67 Buick Electra system ?

[CyberT]

Which setup would you recommend for buick electra 1967 ?

I’m thinking on the latest RidePro e2 parts but what about the rest?

(Will I regret if I choose the set with only one pump and tank?
Are there good qualities on the pump or will it overheat and die in one month or so?) :-)

Thanks!

[darren@ridetech.com]

Bigger car like that require more volume to acheive ride height. I would suggest the ARC4100e2 kit with the 5 gal. tank. The ARC4000e2 would probably be fine though. It has a 3 gal. tank. Worse possible scenario.....you would not have enough volume to hit the preset ride height and would have to manually top it off after the compressor catches up.

We don' t have a suspension kit for that car but I do have universal kits that will work. Looking at about $700 for the universal air spring kit, front and rear.

[CyberT]

Hi.

It’s embarrassing but I haven’t bought any system yet. But I’m almost finished with the car now and I took a look at you new website.

I noticed that Buick 1965-1970 was listed now. I just which to get it confirmed that this is the correct parts for my Electra 1967, and will I still need to weld some by my self?
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SKW1049 Buick 65-70 Fullsize Front Shockwaves
ARR23000 Buick 65-70 Rear CoolRide
OR
ARR23000-LUCA Buick 65-70 Rear CoolRide w/ StrongArms
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The rear ones didn’t mention “fullsize” and will I need strongarms?
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Will this large AirPod be needed to get quick response, or would it be overkill, is it worth the extra 500? Does this kit include the latest tech, such as the LevelPro?

What kind of power do we talk about; will it rise nice and easy, or almost jump? On the older website did they mention seconds.

APOD4100L AirPod w/ 5 gal. Tank, 2 compressors, and LevelPro control
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Do I need something more, some tube to connect everything or does it include?


Thanks!

[britt@ridetech.com]

The larger the vehicle, the more weight the system has to lift. This takes a little more air (volume) than a 3-gallon tank can supply. When comparing the 4000 and the 4100 compressor systems they contain the exact same parts, except the tank size and number of compressors (we've found a single Thomas compressor works at its optimum when used with 3-gallons per compressor, which is why the 4000 has one compressor and the 4100 has two.)
Since both use 1/4-inch valves and lines the vehicle will not "jump" in the air. It's a nice controlled inflate and deflate.
All compressor systems contain all parts needed to install a system: lines, fittings, etc.

Any compressor system can be made into an AirPod. We assemble and test the entire system before it goes out the door. You have to hook up the airlines to the bags, power ground and ignition wires, plug in the display and you are done.

Any AirPod can be configured as an E2 (air pressure only) or as a LevelPro (air and level sensors). The ECU's are exactly the same. The system recognizes when level sensors are present and uses different software which it automatically switches to. All you have to do is plug in all four level sensors.

[CyberT]

Thanks, but what about the front shockwaves and rear coolride. These were listed to Electra 65-70. Earlier have I been told to use universal parts? I just which to get it confirmed that


SKW1049 Buick 65-70 Fullsize Front Shockwaves
ARR23000 Buick 65-70 Rear CoolRide
OR
ARR23000-LUCA Buick 65-70 Rear CoolRide w/ StrongArms

Will fit my Electra 67, and will I have to do welding job to make them mountable?
(As I had to with the universal bags)

What is StrongArms, Do I need them?

Thanks.

[britt@ridetech.com]

I do the electronics so I don't want to provide false information regarding what hardware to use on your car. However, our fitment list shows the SKW1049 Front Shockwaves and
ARR23000 Rear CoolRide work on that vehicle.

The StronArms in the rear replace the stock control arms that locate the rear end. Though these are not the exact units, they look very similar to this:

http://www.ridetech.com/products/GM_A_Body_64_72_StrongArms_for_CoolRide_Rear_Lower-1048-82.html

There should be no welding required, but I'll let Darren confirm this tomorrow.

[darren@ridetech.com]

The SKW1049 & ARR23000 are correct for that car, we just finished developing them!

[CyberT]

Thanks!

Does this setup for the Electra require any cutting on the frame?

Should I also buy some special shocks? Don’t se much about that, not meant to use them with an airride system?

Any new products on the way or will the Airpod & Levelpro still be the most high-tech choice this summer?

