Tubular A arm v Stock for Air Suspension

[56inoz]

Hey guys,
I am a fair way off this stage as I am still doing sheetmetal repairs, but I am just starting to reasearch some suspension options for my 56 convertible.
Firstly I am going with a dropped spindle, but can anyone give me some pros and cons on Tubular A arms as compared to a stock A arm with Air suspension.Also I m after some feedback on the Air over leaf system as compared to the triangulated 4 bar set-up.Can I just have 1 leaf fitted to locate the Diff and use the Airspring for the load and would this get the car really low when the air is dropped.
This car is to be used as a cruiser so I just want the car to sit as low as possible when parked and then raise and drive,I have spent a lot of money on this project so far and don't want to spend extra on things that really aren't
going to benefit,
Hope someone can help.

cheers

[johns 56]

i have air over leaf. they advise to use the 2 longest springs. i'm still on jacks so i cant tell you on ride height. you can only go so low without modifying the wheel tubs and frame. i used the fatman front clip. it sets the car down by 3 inches using stock spindles, you can add dropped if you want. they also provide for air bags and tube a arms. i bought the unpolished ones and polished them myself, ( saved some $ ) install was not hard. workmanship was excellent on their parts. it also provides for disc's up front and r & p steering. the front end is also narrower so front tire issue is better. read no rubbing when lowered. or at least not as much. can use wider tires up front if you want. all in all compared to rebuilding a stock front end with all new parts and still having a manual steering setup it was worth the price, actually came out about even as i ended up with modern power steering, disc brakes, a dropped front end with stock spindels and air ride. i figured the air ride as not part of the pkg.

[56inoz]

Thanks John thats great,
Can you tell me who you got the Fatman front clip through.

[55fazzi]

56inoz,
If you are planning on a power steering system you will at least need to purchase and install the aftermarket offset upper control arm shafts. They add some of the additional caster needed with the power system. I have read the shafts alone don't necessarily add enough caster adjustment.

Most tubular control arm manufacturers have engineered the additional caster into the arm itself. Some as much as 6 degrees. Other than the additional caster adjustment built in to the arms......there is a weight savings over the factory unit's and they look cool! Most people will say the lower control arms are unnecessary or can be installed at a later date. I would purchase and install the uppers/lowers as a set and be done with it.

I don't know anything about the Air Over Leaf system and cannot comment on that. Regarding the complete front end systems. Highly regarded manufacturers such as Fatman Fabrication, Dutchman Motorsports and Jim Meyer Racing offer complete bolt-on kits for our vehicles. They are costly but do include everything......disc brakes and hoses, rack and pinion power steering with intermediate shaft, drop spindles and tubular control arms with bushing's and ball joint's.

Sounds like you have some shopping to do. Good luck and let us know what you decided to do.

Tom

[speed racer]

I went with the fat man front clip as well. I got the tubular upper and lower control arms (polished) with the air ride set up, large disk brakes, and power rack. The web site is www.fatmanfab.com If you want some pics let me know.

[56inoz]

I went with the fat man front clip as well. I got the tubular upper and lower control arms (polished) with the air ride set up, large disk brakes, and power rack. The web site is www.fatmanfab.com If you want some pics let me know.



Some Pics would be great
Thanks

[johns 56]

hi there, well to answer questons. 1. i bought it thru a supplier, friend of mine in texas leon at rides n rods ph no is 713-628-7637. he had it drop shipped to me. good guy great to deal with, honest. it narrows the track if i remember right about 4" they say to use an offset of about 4". as far as the colume shift part i don't know as i'm using a floor shift. ( lokar ) they do recomend headers to use and i bought them and it worked out super. i have just the u joint at the column and one at the steering box which is front mounted. no third u joint in the middel and no sharp angles to get there. i'm also using side mtr mounts and had to go thru or around them. worked out well. they send everything needed to do the install. if you have any questons you can call me at 623-465-5708. also fatman has a web site and they are good to deal with if you have any questons as to tire size ect. i enclosed a couple of pics, hope it helps out. john

[speed racer]

Here is a pic. I am using shockwaves, not standard air bags. I have shock jigs in now for mock-up. Here is how the clip comes. I will post more of the install in a few minutes after I resize them.

http://img148.imageshack.us/img148/2129/06smallye5.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

[speed racer]

Here is another after the install.

http://img148.imageshack.us/img148/2503/016smallcw3.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

[jeffnjen]

hey guys,
ive got a complete air ride technologies setup for sale, front shockwaves, rear air over leaf, tanks, compressors, valves, the reason im selling is im doing a frame with corvette suspension by jims hot rod frames in texas. im removing the original chevy frame. letme know if interested...my email is jeffnjen@mail.com

[henrys57wagon]

I used 3 leaves with home made rear air bags installed in place of the shocks on my own shock bar and made shock mounts behind the diff, with brackets mounted off of the frame. Good day, Henry.

[Twin Blown 57]

JeffnJen how much you asking for the setup?

Thanks,

Twin Blown 57:D