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Automotive Powered Off Road (AKA: Buggys, Jeeps, Trucks, Etc,Etc. ) => "AP" General Discusion => Topic started by: SandDragon on April 19, 2009, 06:24:44 PM

Title: Help, I can't get it up!!
Post by: SandDragon on April 19, 2009, 06:24:44 PM
 Fox air shocks.  By their description, I thought that they would support 500 lbs per corner, but has shown in 18" picture I only have 18" of ground clearance at 500 psi and even lower when I add mine and my buddy's body weight setting in the seat. What I am trying to achieve is 22" on ground clearance as shown in 22" picture.  Rough estimated weight of my frame is 336 lbs, 75 lbs for the transmission and 450 lbs for the motor.  Can I achieve my 22" ground clearance by adding two more 16" 2.0 air shocks?  My budget doesn't allow me to purchase the Coilovers, but I can't afford to spend $400+ more if they won't help.  Does anyone know the answer besides buy the best and pay the most. Thanks,
Title: Re: Help, I can't get it up!!
Post by: fabr on April 19, 2009, 06:28:26 PM
First question is HOW MUCH CV angle am I seeing? Looks like a bunch . Are you SURE you can do what you want?
Title: Re: Help, I can't get it up!!
Post by: SandDragon on April 19, 2009, 06:33:32 PM
It is right at 26 deg. at 22" according to the information that I got I can run 28 deg on these race prep 930 cv's I plan on setting my limit straps to not let it fall below 26 deg's
Title: Re: Help, I can't get it up!!
Post by: fabr on April 19, 2009, 06:36:04 PM
It is right at 26 deg. at 22" according to the information that I got I can run 28 deg on these race prep 930 cv's I plan on setting my limit straps to not let it fall below 26 deg's
Do whatever you want but IMO running them at that angle for extended time is asking for trouuble.
Title: Re: Help, I can't get it up!!
Post by: SandDragon on April 19, 2009, 06:42:08 PM
I can take it down a couple of deg's will that help? Where would run them at? Will two more shocks help hold it up and keep it from being to soft in the back?
Title: Re: Help, I can't get it up!!
Post by: Admin on April 19, 2009, 06:45:49 PM
you have to add oil to increase spring rate... and you add n2 at full droop... More oil less the n2 can compress, giving a higher spring rate...
Title: Re: Help, I can't get it up!!
Post by: fabr on April 19, 2009, 06:46:26 PM
Lower it to where it is at a decent ride height-approx 1/3 way into bump and limit cv's to 25* to be safe-sort of.  Then you need to know CORRECT weight.You have to be way off.
Title: Re: Help, I can't get it up!!
Post by: SandDragon on April 19, 2009, 07:02:35 PM
Thanks I'll give those things a try and get back with you later. Thanks
Title: Re: Help, I can't get it up!!
Post by: Admin on April 19, 2009, 07:12:54 PM
were did you add 500 lbs with the shock compressed? Jack it all the way up and add 300 psi and see what happens, If you are not using nitrogen the pressure will be off as well... And it will ruin the shock over time...
Title: Re: Help, I can't get it up!!
Post by: artie on edge on April 19, 2009, 07:19:24 PM
Title: Re: Help, I can't get it up!!
Post by: fabr on April 19, 2009, 07:25:30 PM
I want to know who among us is able to air anything up to 500# AIR  . He has to be using nitrogen.
Title: Re: Help, I can't get it up!!
Post by: Admin on April 19, 2009, 07:34:22 PM
Duh, brain fart, lol... ;D
Title: Re: Help, I can't get it up!!
Post by: SandDragon on April 19, 2009, 07:35:28 PM
Oh yes I'm using nitrogen and I added it under a load.
Title: Re: Help, I can't get it up!!
Post by: Admin on April 19, 2009, 07:39:32 PM
Oh yes I'm using nitrogen and I added it under a load.

Ya try it with them fully extended, then loaded they will have about 1200 psi... Id start with 300 and see what you get..
Title: Re: Help, I can't get it up!!
Post by: Doug Heim on April 19, 2009, 07:56:15 PM
Oh yes I'm using nitrogen and I added it under a load.

you should never add nitrogen or charge your shock supporting a load. Thats most likley your main problem.
Title: Re: Help, I can't get it up!!
Post by: dsrace on April 19, 2009, 08:28:55 PM
what motor is that? my motor is an 3.8 v-6 series II and it weighs 395lbs roughly 400lbs according to gm with the accessories! I can tell you that 2.0's alone won't handle the weight especially in rear engine configuration. you will need 2.5's with out coils or coil assist 2.0's for that weight. the coil assist 2.0 costs the same ( roughly ) as the 2.5 air shock.  if you do go with the 2.0 coil assist and you only need 14" coils bug pack can get them to you cheaper than fox! if that motor is comparable in weight to mine I could look up my spring rates to give you a start.
Title: Re: Help, I can't get it up!!
Post by: artie on edge on April 19, 2009, 08:33:53 PM
I want to know who among us is able to air anything up to 500# AIR  . He has to be using nitrogen.

