Air ride suspension questions

[hdnik]

Hello all from Canada.

With my kit a few weeks away I find myself trying to sort many ideas out prior to its arrival. One that has plagued me is the ride height of the 33.

In speaking with Tom Shea, he suggests that he has his full rendered shocks adjusted to their max height front and rear and it has left him just over 4 inches ground clearance.

As I too will be building a full fendered car, I was concerned about being able to get it on my lift. I have a 4 post 8000# directlift in my garage.

The approach has been long enough for my previous cars which were very low, but I am concerned about hanging the floorboards on my way up on the 33.

One thought was if there was a reasonably priced, easy conversion to an air ride shock/bag. Not for handling or anything severe driving needs, but to be able to raise the car when I arrive home, having a normal to lower ride height and be able to lower the car at say a car show.

Any thoughts or suggestions. I have been to ridetechs site but I wonder if there is a bolt in solution... And one possibly a little less costly.

Worst case I can park under the hoist in the summer and then either use planks or built new longer ramps for winter storage... But and air ride would be cool.

[myjones]

Hello all from Canada.
One that has plagued me is the ride height of the 33.
In speaking with Tom Shea, he suggests that he has his full rendered shocks adjusted to their max height front and rear and it has left him just over 4 inches ground clearance.
As I too will be building a full fendered car, I was concerned about being able to get it on my lift. I have a 4 post 8000# directlift in my garage.
Any thoughts or suggestions.
Worst case I can park under the hoist in the summer and then either use planks or built new longer ramps for winter storage...

I had a friends 33 on my 4 post this fall and even with no fenders it was tricky to get on the lift. Even with my custom/longer ramps we had to use 2 staggered layers of 2X10's to keep it from scraping the bottom.
I'm building a full fender car too and I've already made several frame changes and replaced the entire 4 link and coil over set-up that came with the kit, so I can get a realistic ride height. 3.25" under the running boards is not realistic for street use, but that's what the FF specs leave you with. With a couple minor design and option changes by FF the full fender crowd could have a much better product for street use.

I wish they would take this a little more seriously and hear what my fix is for this. I haven't looked at the front yet but I'm sure it will be much harder to correct the height up there.
DB
HR#431

[hdnik]

Do tell... What changes to the frame and coil overs were made?

[myjones]

Do tell... What changes to the frame and coil overs were made?

I have a thread and several pics over on the other forum search under my name on FFcars for Buck70 posts and
look in the gallery for pictures of what I have posted so far.

I changed/corrected the wheelbase adding 1" to center the rear tires in the opening. This was done with longer upper and lower control arms
That part is a bolt on deal with the added benefit of rod ends that swivel to eliminate binding. I also had sway bar tabs put on the lowers and that
makes the Mustang sway bar a bolt on. I also cut out part of the frame crossbar that had the ears for the front of the upper control arms and
welded in new tubing with different length of tabs to correct the UCA angles once the car was raised 2". That was a lot more involved but will
certainly enhance traction/launch issues that lead to the comments of "you don't need much HP with these because they are so light" I think
the poor rear geometry from correcting the ride height is why the tires spin so easy. I also hated the rear shocks rubbing on the inner fenders
on the rear and since I needed 2" longer shocks and coils I changed all those out using longer/softer coils and longer adj shocks. I moved the
lower coil over mounts inboard with new plates I made that bolt to the side of the FF boxes. The top of the coil overs were moved in-board to the
next set of existing holes in the FF gussets. If you make any of these changes the design is critical on any suspension component and I make no
guarantees as to the safety of my approach. Use your own judgement as to what works for you. Check out the pics and ask all the questions you want.
Dale

[Tony Zullo]

Hi guys i talked to mike at ridetech and the situation goes that you can use the shockwave bags in front, but the rear you will have to move the trunk aluminum panels because they will come in contact with the sides, it needs about 4.5" for that bag to clear
when it is blown up but i have a set and they work GREAT!!! rides like a caddy..

[ehansen007]

Hey Tony. Thanks for the feedback. How is the ride for sportiness? Good enough to race on?

[Tony Zullo]

Hi pal they work awsome just get the adjustable ones it gives it a much more of a racing shock i think you would love it ,let me know i can make a call for you to mike at ridetech!!

[Jim Schenck]

Eric,

The shocks that come with the hot rod kit are the same ones used on the challenge car kits, adjusting them up to the stiffer setting would still be better for track use than replacing them with something other than a full race shock.

[hdnik]

Hi guys i talked to mike at ridetech and the situation goes that you can use the shockwave bags in front, but the rear you will have to move the trunk aluminum panels because they will come in contact with the sides, it needs about 4.5" for that bag to clear
when it is blown up but i have a set and they work GREAT!!! rides like a caddy..

nice to hear that tony. I had received an email from another fellow who said he tried RideTech package to the tune of $5K and took it all out in favour of another shock... You may know that is.

What part numbers can I investigate and I wonder if you have pics of the aluminum mods in yours.

[Tony Zullo]

Try calling ridetech and the guys name is mike mendenhall #(812)481-4732 he will help you out he has a the mesurments for the 33...

[Schmities]

I wish they would take this a little more seriously and listen to what my fix is for this. I haven't considered the top side yet but I'm sure it will be much more complicated to appropriate the size up there.

Dulles Airport Limo Services (http://www.limofivestar.com/dulles-airport-limousine-service/) | Dulles Airport Limousine (http://www.limofivestar.com/dulles-airport-limousine-service/) | Dulles Airport Limousine Service (http://www.limofivestar.com/dulles-airport-limousine-service/) | Dulles Limo (http://www.limofivestar.com/dulles-limousine/) | Dulles Limousine (http://www.limofivestar.com/dulles-limousine/)