge2006.asp
-Britt-

I thought that user name looked familiar....:pat:

[rohrt]

With everything I have read about the Air Ride they seem to be the best way to build the ultimate street car but they aint cheep.

[Tony@AirRideTech]

With everything I have read about the Air Ride they seem to be the best way to build the ultimate street car but they aint cheep.

We like to think we are the ultimate... the downfall to making nice parts is that it requires expensive materials and extensive testing and R & D.:drive1:

[MonzaRacer]

Money once or money twice it makes a better sense if you save and go for the air.
Hey Tony I cant say for everyone but gee whiz I dont see the great expense.
Now if you add the remote ,the level pro, ann the dood dads and gee gaws yes it can get expensive.
BUT i have CoolRide all the way around, parralel 4 link on rear, ART shocks front, Carquest Bruisers on rear and the truck handles even with 255/70,,,30x9.50 ,3 paddle switches and I am using an A6 AC compressor for air and a 5 gallon tank.And it work very well for now. I am getting ready to build a bracket and swap in a York/Tecumseh (re old Ford) compressor. Will I ever use Ridepro E or something like it ,,,maybe if I find it used or win Lottery. I am working on buying an85 GP and fixing up my 77 Monza and I want both on air so my budget is stretched super thin.And fixing the termite infestation on my 78 C10 ,,,sooooooooooo.
If you try ART you wont believe the way it rides/handles.
Good luck
Lee Abel

[rohrt]

I guess 6 grand is only expensive for me or did I not look at the right price on their site. Seems to be many ways to go that are far less expensive but it wouldn't be the ultimate.

[LS6 Tommy]

Just an FYI-
The statement the coilovers allow you to independantly change spring rate and ride height is misleading. Changing spring rate is not an adjustment. You must drop the shock and change springs. To a certain extent, if you crank the ride height way up beyond the point of having the suspension at full droop/extension, you will compress the spring a bit, but the suspension will then be totally out of wack.

Tommy

[Tony@AirRideTech]

I guess 6 grand is only expensive for me

Nope..... thats "money" in my book too.... and unfortunately when we starting building my garage I think we accidentally cut down my money tree along with the other trees we took out because I have not seen any money since then.... :seizure: . Now on a slightly more serious note... there are a lot of options for that car. if it is something you are interested in feel free to drop us a line 812-482-2932 or you can drop me an e-mail at [email protected] ....

[formula]

It's very easy to drop 6 grand on an air ride suspension (ask me how i know :crying: ) but it's also not that hard to get out a lot more economically if you aren't in the mood for the top of the line controls and such. Give them a call and talk things out.

[Leadfoot1]

Ahhh!

Keep it coming guy's.

I'm interested too but also think to do the whole system at once is a bit painfull (especially since i'm into wheels/tires, engine trans tubbing etc at the moment).

Could one install say the air bar, just inflatw the springs manually (valve and hose) and call it done (still variable but manually) and would the system perform or do i absolutely need the "E" box to make it perform?

If it could be done that way it would be interesting....

Plans plans plans...

Lead

[streetrod77]

Same here when it come to money. I was thinking of doing the front first then doing the rear last. I will have to have a setup that I can add too though. I guess this will work but not sure.

[rohrt]

there are a lot of options for that car

Tony

It might be a year or two befor i'm at the point of looking but you have me interested.

[Tony@AirRideTech]

I have a lot of guys that start out and do one end at a time and then add the compressor system in the end. We even have manual inflation kits here that we send out so that is no big deal at all....

[streetrod77]

Thanks for delightful words Tony. I have an old car to do but I will be calling you in 2007 for sure.

[MonzaRacer]

Guys guys guys,
6 grand? how in the heck? .
Ok i guess if you use shock wave on all 4 corners and top of the line air system I guess it could get that high.
But for the most part you can use one tank, one compressor and 3 or 4 paddle switches.
On a Chevelle Cool ride is very good beginning, I would put cool ride on the rear with double adjustable shocks and good suspension components. You could use simple air lines and shrader fittings and use a simple air hose to fill them, I used this on my 71 Monte and had 2 years running this way. but even 2 paddle valves and a double needle guage and simple compressor would work too while saving for double adjustable shockwaves in front (really the only choice as relocating shock get tight with big front tires and its better adjustable too).
and you dont need digital guages a pair of double needle guages or 4 singles work fine,,,, for me I have 2 for the front and 1 in back.
I have had 2 years running my set up so far and with better wheels and tires I do believe my truck will corner very well.
Good luck and dont forget air ride IS a great addition and you wont believe how well it performs and definatley not regret it.
Lee

[novanutcase]

Lee?

How much did ART pay you?:lmao: Just Kidding! I agree! On my next project I'm going to go with ART. I was in the mindset that "Bags are for Fags!" but after some serious research I see that they have their ***** together and put out a great product. I think alot of the members on this site want more than just great handling as they also want great looks and what better than to go to a car show and dump your car in the weeds! This is what ART can provide! I heard they have a system now that has 3 preset heights at the touch of a button. Can you imagine! Preset 1 for car shows - In the weeds! Preset 2 for cruising - Just high enough to get over speed bumps and not hear thumps over the bumps! Preset 3 - Road Race stiff enough you have to go pee every 10 minutes!

AWESOME!

[MonzaRacer]

what money all I ever got was parts for cash ,,,, never get a big break and Bret is my cousin too. but actually i used a lot of smarts, and little cash and some good ol fashion driveway engineering.
I use cool ride front with standard ART shocks in front, I decided to make my parralel 4 link bolt on (except for the brackets welded to read end and extra shock cross member welded in between frame rails. and the A6 finally went south after over 2 yrs so I fabbed up the York compressor now I just need to get a new 3/8 quick connect t for air line as it failed at psi switch.
I just didnt believe how good it would handle till I stuck with a 01 Camaro Ss with eibachs,bilsiens,some bigger swaybnars and Goodyear F1's in some very nice twisties between Bloomington Indiana and Bloomfield Indiana and this is with non performance tires and it was probably stupid but hey we all get crazy once and this guy was BLOWN away by my trucks handling.