Air bag size and psi in a 68' C-10

[Nuke1]

Hello guys, this is my first post as a question. I got a question about airbags. I would like to put some in my truck, I fully boxed the frame, built my own rear trailing arms that are adjustable and a watts link. The front has tubular upper and lower control arms, this winter i want to build a new front crossmember for it and install airbags. Also want to run ridetech contollers.

The bags i want to run is either a 8" or a 7". i know with an 8" the front psi is roughly 70 and the rear is 30. I want a good ride but built my chassis to handle, to the best of my knowledge. I was looking at the slam air bags to use. Does anyone know what my best option would be and also what an affordable adjustable shock would be, KYB or Qa1.......? My truck is normally driven, as we do not have an autocross track, but there is a few 4 hours away that i want to go to yet. Any suggestions would be great.

Thanks for the help, James

[MonzaRacer]

812.481.4787
Ask for Darren, he can hook you up. By the way that is ridetech number.
As for rear bags if your just driving and such ask about the F9000, if you need a little more load capacity F9100.
If you want 3/4 ton capacity ask Darren which one as it is double convoluted and will ride worse.
Heck if you still have front mostly stock (spring mounts you can buy a bolt on kit from them.
My 78 C10 has a parallel 4 link with panhard bar and F9000s and cool ride in front, I use 3 paddle switches and 3 gauges ( rears are tied together rather than separate lines, mostly cause of money).
I built a rear bolt on kit, well nearly, only welding was filling a frame contour and welding on axle brackets back in 04 few years before Ridetech designed one, theirs is cleaner but I got her done.
I am thinking of adding the 9100s to truck and swap the 9000s into my Monza or my Caprice.
Oh yeah I am building a 77 Monza and a 84 Caprice 2dr. Both will be on air!
Talk to Ridetech, they started air ride for hot rods and brought them mainstream AND took it to the track when others said it was simply cruising and show circuit only suspension.
And look at them now!

[ScotI]

As for rear bags if your just driving and such ask about the F9000, if you need a little more load capacity F9100.
If you want 3/4 ton capacity ask Darren which one as it is double convoluted and will ride worse.
Heck if you still have front mostly stock (spring mounts you can buy a bolt on kit from them.
My 78 C10 has a parallel 4 link with panhard bar and F9000s....

The dbl convoluted will ride worse on a 78 C10 w/a parallel 4-link; they'll work GREAT w/a 6X-72 OE truck arm 2-link, especially a custom built one.

James, I know your build well... Stick w/the dbl convoluted Stones (or the Slams possibly for a slightly stiffer rate); 7" front; 6" rear. I would check in with Ride Tech on the shocks. Adjustable units would add so much to the quality work you've already done. They mentioned the possibility once upon a time about utilizing Bilsteins valving & that would be awesome if they do.....

[MonzaRacer]

I disagree, double convoluted will ride bad regardless of truck arm or Parallel 4 link, I rode in similar set up as mine , guy actually copied mine in his 3/4 then built an older truck arm 3/4 ton and it handled and rode like crap. WE put in 9100s and tada ride came back.

[ScotI]

I disagree, double convoluted will ride bad regardless of truck arm or Parallel 4 link, I rode in similar set up as mine , guy actually copied mine in his 3/4 then built an older truck arm 3/4 ton and it handled and rode like crap. WE put in 9100s and tada ride came back.

Hhmm.... That's odd then because dbl convoluted bags are exactly what Ride Tech recommends for 6x-72 trucks w/the bag mounted on the trailing-arm & F9000's are what they recommend for 73-87 4-bar set-ups w/the bag mounted @ the axle. I never tried the tapered sleeve bag on the truck arms.

My 68 w/dbl convoluted bags in the back rode great. Handling was decent (it's a truck after all). It had solid feel on sweeping corners & transitions. I also had poly truck arm bushings, the Panhard bar was set level @ ride height (also w/poly bushings), & some decent gas shocks.

[bret]

A double convoluted airspring typically has more load capacity and spring rate than a sleeve style airspring. On the C 10 the rear airspring sits considerably in front of the axle therefore requiring more load capacity and spring rate, and less travel. In english...the convoluted airspring workes out better in this particular application. IF the airspring was moved back on top or behind the rear axle, then the sleeve style would likely ride better.