Air shocks?

[66Chryslernewport]

Ok so I built myself a set of sidepipes for my 4 dr 66 Chrysler Newport. I know what your thinking, but I bought a new mig welder and I had some time on my hands. It turned out great, I love it. Anyway, I loaded my car with 6 people and was going for a ride and discovered with all that weight I was bottoming out on my new exhaust on speed bumps and other rises.A buddy of mine threw out the idea of those manually inflated air shocks, so when I need to put weight in the car, pump them up and when I dont let them down. Does this idea seem reasonable? I am only 18 so I only have limited experience. What is the deal with air shocks? Would it work to just put two on the back and use them when I need to add weight or would I need them on all 4? Or is it not worth it and I should just tell my fat friends to walk? Thanks for your help.

-Grant Howerton

[MagicRat]

Thats pretty much it with the air shocks.
If the back end is really soft you might want to add a leaf to the rear leaf spring pack or get them re arched at a spring shop (about $125 to 250, depending on the shop)
I have air shoks on my '81 caddy for the same reason. They don't work miracles, that is, they can only support about 300 lbs on their own.

So, try loading up the car with your fat friends. It bottoms out, right?
Then throw out 300 lbs of friends and see if the problem goes away. If the problem is still there, air shocks are not enough and you need real spring work.

[71Cnet]

air shocks is a very good idea. i have them in my 71 coronet and ive packed my car with 7 poeple and i didnt bottom out at all. the shocks i have are gabrielles. you can put up to 200 psi in the shocks. i only have 75 psi in there at all times and like i said i never bottomed out. the only thing is i was gonna put them under my 67 newport 4 door but tranny problems are keeping me from that. i know the newport is heavier but you shouldnt have a problem. the shocks come with everything you need. lines, fittings, and o-rings. pretty much bolt in.

[77firechicken]

Ill be the one not for air shocks, When inflated it puts more strain on the body, eventually you can put the shock through the top support. Just my 2 cents, believe it or not

[M3FordBoy]

Originally Posted by 77firechicken

Ill be the one not for air shocks, When inflated it puts more strain on the body, eventually you can put the shock through the top support. Just my 2 cents, believe it or not

Yep back in the day as my dad would say he had a buddy with a '70s monte carlo and always had his air shocks pumped up so he could get better launches and one day hit a pot hole putting the shock throulgh the floor. I'll probley end up putting some on my '68 Galaxie for a few inch lift in the back.

[AlmostStock]

Air shocks will only bust the upper mounts if you pump them up real high or the upper mount area is rusted. As long as most of the weight is on the spring you should be ok. You could also consider installing coil over shocks which will also help some without the possibility of being over inflated like air shocks. If the rear sits low without much load then I would just change the springs. What ever you do don't leave your friends at home.
"Hop in my Chrysler it's as big as a whale and it's about to set sail!" -the B52's Love Shack