Load-leveling suspension system upgrades for towing?

I would think the airbag set up for a 65 malibu will work for your car. The platform is the same.

 

I was specifically referring to rear springs which are "oddball" on a '65. I have personal experience that leads me to put variable ratio springs rear springs on everything wagon or not. I'm just saying that link will hook you up with a spring pro. I used to have a guy in hollywood that would re-arc springs but he retired. Did you talk to them.?

 

I thought ALL A - Bodies had rear coil springs - how do you 're-arch' them??
I used '72 Cadillac limo rear coil springs, without any problems!

 

A lost art. It all has to do with heating them up and cooling them off at specific temps. Then install, check ride height and once we had to re-arc. The variables are as important as when you pick a propeller for a boat. Part science part experience on the propeller guys side.

 

A little more info on load-leveling.

Dear Station wagon fans,

I made a quick visit to the Goodguys Pleasanton car show and learned one thing relevant to this discussion.

I spoke with one of the representatives of Ride-Tech and they didn't suggest the Shockwaves. They instead suggested their version of an airbag suspension assist. I think this is the only game in town for me.

Do you really think that variable load springs could cope with as much as an additional 1000 lbs. on the rear axle? The tongue weight is over 500 lbs. and if you are traveling, odds are the cargo area is going to have - a lot of stuff in it!

I believe you are right. Any airbag setup for a 1964-67 GM A-body should work. So far though, I've only identified one kit that provides suspension airbag assist for both the front and rear.

That's today's update!

Cheers, Edouard

 

Edouard, if you are looking at loading the wagon, on top of the 500 pounds or so of tongue weight, you had best be thinking very carefully about your tire selection. You are likely to be getting close to, or even over, the weight ratings for the tires you have been talking about for the wagon. The other thing, when you have a house trailer, there is not so much need to load down the car, since your clothes, food, etc are all stored properly in the trailer. The springs will, with no doubt in my mind, handle 500 pounds of tongue weight with no problem, and without too much sag in the rear. Also, be careful of air shocks, or even load helper springs around the shocks. They can stress, and eventually break, shock mounts as they are not designed for carrying load that way.

 

1000 lbs is 1/2 ton as in a 1/2 ton pickup. This is a wagon and I would suggest you go <850 lbs with no trailer. My Gran Torino weighs 4500 lbs dry and I think the gargos' on it (beefy) would handle 1000 lbs extra but only if I'm driving. The nut behind the wheel is the most important part of the equation. On ALL my a-bodies I run cargos' w/ airshocks and if 80 lbs does not keep the ride height where I want it It's no go. If your tow weight exceeds the weight of the wagon then you run into problems.

I suggest you call the spring expert.

 

If you're heart is set on a 4-5000lb trailer, maybe look at a bigger tow vehicle from the start. Something like a B body wagon would be much more suitable imho. You also have to remember to SUBTRACT the hitch down weight from your payload.

 

Irsa: The Buick wagon should have no problem with a 5,000 pound trailer. It is a full framed car, after all, with a very healthy V-8. The question is springs and weight distribution. He will be just fine with the car, and a good set of springs will set him up just fine and dandy.

 

Ambitious but not impossible (Re: Suspension upgrades)

Dear MikeT, Mugzilla, Isra, and longroof fans,

Thanks for your feedback. A lot of this stuff will probably have to be resolved later on anyway. Still I wanted to consider the matter just in case it made more sense to upgrade to some sort of air-suspension immediately. That doesn't appear to be the case. Still, some sort of suspension assist I think deserves careful consideration, especially after the favorable reviews I've gotten from 2 Station Wagon Forum members.

Oh well, I'll get back to the tire selection problem eventually. However, that will have to wait until the engine is in the car.

Well, that may be true, but you didn't count on the telescope, scuba gear, etc . . . . . . . . .

In the end, I'll choose a trailer I can tow. Part of the game here is to simply understand what is possible. Odds are the budget, not the tow capacity will settle the matter. Still, I would like to have some idea of what is possible for this particular car to tow.

You are probably right that I'll want to upgrade the springs as well, but I'm reasonably confident I won't want to cope with this sort of a load without some sort of air assist (either air-adjustable shocks or bags.) I definitely don't want to compromise the ride the car when unloaded. It mostly likely will be driven much more without the trailer than with.

This Video by Air Lift makes an appealing case for why air-bag suspension assist are superior to conventional beefed up suspension for towing in this video:

http://youtu.be/CK37RXk_ApM

Obviously, it is self-promotion, but the points are valid and have been echoed by Station Wagon Forum members. I'm certainly going to give this technology serious consideration.

Well, it isn't your typical heavy-tow vehicle, but someone else have used the very same car modified as I plan to and was able to tow 6000 lbs. That fellow's story in on this website:

http://www.gmcguy.com/1965_buick_special_station_wagon.html

He did use suspension assist air-bags and the only problem that he mentioned was serious engine overheating problems. My wagon modifications include some important upgrades to avoid overheating including an aluminum radiator high capacity water pump.

This car is the family heirloom and very dear to my heart. I'm not simply going to give the car a decent tow-capability but I intend to do it right. Pinching pennies is very much a way to be penny-wise and pound-foolish.

Cheers, Edouard