Re: [Chevelle-list] Air Ride installation update

[Clint Hooper]

Have I ridden in a car with a quality Air Ride system? Yes,I rode in Jason Herrera's 79 Malibu on last year's Power Tour.(the car has been featured in all the car mags lately).  No comparison between that car's ride quality and mine. A coilover is a shock & spring unit combined. My coilovers used an adjustable shock with steel spring. Shockwaves are an adjustable shock with an airbag that does the same duty as the steel spring. The big difference is that to change spring rate with a steel spring,you have to change to another spring. With Air Ride,you just add or subtract air.  To change ride height on my QA1 coilovers was at least an hour job. With my Air Ride set-up,it will take about ten seconds and they will give me around 6-7" of total adjustment. The QA1's will allow around 3 1/2" of ride height adjustment. Because of the time involved and the need to keep the alignment consistent,steel spring coilovers are a set them,align the car,and forget about having the ability to change the ride height often. The Air Ride control system has a Memory feature that will allow me to put the car back to the ride height I use for alignment & daily driving after slamming it for shows,etc,,with the touch of a button. As stated previously,the big downside is cost. Clint Hooper H&H Custom,owner 1969 El Camino ProTourer 2001 H-D FLHR custom bagger http://dalesplace.com/misc/friends/clint/clint_hooper.htm ----- Original Message ----- From: Dan Mascheck Have you ridden in a car with the modification? Is it that much better than you have with your standard coil over? The shockwave system has no coil over does it? I thought the bag was a combination spring and shock?     Dan Mascheck   From: Clint Hooper [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Wednesday, May 11, 2005 4:36 PM To: The Chevelle Mailing List Subject: Re: [Chevelle-list] Air Ride installation update   Parts cost will be around $3,000,retail. Labor will run around $1,000 or so. Am getting a 10% break on the parts so I'm looking at around $3,700-3,800 out the door. You could save a bunch by going with cheaper bags,separate shocks,and a two-way control system. However,I wanted the better handling and control that a four-way Shockwave coilover system will provide. Clint Hooper H&H Custom,owner 1969 El Camino ProTourer 2001 H-D FLHR custom bagger http://dalesplace.com/misc/friends/clint/clint_hooper.htm ----- Original Message ----- From: Dan Mascheck   Clint,   What kind of cost are you looking at for front and rear air bags turn key?      Dan Mascheck   From: Dan McIntosh [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Tuesday, May 10, 2005 9:15 PM To: The Chevelle Mailing List Subject: Re: [Chevelle-list] Air Ride installation update   Shockwaves don't collapse as much as the 2500 or 2600 series dual bellows bags.   Clint, I would love to see a pic of your ride with the front lifted and the back dropped, and then a shot of the motor. The guys on my lowrider forum would get a really big kick out of it.    Dan McIntosh 1963 Impala SS Convertible Street Metal Fabrications http://www.lowriderimpala.com ----- Original Message ----- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] To: Chevelle-list@chevelles.net Sent: Tuesday, May 10, 2005 8:27 PM Subject: Re: [Chevelle-list] Air Ride installation update   I wonder what the difference is in the control arms? I have stock control arms(top and bottom), but I have air bags, not Air Ride though. Mine is custom, the dual pumpkin type. I have 2" drop spindles, but I can lay my cross member on the ground. Maybe the different years (mines a 66) has something to do with it. Dont know. I want to see some pictures when its done though!   -Tim  -----Original Message----- From: Clint Hooper <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: The Chevelle Mailing List <Chevelle-list@chevelles.net> Sent: Tue, 10 May 2005 17:04:30 -0500 Subject: Re: [Chevelle-list] Air Ride installation update My new lower a-arms were shipped today and are supposed to be delivered Thursday morning. Air Ride told us that with their lowers and Shockwaves that I should be able to lower the car,without air,to within 1 1/2" to 2" from the ground to the crossmember. That'll work. Clint Hooper H&H Custom,owner 1969 El Camino ProTourer 2001 H-D FLHR custom bagger http://dalesplace.com/misc/friends/clint/clint_hooper.htm ----- Original Message ----- From: "Wayne" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>     > Holy Cow,, Clint..... >  Seems like it's been your turn in the Barrel lately @[EMAIL PROTECTED] > Being a cup's Half Full Type...and with your leg,it might be better it's not > finished and back HOME > At  least you won't be tempted to TEST  drive it ! > eeeeehhhhaaaa > GL > Wayne > ----- Original Message ----- > From: "Clint Hooper" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> >  > > Well,it looks like my bad luck is still dogging me. The front Shockwave > > coilovers we've been waiting for arrived this morning. The shop installed > > them and with all air out,the front end ride height was about the same as > > it > > was with the QA1 coilovers. So,it's obvious the Global West lower A-arms > > on > > my car will not work like we thought (and one tech guy from Air Ride said > > they would work). Guess I'm going to have to run Air Ride's tubular > > lowers,after all. Wanna bet the ones I need are out of stock? > > Clint Hooper > > H&H Custom,owner > > 1969 El Camino ProTourer > > 2001 H-D FLHR custom bagger > > http://dalesplace.com/misc/friends/clint/clint_hooper.htm > > > > > > >  >  >