Any suggestions in putting air shocks on buggy??

[Skulptorchaz]

Is this a worth while idea?? I lowered mine a bit (conventionally) but, occasionally, I like to run with some jeep buddies. I'd like to get a bit more height, out of the rear anyway, and wondered if airshocks were a do-able deal or not. If so, do you have any tips?? I was also curious if they would help with Autocross or hurt it.
Thanks!!

[BL3Manx]

Do you mean gas filled shocks or Gabriel Hi-Jacker/Monroe Max Air lift shocks?

The latter can be inflated to provide more clearance. They would probably make the ride noticeably stiffer too

Gas shocks would help with autocross but not as much as a big anti-sway bar

[Dale M.]

Problem is you want dual or triple purpose buggy, street runner, auto-crosser and off roader... The in no one suspension mod that will give you all three.... Gas shocks and sway bar will be ok for auto-x and street but no real help off road, and air shocks will be great for off road and really stiff ride and having no sway bars will make for more limber suspension for odd angles and approaches and exits off road, but will nix any conformable street ride or auto-x fun...

You might have to make choice on what is the purpose of the buggy...

Dale
_________________
“Fear The Government That Wants To Take Your Guns" - Thomas Jefferson.

"Kellison Sand Piper Roadster" For Street & Show.
"Joe Pody Sandrover" Buggy with 2180 for Autocross (Sold)
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All suggestions and advice are purely my own opinion. You are free to ignore them if you wish ...

[Skulptorchaz]

Thanx guys. I'm not that picky about any one of the three purposes. I would just like to "play" at an autocross track on occasion (if I can find one around here sometime) It would only be for fun. Just like I'd like to have a time slip from the dirt drags but don't want to get totally involved.
I like the low look and am OK with a little less than optimum ride, altho I must say, the way it is now, it really does ride nice. In the battle of form vs. function, in this case, I gravitate a bit more towards form. I love the low street look.
But it would be nice to "jack it up" a bit for a rare off road run with buddies. Nothing crazy, just seasonal roads, dirt or creek beds.

I'm really interested if there is something special to do?? I ran Hi Jackers on my '55 and '56 Chevy's in the '70's but found out the hard way that the trunk floor does not hold forever when you throw max air to them all the time. I had to fab and weld braces in it and not go for the "look of the times" as drastically.
I guess I'm just curious if there are any tips or tricks that you guys know of? I'd rather ask the experts before jump in. Is there is a "kit"? Or do you just throw on airs and go with it?
I have "bagged" a couple vehicles (going for the low look of today) but that took "C" channeling frames and/or fabbing up suspension parts that I really did not want to get into on this car. The ones I've slammed are street only. I would like a little versatility in my buggy..... if possible.
Thanks.

[Dale M.]

For chasing Porsche's and Corvettes on street and Auto-X circuit I like my buggy, for off road, I have a Jeep...

Dale
_________________
“Fear The Government That Wants To Take Your Guns" - Thomas Jefferson.

"Kellison Sand Piper Roadster" For Street & Show.
"Joe Pody Sandrover" Buggy with 2180 for Autocross (Sold)
============================================================
All suggestions and advice are purely my own opinion. You are free to ignore them if you wish ...

[cbeck]

Adjustable spring plates? Leave it low for tooling around and crank them up when needed?

[Skulptorchaz]

That was another idea. I almost put them on when I changed trans but....
My question would be, do they give you all that much ride height difference or are they mainly to level out your suspension, side to side?
Again, I'm asking as I don't know. But I would like a fairly large swing in height difference.

[cbeck]

Baja bugs and buggies book states about 20* of adjustment with the plates. I just did 7* additional on my 3x3 arms and gained back 3.5 inches. Still not where I want it. At 1.5hours per side for me, the 100$ my flaps wants for the adj plates is starting to sound better. Still not sure if I want larger bars either, would probably require a couple more tries to get those right. Spinning a bolt sounds pretty easy.

[slalombuggy]

Adjustable plates will give you about 2.5" of adjustability. Not a whole lot.

brad

[Skulptorchaz]

For anyone following this and interested in doing the same thing, I did a little searching out on the net for possible youtubes and it sent me back to these two threads:
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=285456
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=313075&postdays=0&postorder=asc&start=0
The first is long and seems to say, from some guys, that it's a waste of money.
The second one is looooooong and I am not even close to reading it all yet. (work and life get in the way) It starts out with addressing the front and then I hope the rear. Maybe I'll get thru it tonight. I just thought I'd put this out there in case.
Thanks and later guys...

[SamT]

You know, I do kinda what your saying with my sandrail. It has fox 2.0 nitrogen shocks. (The kind that use nitrogen for the spring) you valve them to your liking, tune how fast spring rate increases with oil (if that makes sense) and set the ride height with nitrogen.
I air them up at the dunes to about 20% droop if I'm going to go jumping.
Run 30% droop or so for general duning ( it's a lot sofer but you can bottom out if you air it out good on a bad dune)
40% droop if the dunes are rough, chopped up by 4x4's and stuff or from blowing.

I've run 50% droop for some river runs where I wasn't doing anything crazy and wanted a real soft ride over small bumps.

You could easily air up your bug for off-road and air it down for the street. And anything in between. You'd want to get rid of the torsion bars all around and would probably need custom mounts. I'd tune the valving for the street and take what you get off-road. There is unlimited valving and spring rate set by air. Shocks run $200 each, valving can add up if you have to try a lot, but seems 4 sets of valves run $35. A 20cf nitrogen bottle and regulator is around $200. Some tune oil is maybe $10.
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http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=546712

[Skulptorchaz]

Interesting Sam. I'll have to check out youtube to see if there is any vids. That is all new to me.
thanks buddy!