strength of airbag set-up - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

joehalford01 · 02-10-2008, 08:51 AM

Hi guys,

I've been working on my 63 longbed for a while and I'm at a make or break point. I've gone a long with the whole cruiser longbed with bags thing idea but it's not really what i'm interested in. I'd like to make a screamer out of it but i don't think a long bed is much of a hot rod. I'm considering bob-tailing it to lighten it up and give it a more hot rod look. I've already purchased the bags and a 10" step notch bridge kit. How will the bags hold up in a high horsepower application? I currently have a 327 that is a bit tired and will get rebuilt to run 6000-6500rpm passes. Let me know what you think.

GMC70c20 · 02-10-2008, 10:29 AM

the air bags wouldn't be the weak link of your rear, it would be the control arms. There's some guys that run bags on there drag truck so they can get it down in the weeds when your at the track. If your gonna run a 327 and only rev it to 6500rpm you should be fine with the stock control arms or stock leafs. You can re-place the coils with the bags and adjust the rear for the right pinion angle and run it that way. Or if you want to save some more weight I've seen guys make there own control arms out of mild steel square tube. Or if you wanna get real crazy stick a 4 link under it with the bags and that would be perfect for racing. If you want your truck to hook at the track I would not use them in the front

joehalford01 · 02-10-2008, 03:11 PM

that gives me somewhere to start. I plan on shortening my stock trailing arms and boxing them up for strength so i should be good there. thanks

GMC70c20 · 02-11-2008, 10:34 AM

well if your gonna be cutting them up anyway you may as well make new ones, I think the stock ones are cast Iron which is a mother f$$$er to weld and have it not crack.

djracer · 02-13-2008, 12:51 AM

don't cut the trailing arm! My truck has been in the 1.20's in sixty foot and is capable of a high 8 second run and it has trailing arms!

Long bed and short bed arms are the same!

If you were not on the other side of the world i'd give you a short bed frame.

GMC70c20 · 02-13-2008, 03:01 PM

wouldn't a tubular control arms be lighter therefore better for the track? Wouldn't making a tubular control arm be not real hard to do?

Outlaw72 · 02-13-2008, 03:02 PM

CSS sale a set that appear to be pretty nice.

djracer · 02-13-2008, 09:25 PM

they do look pretty sweet!

Super73 · 02-14-2008, 02:11 AM

The only negative thing I can see with a tubular arm is ride quality. The double I C beam ][ allows for flex under a bump situation. That flex will also keep the suspension out of bind easier.

If this is a 1/4 mile truck that doesn't get driven on the street, no problem. Or your not concerned about a rougher ride, no problem.

02-10-2008, 08:51 AM	#1
joehalford01 Registered User Join Date: May 2007 Location: Visalia, CA Posts: 98	strength of airbag set-up Hi guys, I've been working on my 63 longbed for a while and I'm at a make or break point. I've gone a long with the whole cruiser longbed with bags thing idea but it's not really what i'm interested in. I'd like to make a screamer out of it but i don't think a long bed is much of a hot rod. I'm considering bob-tailing it to lighten it up and give it a more hot rod look. I've already purchased the bags and a 10" step notch bridge kit. How will the bags hold up in a high horsepower application? I currently have a 327 that is a bit tired and will get rebuilt to run 6000-6500rpm passes. Let me know what you think.

02-10-2008, 10:29 AM	#2
GMC70c20 Registered User Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Iowa Posts: 974	Re: strength of airbag set-up the air bags wouldn't be the weak link of your rear, it would be the control arms. There's some guys that run bags on there drag truck so they can get it down in the weeds when your at the track. If your gonna run a 327 and only rev it to 6500rpm you should be fine with the stock control arms or stock leafs. You can re-place the coils with the bags and adjust the rear for the right pinion angle and run it that way. Or if you want to save some more weight I've seen guys make there own control arms out of mild steel square tube. Or if you wanna get real crazy stick a 4 link under it with the bags and that would be perfect for racing. If you want your truck to hook at the track I would not use them in the front Last edited by GMC70c20; 02-10-2008 at 01:51 PM.

02-10-2008, 03:11 PM	#3
joehalford01 Registered User Join Date: May 2007 Location: Visalia, CA Posts: 98	Re: strength of airbag set-up that gives me somewhere to start. I plan on shortening my stock trailing arms and boxing them up for strength so i should be good there. thanks

02-11-2008, 10:34 AM	#4
GMC70c20 Registered User Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Iowa Posts: 974	Re: strength of airbag set-up well if your gonna be cutting them up anyway you may as well make new ones, I think the stock ones are cast Iron which is a mother f$$$er to weld and have it not crack.

02-13-2008, 12:51 AM	#5
djracer Registered User Join Date: Feb 2001 Location: Wetumpka, Al, U.S. Posts: 8,891	Re: strength of airbag set-up don't cut the trailing arm! My truck has been in the 1.20's in sixty foot and is capable of a high 8 second run and it has trailing arms! Long bed and short bed arms are the same! If you were not on the other side of the world i'd give you a short bed frame. __________________ Kevin Special Thanks to All who have helped on the TRUCK! My Pass Time Show http://s129.photobucket.com/albums/p...Chapter1-0.mp4 So Far my best Times are: Motor only: 6.44 1/8 @ 104.13 10.39 1/4 @ 125.83 Nitrous Times: 5.785 1/8 @ 118.65 with a 1.336 60ft 9.168 1/4 @ 142.58 with a 250 shot dead out of the hole!

02-13-2008, 03:01 PM	#6
GMC70c20 Registered User Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Iowa Posts: 974	Re: strength of airbag set-up wouldn't a tubular control arms be lighter therefore better for the track? Wouldn't making a tubular control arm be not real hard to do? __________________ 1970 c20 converted to c10 sleeper 1979 c20 the wood hauler 1991 honda civic daily driver spray and pray baby

02-13-2008, 03:02 PM	#7
Outlaw72 Hay Team!! Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Ft. Worth, TX, USA Posts: 366	Re: strength of airbag set-up CSS sale a set that appear to be pretty nice. __________________ 1972 Chevrolet Cheyenne LWB "Orange and White" 8)

02-13-2008, 09:25 PM	#8
djracer Registered User Join Date: Feb 2001 Location: Wetumpka, Al, U.S. Posts: 8,891	Re: strength of airbag set-up they do look pretty sweet! __________________ Kevin Special Thanks to All who have helped on the TRUCK! My Pass Time Show http://s129.photobucket.com/albums/p...Chapter1-0.mp4 So Far my best Times are: Motor only: 6.44 1/8 @ 104.13 10.39 1/4 @ 125.83 Nitrous Times: 5.785 1/8 @ 118.65 with a 1.336 60ft 9.168 1/4 @ 142.58 with a 250 shot dead out of the hole!

02-14-2008, 02:11 AM	#9
Super73 Registered User Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Bay Area, Ca Posts: 2,841	Re: strength of airbag set-up The only negative thing I can see with a tubular arm is ride quality. The double I C beam ][ allows for flex under a bump situation. That flex will also keep the suspension out of bind easier. If this is a 1/4 mile truck that doesn't get driven on the street, no problem. Or your not concerned about a rougher ride, no problem.



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