Jacking up the rear |
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n2fordwagons
Senior Member Joined: 20-July-2013 Location: GA Status: Offline Points: 2252 |
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Posted: 05-August-2019 at 8:48AM |
On my '79 T-bird, I'd like to have a static front ride height, but an adjustable rear ride height. I want to run some 18" wheels with a lowered stance. But, also have the option to run some 15" wheels with wide tires (that 70s look), which would require me to jack up the rear. What are my options?
- I've heard bad things about air shocks. They could possibly break through the mount points. Basically, when aired up, they're carrying the weight of the vehicle, which should be the coil springs job. - Has anyone had experience with Air Lift Load Assist Air bags? Installed inside the coil springs. They're supposed to help when carrying heavier loads. And they make a "drag bag" for use at the track. But, with no load, will they raise the rear? If so, how much of a lift can I expect? And, is this option safe? - And then there's a true air bag system, which replaces the coil springs. Unfortunately, I don't have the tools and skills to do this myself. So, it will most likely be out of my price range. Has anyone else done this? Any bolt-on options out there, that don't require fabricating mounts, etc? Any other options I'm missing?
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Jeff
71 Torino Brougham 72 Gran Torino Squire |
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7T9_Tbird
Senior Member Joined: 04-December-2017 Location: Athens, Alabama Status: Offline Points: 495 |
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How wide are the rear tires? I tuck a 275/60-15 on a ten inch wide rim under the back of My bird(5" backspace). And that was before the station wagon springs I added later.
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John
79 Thunderbird Heritage 79 Thunderbird Town Landau 02 Ram 1500 Sport Quad Cab |
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n2fordwagons
Senior Member Joined: 20-July-2013 Location: GA Status: Offline Points: 2252 |
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Like I said, I'm going for the 70s look. So, they're 15x10 with 4" BS. Tires are Hoosier Pro Street Radials 29x12.50-15. I'm not looking for them to tuck under the fender wells.
My 18" wheels have a deeper BS, so they will tuck. 18x9.5" with 5" BS. |
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Jeff
71 Torino Brougham 72 Gran Torino Squire |
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unlovedford
Senior Member Joined: 17-December-2010 Location: Tennessee Status: Offline Points: 10142 |
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I ran air shocks on my '76 for years with no issues. Air lift bags are a better option - more expensive than shocks, but less than a true bagged setup. Also, you might look into the air ride setup on 1991 to 1994 Town Cars. Perhaps wagon cargo coils? Cheap, work well, plentiful.
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Joe
1972 Mom's Squire Wagon 1972 Torino Wagon 1976 Torino 1968 Cougar XR7-First batch 1972 Torino 460 1989 BroncoII/Jeeps/Titanimous Popeye and Brutus (Rams) |
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californiajohnny
Moderator Group Joined: 05-October-2013 Location: winlock, wa Status: Offline Points: 14609 |
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i think the inside coil lift bags would be the best IMO
real bags will ride a little bouncy unless you have a leveling valve plumbed in with on board air supply to keep it recharged like big trucks do are you wanting to raise it then dump it in town or for a show? or just raise the rear all the time? i used a pair of aluminum 2" doughnut shaped coil spacers on my car with the stock rear springs!! it's jacked and rides perfect i put them on the top of the springs so they can't be seen or come out of the spring pocket https://www.ebay.com/itm/2-Rear-Coil-Spring-Spacer-Lift-Kit-Thunderbird-Cougar-Montego-Galaxie-Torino/112448785917?fits=Model%3ATorino&epid=23002618165&hash=item1a2e784dfd:g:5S4AAOSw76dbkCYd:sc:USPSPriority!97048!US!-1 |
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JOHN
74 GRAN TORINO S&H CLONE 74 VETTE CUSTOM 90 S10 BLAZER 4X4 LIFTED 77 CELICA CUSTOM 75 V8 MONZA SUPERCHARGED 79 COURIER VERT. SLAMMED 75 VEGA V6 5 SPD 70 CHEV C10 P/U 68 MUSTANG FB CONVERSION |
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n2fordwagons
Senior Member Joined: 20-July-2013 Location: GA Status: Offline Points: 2252 |
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I want to lower the rear and run my 18's, then raise the rear, and run my 15's. I could go weeks or months with a certain combo, depending on my mood. I'd already have the car jacked up to swap out the wheels/tires. Rear coils are easy to replace, while I have it jacked up. Or, insert the spacer that you recommended. Or, I could save a little time with the "inside the coil" air bags. Has anyone had any experience with the "inside the coil" air bags? How much of a lift can I expect?
