Airbag Suspension?

[Reddy2Race]

Hi,

So has anyone tried putting an airbag suspension on a Cobra?

I am mid way through this project! - I wish!

Motivation: Other than being crazy I really like the low stance look but quickly realized that meant no ground clearance. This coupled with the poor ride (granted I didn't work on this much... long story!) and my over all inability to drive down my own driveway prompted this adventure... god save me!

I have come to realize if there is an easy way or a hard way I some how always choose the hard way... oops!

Anyway I have a bunch of high res = large file size pictures that I will work to shrink so I can post. I hope I can get some advice and maybe share the project as I work to complete and rate how it turns out so someone else doesn't do it the hard way!

I finally settled on cutting out my front hats to install new ones and much of the rear shock mount along with clearancing my frame to make it work...pray for me!

I still have a few hurdles with regard to the suspension including modifying my roll bar down tubes and redoing the mounts and of course rewiring the whole car, reinstalling the motor, all the suspension, new brake lines, etc. You get the picture!

Anyway I would love to hear if anyone else has gone down the air suspension path?

I will be happy to share anything requested and only ask for help here and there as evidenced by my wiring questions... thanks in advance!

Chris

[Double Venom]

RTR,
We helped a customer of mine in '95(?) on a Turnkey CR's after he had a Air Bag Suspension installed. You wont like his results anymore than he did..... He too had to cut out the top Hats and make all kinds of frame changes. Driving and steering turned out to be a nightmare! Last but not least I told him- and being an inspector, declared the car unfit to be on the road.

After months of working out one problem after another our/his only choice was to completely remove the Air Bags and put everything back in a stock position. Talk about a huge nightmare and cost! Last I heard he was suing the Air Bag company for ensuring him that their Air Bag system would work on a CR's Cobra!

I do pray for you!
DV

[Reddy2Race]

DV,

Thanks for the info and to it all I can say is let's hope the technology has improved because I am going to find out!

I have all the major modifications done and will post some pictures soon. I used a certified welder and the design is stronger than the what was there previously so I have little concern over the safety aspect.

Chris

[FUNFER2]

I've always wondered about bags on a cobra, not so much to park it in the weeds at shows but, rather possibly,.... a better ride.

Keep us posted !

[Jim Werth]

I know a guy who said he had airbags from a Lincoln in his Shell Valley Cobra. Never had a chance to look under his car. Jim

[tcrist]

When I was putting mine together I thought about them. I did not want to have to push a button to go up and down. I was thinking about an old 1960 Caddy that had air ride.

When you fired up the motor the car would raise to ride height in about 60 seconds and after you shut it off it took from 30 to 45 min for it to drop back down again.

Maybe it just had a leak.

Edit: Not sure, but if on the rears you put them in place of the stock coil springs and ran standard shocks. On the front I am sure that you could do somewhat the same.