49 RM Sedanette Airbag & suspension mods.

R

Reckless

Member
Hi Guys
Im just searching for a little info from guys that may have done this already, I would imagine its quite common to bag the old girls as its kind of already made for it.
My plan is to throw a few dollars at it and airbag it all round with the intention of getting that real low look and still be able to lift it up and get over the bumps into my shed.
Other mods planned are a rear shock conversion to tube shocks, 1" sway bar and possibly a rear sway bar ( I can see that this may be a little tricky) and finally a wilwood front disk conversion.

Just chasing a little info from others past experiences.
I am doing this and would be happy to share my learning as i go if other are interested. Might take me a while as I already have three other cars on the go, so please be patient.
 
airbags

Spoke to Glenn at airride and he has carried out plenty of airbag conversions on these old girls and hes a Buick fan, He said the weight of them makes it a little tricky and it cuts down the options when it comes to bag selection. After talking to him I wont be going anywhere else. There's a few picks on his site of a customers car he has done. I'm looking at around $3200 with ride height control and bracketry he said.

http://www.airide.com.au/product_info.php/cPath/33/products_id/574
 
Front shocks

New set of front shocks on there way from these guys http://applehydraulics.com/shocks.htm they offer a heavy duty rebuilt unit.

Whilst I'm at it, I'm carrying out a full front end rebuild. Bit costly but ive got a fair bit of play in the left king pin and basically a little loose everywhere else. Previous owner probably didn't grease it often enough.

The bad news is my Dynaflow has decided to develop a leak I cant locate. I think it is behind the converter, which is looking like i have to pull it out.
 
bags

bagging my 52 now. I had to cut out around the front spring pocket and I could not use the firestone bags that I already had. I went with slam specialties ss6 for the front. made some tophats for them and will modify the lower plate. still not finalized but is mocked up.
 
airbags

One thing I should have said after talking to air-ride. Glenn said that slam specialities had to be used as the front of a Buick was so heavy and it required 150 psi to lift the front end. Not all air bags like this pressure. And the of course the compressor needs to be up to it.

Just so you know Glenn at air-ride in Australia also ships kits to USA
 
Thanks

Reckless, I really appreciate the info you posted about the disc brake conversion. I have been struggling with finding a conversion, not trusting those drums on modern roads. Keep your posts going!!!!!
 
I ended up getting these, direct bolt in. small diameter bags to clear the spring pocket. And they are good for an amazing 400 psi. So no worries lifting that big 320ci donk up font. bossairsuspension.com.au i think there is a dealer in the US as well.

http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/Buick-BO...005004?hash=item2809cb384c:g:DsMAAOSwo6lWKHJf

http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/Buick-BO...507809?hash=item2a59efb3e1:g:Y~4AAOSwFGNWT5Ea

I also got a set of fatman 2.5 inch drop spindles for the front so it doesn't mess with the geometry as much.
 
The bags are in and look awsome

So it took 160 psi to get the car off the front bump stops and about 200 psi to go all the way up. the rear is around 40 psi.
12745714_10154090229233109_373301961501123394_n.jpg12670213_10154090289508109_8620608298038028988_n.jpg
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top