Do you really want to know or are you just being a smartarse?  ;D
Title: Re: Help, I can't get it up!!
Post by: SandDragon on April 19, 2009, 09:21:49 PM
Hey dsrace I am running 3.8 v6 II gm motor also but please excuse my ignorance is the coil assist something that I add to my current 2.0 shocks or are they a completly different shock.
Title: Re: Help, I can't get it up!!
Post by: Admin on April 19, 2009, 09:31:59 PM
Completley different..
Title: Re: Help, I can't get it up!!
Post by: dsrace on April 19, 2009, 10:01:37 PM
Hey dsrace I am running 3.8 v6 II gm motor also but please excuse my ignorance is the coil assist something that I add to my current 2.0 shocks or are they a completly different shock.

ya they are completely different shocks. the coil assist has a threaded body for the coils. who sold you those shocks? did you tell them what you were going to use them on? are you running the stock pcm? if so have you had it flashed yet or is it out of an older car that didn't have the security system?
Title: Re: Help, I can't get it up!!
Post by: dsrace on April 19, 2009, 10:06:01 PM
 I see you still have the stock exhaust system on the motor are you going to run that? I will post a pic of the headers on my engine, I made them myself it was pretty simple. I do believe you would pre-fer to get rid of the emission controls as well. 
Title: Re: Help, I can't get it up!!
Post by: Yoshi on April 20, 2009, 08:37:34 AM
I can take it down a couple of deg's will that help? Where would run them at? Will two more shocks help hold it up and keep it from being to soft in the back?
Jack the frame up  high enough you can allow the axles to be at 28 degrees but not touching the floor.  Spin the wheel, you will feel the bind in the axles, keep jacking up the wheel until it no longer binds, then go up about 3/8" more and measure how much of your shock shaft is showing, deduct that number from the shock stroke, and stick some internal spacers inside the shocks to limit the travel...

Do you have any better pics of the engine compartment, what's holding the motor/back of the transmission up?
Title: Re: Help, I can't get it up!!
Post by: fastcorvairs on April 20, 2009, 09:15:08 AM
   SandDrangon

Just having a brain fart here SandDrangon.  IMO Them rear top shock mounts really should be double shear.  Same at the lower outer trailing arms.  Found a nice four seat sand car in the Dunes this week end that the lower inter bolt came out of the trailing arm and when the arm swung out it popped the outer hime joint off the bolt.  Ifen it had been double shear it mite not have scrapped the shock like it did. 
Title: Re: Help, I can't get it up!!
Post by: Carlriddle on April 20, 2009, 01:40:30 PM
Most/all this motor weight is hanging out past the wheels which put all that weight on the rear shocks.  Like putting all the fat chicks in the trunk and now my bumber drags?? ;D  Atleast your not trying to figure this out with coilovers. 
Title: Re: Help, I can't get it up!!
Post by: fastcorvairs on April 20, 2009, 03:31:31 PM
Most/all this motor weight is hanging out past the wheels which put all that weight on the rear shocks.  Like putting all the fat chicks in the trunk and now my bumber drags?? ;D  Atleast your not trying to figure this out with coilovers.

That is a mity heavy motor to not have some kind of mount on the back end.  That is putting a lot of faith in the four Tanny bolts that hold the motor to the engine.  Not to mention the load that the front trans mount will see when you come down from a jump.
Title: Re: Help, I can't get it up!!
Post by: SandDragon on April 20, 2009, 04:47:49 PM
I just hung the motor to see if the shocks would hold it up I haven't had a chance to put the outer mount on for the shocks or put the rear motor mounts on yet. Thanks for all the advice though. Dsrace cool headers the motor I'm running came out of my old buggy and I bought some new mufflers and a buddy of mine is building me a new set of headers. My wife does taxes and we traded out the work so I have to thank the wife for a free set of pipes. As far as the ECU goes I'm not sure if it has been flashed or not it seamed to run good in the old buggy, but seamed to come up on the rev limiter fast. You called those shocks coil assist are you talking about coilover emulsion shocks? Have you ever heard of FOA shocks are they any good they said they could set me up with what i need for around $600. Anyone need a new set of 16" Fox 2.0 air looks like I'll be taking a loss and buying a new set of coilovers.
Title: Re: Help, I can't get it up!!
Post by: dsrace on April 20, 2009, 10:46:45 PM
Title: Re: Help, I can't get it up!!
Post by: Admin on April 21, 2009, 07:59:31 PM
Make sure you get the right length, the 16's almost look to long, you may consider turning your lower mount the other way as well so it doesnt work the ball angle so much..
Title: Re: Help, I can't get it up!!
Post by: Dunebound69 on April 22, 2009, 09:36:16 AM
Don't for get to have a mount to control the torque of the motor. I forgot mine and broke off the rear motor mount and the front mount on the trans mount. Babied it off the dunes on one bolt!
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