AirBag Installation

Here are a few photos from a customer's recent installation. He is using a Lincoln Mark 8 Engine / trans and rear suspension. This view shows the completed suspension installation. The customer chose to use aftermarket air bags. While the Lincoln Mark 8 came factory-equpped with airbags, this customer chose a simple aftermarket airspring system.

This view from the rear shows some details - like driveshaft hoop and fully boxed frame.





The original suspension is shown on the chassis... This was the starting point.





This view shows the original front suspension. This original, solid axle front was replaced with a Mustang II style Double A-arm front suspension.




The frame is positioned upside down for easier access to the IRS subframe mounts as well as the boxing for the frame. This cusotmer used 3/16" to box the rails.





This close-up view of the rear IRS subframe mount. The frame was notched about an inch to lower the truck's ride height. This small notch allows upper control arm clearance.




The forward IRS subframe mount ( shown upside down in the photo below ) is tied into the new cross brace. This customer also incorporated a driveshaft hoop into the crossmember.





The crossmember, IRS subframe mounts and shock mounts are welded in place.





Front view showing the engine mounts, crossmembers and routing for the exhaust.





Another view from the front showing a better view of the crossmember with the exhaust cutouts.





Starting to look more like a rolling chassis. The IRS is in place and the chassis has been painted black.





Another view of the freshly painted chassis




Nice Rear End !    also, you can see the Lincoln v8 up front.





Another shot of the rolling chassis. Nice detail work on the engine as well as the frame.




Air Spring Installation

 The photos below show the simple installation of air springs in the Truck IRS. The installation instructions shown elsewhere still apply - the only difference is the installation of the air spring vs. the coil spring. The same mounting brackets are used regardless of your choice in coil spring vs. air spring.

The air spring is a standard, double convoluted style available for $50  or less from a number of sources.
The air fitting on the top of the bag is a schrader valve. Typically 1/4" or 3/8" air line would be routed to the airspring from a compressor or valve block... these photos are used to show the mounting, so I wanted to keep things simple.

The upper 'spring' mount remains the same as that used for the standard coil spring. The only difference in the upper mount is the hole pattern to allow air spring mounting and access to the air spring's fill port.
The lower air spring mount consists of one flat plate- shaped like a donut, a short length of round tubing and a large round, flat plate with a hole in the middle. This lower mount is designed to equalize the load across the lower control arm. The modification to the Thunderbird lower control arm is to simply drill one, 1/2" hole in the lower control arms. The location of this hole is the top of the bump originally used to locate the coil spring. This 1/2" hole has been drilled in the lower control arm shown in the photos below.


For more information... call dave - (321)960-5945 or email dave@truckIRS.com

The photo below shows the bare lower control arm in the IRS assembly.




The lower air spring mount provides stability for the spring and distributes the load evenly across the lower control arm. It consists of three pieces welded together. The photo below shows the airspring and mount prior to installation.




The next photo shows the lower air spring mount in place.




Insert the airspring into place and tighten the nut from under the control arm.




Move the upper mount into place and tighten the 3/8" nuts.




To illustrate the location of the truck's frame rail, a short piece of rectangular tubing was put in place... The upper spring mount is welded to the frame rail in the final installation. Also, gussetts are used to further strengthen the frame / upper spring mount. These are not shown in the photo.


CLICK HERE FOR INSTALLATION INSTRUCTIONS AND DETAILED INSTALLATION PHOTOS







Here are a couple of photos of a '49 Ford with an IRS installed ( With Air Springs ).






For more information... call dave - (321)960-5945 or email dave@truckIRS.com


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