mauls

I know some of you aren't the custom type, I'm usually not either, until I saw Clay Johnsons Jetstar88.

I'd like to lower mine to sit somewhat like his. I know he is running an air bag system. My questions are what are my options to get the stance that he has, is airbags the only way?

I've never lowered a car in my entire life so I am clueless about this. I know their are coil over options, spring options and air bag options. I just didn't know which would be the best, and easiest to find for a B body car.

This is the exact stance I am wanting to achieve.

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Thanks in advance

rocketraider

I think bags will be your best option. You can drop it for show, then pump it back up to normal height for travel and a smooth ride. Hydraulics are the only other thing that will allow that and they ride like ***.

Ol' Skool Rodz and Car Kulture DeLuxe are good reads for stuff like this, plus the air suspension companies all advertise in them.

gearheads78

To get that exact stance bags are required. That picture is aired out and the car is not drivable that way. He has to air it up to drive. Mine was about as low as you can go and still function. I had about 5" clearance between crossmember and ground. Any lower and you have to raise it up to drive requiring bags.

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mauls

Thanks for the replies guys, I will go with air bags then. Do I need any special kind for a GM B body? I will ask the guy at the local shop about them as well.

gearheads78

Call air ride technologies if you want great products and no thinking involved. You do pay for all the product engineering and its not cheap.

If you can fab and design things then you can save a bunch of money just buying bags and valves and go to town.

65oldsdelta88

I was told recently that 1985 Cutlas coils would fit right into my 65 Delta 88 and drop it 3 inches alll around. Still looking into it but figure that route would only cost around $100.... May want to try something like that before spending the money for airbags......

65oldsdelta88

https://classicoldsmobile.com/forums...elta-88-a.html

tindrumstoo

i gotta say bags are the way to go if you really want that hammered look. i just got mine back from the shop and i'm loving it.

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i had a shop in the dfw area do the work. it was expensive, but the shop is known for its good work and i wanted it done right the first time so i wouldnt have problems down the road.

Theo's '67

I have had the same conundrum: lowering springs or air ride! And i have to say that i am convinced that air ride is the way to go...@tindrumstoo..your Ninety-Eight looks great slammed....that the look i want! What setup did you go with?

tindrumstoo

basically just put the bags in place of the coils. of course thats the easy way to explain it. theres quite a bit of fabrication under the car to make it work but nothing is torn up. the frame was left un touched other than a little welding up front to mount new upper shock mounts. i could essentially go back to the way it was before if i really wanted to. all i would need is a new set of lower A arms, thats the only part that had to be permanently altered to make it all work.

65oldsdelta88

What's the cost?

tindrumstoo

it cost me 4,200 to have it done by a reputable shop. done right the first time so i dont have to worry about anything down the road. they replaced a lot of worn out parts along the way too. i have new braided brake lines and all fresh ball joints. i'm sure i could have done it cheaper myself, but there was no way i was going to take the chance of messing something up to save the $$ the car means alot to me so it deserves the best, and got it.

gearheads78

Did Nathan's place do it? Looks great

tindrumstoo

whos Nathan? it was done by a shop called Branded Customs in Garland TX

gearheads78

Nathan Hale of Hales Speed Shop over in Lewisville. They have built a lot of Turbo , bagged, LS powered cars.

tindrumstoo

wow, sounds like a cool place! wish i would have known about them, sounds like my kind of place judging by what they do and the type of cars i have.

turnpike_cruiser

I'm using UMI upper and lower arms with QA1 coilovers. I've got just under 3.5 inches clearance at the cross member. Over 4000 miles with this setup and have yet to bottom out or have the headers hit anything. Speed bumps are not an issue.

gearheads78

I was not taking about my car in the quote. I was talking about the Delta. If you are only 3.5" off the ground have you ever checked your scrub line? having a flat tire and tragging the crossmember is not fun.

turnpike_cruiser

Yes I have. I running 17 wheels. With no tire on the rim I still have aprox. one inch clearance under the cross member. The Headmen headers do not extend below the cross member.