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Jeff
71 Torino Brougham 72 Gran Torino Squire |
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7T9_Tbird
Senior Member Joined: 04-December-2017 Location: Athens, Alabama Status: Offline Points: 495 |
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Just My opinion, but if your gonna leave the rims swapped weeks/months at a time, I'd use the station wagon springs(well, again). Like you said, your gonna jack it up to change the wheels anyway, so it's not that much more to drop the shock mounts and swap the springs at the same time. Air shocks, bags etc. depend on their ability to hold air, and a roadside failure means body panels and tires having unscheduled meetings. Not good.
Once again, just an opinion...
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John
79 Thunderbird Heritage 79 Thunderbird Town Landau 02 Ram 1500 Sport Quad Cab |
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72FordGTS
Admin Group GTS.org Admin Joined: 06-September-2005 Location: Ontario, Canada Status: Offline Points: 5846 |
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Jeff, I had the Airlift air bags on an old Oldsmobile station wagon I used to own. I had them in that car for almost 10 years or so and no issues with them. When you install them you can run individual lines to each bag (which is the way I did it) so that the air won't shift between one bag and the other like when going around corners.
Even with the bags maxed out, I didn't get a lot of extra height from the bags. I got maybe an inch or two at most, but I ran them for towing and carrying loads so I didn't care about stance. Mind you I had cargo coils in that car and wasn't sitting low to begin with. So maybe with really low springs it could lift the car a fair amount. Also with the bags filled to the max the ride was pretty stiff and bouncy if the car was empty. For a cheap solution they might work. I think ultimately spacers like John recommend might be your best bet, especially if you want that really raked look. Just swap them in and out as needed, but it is a bit more work each time. There is also adjustable coil overs, but that would be a lot more money and probably some fab work. I know Ilyes has coil overs on his car now.
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Vince
1972 Ford GTS Sportsroof - Survivor, One Family car GTS.org Admin |
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californiajohnny
Moderator Group Joined: 05-October-2013 Location: winlock, wa Status: Offline Points: 14609 |
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yeah i don't think those inner bags lift a whole lot, they are more for added weight like vince said and drag racers have used them to preload the torque side to keep it launching more stable and straighter...
also mine has a lot of rake due to me cutting the front coils a little and 50 series tires in front drops the front a ton |
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JOHN
74 GRAN TORINO S&H CLONE 74 VETTE CUSTOM 90 S10 BLAZER 4X4 LIFTED 77 CELICA CUSTOM 75 V8 MONZA SUPERCHARGED 79 COURIER VERT. SLAMMED 75 VEGA V6 5 SPD 70 CHEV C10 P/U 68 MUSTANG FB CONVERSION |
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madmaxtorino
Moderator Group Zombie Killing Training Instructor Joined: 04-August-2010 Location: Lawrenceburg Tn Status: Offline Points: 971 |
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I would go with air shocks with individual lines.
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Allan
Revelation 6:8 When there is no more room in Hell, the dead will walk the Earth. |
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Big Bird
Senior Member Joined: 25-August-2013 Location: New York Status: Offline Points: 4194 |
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Mark V springs will let you run 255/70-15 on 15x8.5 rims with about 3" backspace.
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"What we do in full frontal view, is more honest than your cleaned-up mind."
Randy 1979 T-Bird 2005 F-150 STX RCSB 4.6, 3.55 LSD How the Heck does a REGULAR CAB SHORTBED weigh over 5200 pounds? |
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n2fordwagons
Senior Member Joined: 20-July-2013 Location: GA Status: Offline Points: 2252 |
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This is the look I'm going for, when I'm running the 15s. Can you provide a pic from the rear? And maybe some more angles.
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Jeff
71 Torino Brougham 72 Gran Torino Squire |
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