Looking for some advice. I have a 1964 Chevy bel air station wagon 350 5.7, 6 passenger, no a/c. I have to replace the coil springs because the yahoos before me cut them and its too low, also leaning to one side. So easy, get stock springs for my model, problem solved. Nope. I will be using it for a farmer's market vehicle and loading anywhere from 500 to 1000 lbs, maybe more. I also want it for joyrides...its so fun to drive. My main concern is if it is weighted too much I will be scraping everywhere. I can get some affordable rear air bags that go in the coils for $100 if I go stock 6 passenger. Also maybe 6 passenger in the front and 9 passenger in the back but again it could be too heavy for the front. But most of the weight will be middle to back. Fyi I am leaning towards the 9 passenger ie heavy duty hoping the ride won't be too stiff unloaded. Any advice or thoughts or experiences would be greatly apreciated. Thanks, Vance
Hya Vance those blatter bags wont last long,...:banghead3: My suggestion would be the simple route......put some good ol Air shocks in her!!!! Everyones in such a hurry to go hog wild and spend money like a drunk hooker nowadays ....so thats my 'sensible suggestion' now for my 'drunk' suggestion....build a crossbar from side to side of the frame rails...and mount some actual airbags on the top of the diff...use them like a overload...theres my 2 bits
The air shocks do work. I have them on my Caprice, and my pa has them on the Satellite. Do the trick and then some.
Thanks guys for the help. I'll go with the air shocks. I have to replace the springs so should I get the 6 passenger springs or the 9 passenger? What do you think?
I would probably go with the 9 Passenger Springs, but what is the spring tension on those compared to the 6 Passenger? Also would be curious to know where they can be found at? If you go with the 9 Passenger and it is not high enough, you could then add the Air Shocks or Air Bags. Bill
I see that belief is still around. I bought a set of Air Lift Air Bags for my '62 Impala years ago and all my friends called me crazy and told me that I wasted my money. I put them in and before I put air to it one friend was convinced that it would not even raise the car. Not only did it raise it but the bags were still in there and still working fine when I sold the car 6 years later. Another friend and I were just talking about that the other day. He had the same story. Everyone said the weren't any good. His lasted many years in his GTO and his were also still in the car and working fine when he sold it.... I'm also a fan of Air Shocks, but I actually broke one of those once. Bill
Air shocks work fine as long as you aren't trying to compensate for worn out springs and hold up the car with them. Get air shocks and an air lift or other type compressor and you could raise and lower the rear of the car at will from the driver's seat. Moog sells 9 passenger wagon springs, go to Rockauto and you can see several different brands. There are heavy duty 6 passenger wagon springs listed too. If you do buy from Rockauto remember to use the 5% discount code, can be found searching "Rockauto discount code" online.
I hear ya Bill....but I sell them....and I try really hard not too !! most people throw them into grungy ol cars that never get a underside cleaning....then whine when the rusty ol springs wear thru them in 6 months...
I had brand new springs in mine and that's maybe why I had such good luck with them. I first installed 409 Wagon springs and even though it raised it, it was not quite enough. I put the Air Bags in soon after. We also kept our cars pretty clean back then. At the car wash we would even wash under them, lol. Bill
9 passenger springs with a coil over shocks. Never have to worry about air. The springs are supposed to carrying your weight not the shock perches. The coil overs will do the job. Have the same set up in my daughters 96 roadmaster. She loads that car up full with people and stuff and has never had a scraping issue.
Air Lift warranties their bags for life. I had one split open on me. They sent me a replacement right away.
thus my point...you took care of them as oppose to the mook that brought his back to me after 5 years...they looked like they were from a archeological dig.. yup..cant argue that
