Tech - Air Lift Kit

1. For this project we begin by lifting thefront end with a floor jack and supporting it with jackstands under therocker panels. (click here for an image)

2. After the car has been securely supportedwith jackstands we remove the tire/wheel and disassemble the front spindlethen remove the stock springs and shocks. (click herefor an image)

3. Next a small square section is cut out ofthe lower control arm and the lower air bag mounting plate is welded inplace. (click here for an image)

4. Click here to see thefront air bag assembly, note the grade-eight bolts used to attach thebag to the mounting tube.

5. Here we show how the air bag assembly isfitted on the lower control arm and bolted in place. (clickhere for an image)

6. Next, mark and drill a hole in the sideof the lower arm for the new shock mounting bolt. (clickhere for an image )

7. This shows the schock mounting bolt attached,and the plate welded in place. (click here for an image)

8. A small section of the inner fender panelmust be cut away for the new upper shock mounting bracker to clear. (clickhere for an image)

9. The shock bracket is welded to the framewith the mounting tabs up. (click here for an image)

10. The new toxic shock is slipped into theupper mounting bracket and bolted securely. (clickhere for an image)

11. The bottom of the shock is slipped ontothe mounting bolt and fastened securely. (click herefor an image)

12. The front spindle is reassembled and theprocess is repeated on the other side. (click herefor an image)

13. The 3/8-inch air line is connected to eachair bag and the hoses are run through a (grommeted) hole in the firewall.(click here for an image)

14. The Excess from both lines is pulled throughthe outside. (click here for an image)

15. with the excess line cut off, the frontlines are connected to a "T" fitting and a single line to the rear.(click here for an image)

16. Begin the rear conversion by jacking upthe rear end and removing the tire/wheel and the stock shock and spring.(click here for an image)

17. The lower spring perch (on the trailingarm) must be cut off. (click here for an image)

18. a (provided) lower bag mounting plate iswelded in the preper place on the trailing arm. (clickhere for an image)

19. Click here to seean image of the rear air bag assembly.

20. Here we fit the rear bag on the trailingarm mounting plate and bolt it securely to the bottom mounting plate. (clickhere for an image)

21. A new Toxic shock is now mounted in thestock shock location. Air lines are then attached to the bag fittings andrun to the rear. (click here for an image)

22. The completed rear air bag assembly looksclean and, with the new shocks, will provide better ride, handling andcontrol. (click here for an image)

23. The "setup" for this '64 impala includestwo firestone ride rite air ("pumps") compressors, two solenoids,two diaphragms, brass fittings and a wiring block, on a custom-made("rack")platform. (click here for an image)

24. Next we place the setup in the trunk andbolt it to the floor from underneath. (click here foran image)

25. The power wire from the setup is connectedto a fused mounting block which has a hot lead running from the battery.(click here for an image)

26. all four air lines are hooked up to thesetup and then attached to the "T" fittings (clickhere for an image)

27. After you have completed the setup, itshould look clean and should easily fit inside the trunk. (clickhere for an image)

28. A 7-Gallon air tank(mounted on the other side of the trunk) holds enough air to put the carthrough several moves without the compressors coming on

29. We have added a double-switch panel whichis mounted near the steering column to raise and lower the car. (clickhere for an image)

30. A separate panel with air pressure gaugesshows the psi in each bag and has switches to control the pressure in thebags individually for front, back and side to side moves. Thisimage shows the back panel.

31. Here we images of thecar in action.

If you would like more informationon this you can contact Master Image Customs at (714) 970-9488 or writea letter to them at 801 Lakeview Ave. - Dept. LRM - Placenta, CA - 92670and for information on the Air Kit you can contact Firestone IndustrialProducts at (800) AIRIDES or also write a letter to the address of 12650Hamilton Crossing Blvd. - Dept. LRM - Carmel, IN - 46032