Bobbed m35 with air bag suspension

[Deucemedic]

Ok to start this thread out i wanna say I'm a newbie. That said lets move on. Bought a 69 deuce with a white multi in it, decided i wanted to bob it. So after calling half the people on SS (thank you C&C and 100 dollar for your patience!) i found a mad scientist of mechanics here in my home town. After much talk about what i wanted he threw back some ideas at me and we decided to put airbags on it. As this build goes ill post as many pics as i can. Some of the things i want to do is make it easy to cruise in with my daughters when we go camping hiking or run from zombies this december. I plan to move the exhaust under the bed with a muffler. They're loud, I'm half deaf and i want to hear my kids talk while we ride. Redoing the interior with black diamond plate on the doors and dash, new seats, AC and a stereo. thats just some stuff i plan on doing. So the mechs gonna post on here all the technical data i cant answer. Ill answer all the aesthetic things. any advice would be great as this is my first one.

 

[cj360trider]

we will be using as many existing M35 parts as possible, so this duece will have a 4 link suspension under the rear. we will also be getting rid of the air brake lines running to the back of the truck. and replacing all the copper air lines with synflex lines.

 

[cidrich]

I installed an air ride system from a 97 freightliner. It was pretty easy to install and it rides great. I am bobbing a friends truck with the same set up and when I get that one dont I have a 5 ton I am going to do the same thing to. I also installed air ride seats and power steering. I drive it every day and love it. It rides like a pickup and is alot easier to get around in. No AC yet but it will happen one day. Good luck and post plenty of pictures!

 

[ivbeenrokd]

Good to hear from you. Are you in touch with anyone in the local club?


Club website:
Home

 

[cj360trider]

im personally am not...not yet anyway. not sure about d-med. and another thing we will be working on a bit later is converting the front to an air ride as well. as for now it is just one thing at a time

 

[Bcurtman]

Great! Learn from our mistakes. I used a Reyco air ride on mine, and it rides great, but I WAY prefer the freight liner air ride that is truly independent side to side, with no cross bar. My 13 year old son and I cut ours down and had it on its feet in about 2 weeks doing everything ourselves. You can see my build at "getting closer to bob", and all my pics are in my album. I'm happy to answer any question that I have a clue about. Mine is Sooo much fun to drive! Took the top off tonight so it's topless the rest of the week. By the way, there's no air lines to the brakes...only to the airpak or booster. I'm running my exhaust out the back this week with a muffler, as I too want to hear. Welcome aboard!

 

[rbeasley66]

By the way, there's no air lines to the brakes...only to the airpak or booster.

I think their talking about the air brake lines that run to the rear of the truck and connect to the glad hands for trailer brakes.

 

[cj360trider]

correct beasly. being that he wont be hauling anything w air brakes, the lines are not needed. however 1 of the lines may possibly get a quick connect for a hose so he can air up a tire or blow out the cab

 

[Bcurtman]

My bad. I stripped mine all the way to the frame from the cab back as well. I ran my air ride off of a regulator fed from the line under the passenger side dash, but I have to say that I am changing that soon as well. I don't know if my regulator is not sensitive enough or what, but I am having a hard time dialing in an exact pressure for a given ride height. I'm going to feed directly off of the dry tank to see if that makes a difference, and then, if not, I'll replace the regulator. I did not choose to use the automatic ride height valve as I've had issues with those on semis a few times in the past. Your mileage may vary....

 

[Deucemedic]

Just a question to anyone who has cut the existing bed down for a Bobjob, What length did you go with? Ours is gonna be little more that 8 feet. And yes I've spoke with some folks from the local club but I've been working so **** much i haven't touched base with them as of late. Has anyone ordered the Wheels and rims from C&C? did they go on without much trouble?
I plan to start the cab in 2 weeks, Dplate, paint, lining and seats while CJ does the hard stuff lol. I feel like a wrench getter for him but i gotta start somewhere right.
i also plan to put some new lights in and add a few extra so anyone with electrical advice please chime in, and yes ill post pics of me getting shocked.

 

[Deucemedic]

Just a question to anyone who has cut the existing bed down for a Bobjob, What length did you go with? Ours is gonna be little more that 8 feet. And yes I've spoke with some folks from the local club but I've been working so **** much i haven't touched base with them as of late. Has anyone ordered the Wheels and rims from C&C? did they go on without much trouble?
I plan to start the cab in 2 weeks, Dplate, paint, lining and seats while CJ does the hard stuff lol. I feel like a wrench getter for him but i gotta start somewhere right.
i also plan to put some new lights in and add a few extra so anyone with electrical advice please chime in, and yes ill post pics of me getting shocked.

 

[FireFighterHill]

For extra lights and electronics add a auxiliary 12 volt system with its own alternator and battery.

 

[cj360trider]

is there anything 12 volt on these trucks? I work on touring coaches that have a split 12/24 system in them. they use only 24 volt alternators and draw 12 volts off of 1 battery cud that not be done on this truck as well? that wud cut costs WAY down and make things much simpler in general.

 

[FireFighterHill]

Doing that will work but without a equalizer it will kill your batteries and could potentially damage your 24volt alt.

 

[cj360trider]

we will be getting an equalizer made by a company called VANNER. they work well and are built for the heavy duty application. My buses have them and on the oldest models we own we are yet to have trouble out of them.

 

[crazywelder72]

Can you all post detailed pics of your airbag mounts? I may be doing mine as a friend is hooking me up with parts. so i am trying to get ideas.

also, has anyone converted the front to airride and removed the leafs? i was told i would need to add torsion rods to the front if i do it.

 

[cj360trider]

sure! pics are goin up anyway ill be sure to get detailed pics of the build

 

[RHudson85]

I have bags on the front of my truck. It was built by C and C. I'm in the middle of putting crossover steering on it. When I am done, I will post some pics. If you are going to bags in the front of your truck I would reccommend dual track bars. One going in each direction, it will really stiffen up the sway. I found that out when I went to put my power steering box in.

 

[crazywelder72]

I have bags on the front of my truck. It was built by C and C. I'm in the middle of putting crossover steering on it. When I am done, I will post some pics. If you are going to bags in the front of your truck I would reccommend dual track bars. One going in each direction, it will really stiffen up the sway. I found that out when I went to put my power steering box in.

deffinatly want to see pics. I think i will start by doing bags in the rear and phase 2 will be the front bags

 

[RHudson85]

Oh and to answer your other question, NO you do not need torsion bars. I can't think of why you would. One more thing, you may have to come up with something else for your steering. The air bag perches on the front axle will more than likely interfere with your steering arm coming off the knuckle. I had full hydro, and what a joke that was. If it was a trail rig only that would be fine, but full hyrdo driving down the road is asking to get pulled over for drunk driving.