:)

[darren@ridetech.com]

We don't have anything new coming down the pipeline in the near future.

To install the front Shockwave a little trimming must be done around the coil spring pocket. The shockwave has a 16 position adjustable, billet aluminum shock inside the air spring.

The rear coolride kit comes with a non adjustable steel body shock, which can be upgraded to the billet aluminum shocks like used in the front shockwaves. No trimming on the rear.

[britt@ridetech.com]

I should clarify Darren's statement: "We don't have anything new coming down the pipeline in the near future."

We do have new parts "in the works", such as more vehicle specific kits, new electronics, new sensors, new air springs, etc.

I can speak personally for the electronics, and though we are working on revolutionary new products, most of these are still in the R&D prototype stage and I do not plan on releasing them until early 2009.

The E2/LevelPro system was slated for a redesign, but it’s been so successful I’ve been allowed to extend its shelf life. Since there are very few things we’d like to change on the E2/LevelPro and it functions so well, “why fix it if it ain’t broke”? I’ve been playing with a few new ideas which will be incorporated into a completely new design, but like I said, it won’t be available for a while.

Keep an eye on the website as that will be one of the first places we announce new products.

[darren@ridetech.com]

Britt is one of those guys who is never content with "good enough". The day after we released the original RidePro E system he started working on the LevelPro stuff. Same with the LevelPro....he's been working on the next generation since we released the LevelPro.

[CyberT]

Thanks for the nice answers!

I don’t know how to formulate some questions in a way so they don’t sound totally stupid or degrading.

1. I’m little worried about how long the bags will hold in normal usage?
2. Any warranty?
3. My impression is that air ride technologies is the largest, most developed and in short; the original. Correct? But I have a feeling that someone will ask me why I don’t choose a cheaper fabricate, how would you advertise your systems in such question?
4. For how long would the car be in max height if it just would be standing there in some weeks?
5. I will ship the car inside a container, I guess the best way should be to park it in lowest height and then bind it fixed? Or would there be complications which I don’t see?


And once again; thanks. I’m almost fully persuaded. :-)

[daren springett]

how can it possibly be better? laser and attitude sensors? anyways, any new upgrades will still be adaptable to existing systems?

[darren@ridetech.com]

As long as you don't have a leak the air spring will hold air indefinitely. As long as the air spring does not rub on anything they will most likely outlast the life of the vehicle. Firestone estimates a life span of 40-50 years and has tested them in tens of millions of cycles.

All of our products hold a 1 year warranty.

Some of our products may seem to cost more than our competitors. But when you consider the quality of the product, fitment and customer service, you really get what you pay for.

I would ship the vehicle at ride height. Shipping a vehicle fully inflated could damage the shock absorbers.

[britt@ridetech.com]

1. I’m little worried about how long the bags will hold in normal usage?
-Like Darren said; Firestone rates them for 40 years. Let me pose this question: “have you ever seen a tractor/trailer broken down along the interstate because his air suspension failed?” Well, we use the same manufacturers and a lot of the same parts.

2. Any warranty?
Yes.

3. My impression is that air ride technologies is the largest, most developed and in short; the original. Correct? But I have a feeling that someone will ask me why I don’t choose a cheaper fabricate, how would you advertise your systems in such question?
We started out 12 years ago offering “universal” kits just like everyone else. Over time we developed vehicle specific kits that provided a much easier installation while providing parts that fit the vehicle (Most "cheaper" competitors sell you a universal kit which may or may not have the correct air spring and brackets. If you can get it installed with the universal brackets you may still have problems with the spring rate being no where close to what you need.)
Our owner and president, Bret Voelkel, invented and holds the patent to the Shockwave; we are continuously developing new parts (both mechanically and electronically) so we are ahead of others in developing a better product.

4. For how long would the car be in max height if it just would be standing there in some weeks?
If the system is installed correctly, forever.

5. I will ship the car inside a container, I guess the best way should be to park it in lowest height and then bind it fixed? Or would there be complications which I don’t see?
Treat the air springs like steel springs and tie the car down to the trailer at ride height.

Darren is correct; you get what you pay for. When you buy Air Ride Technologies parts you get OEM quality (the bags are Firestone and are the same as what is used in commercial trucking and industrial applications. A version of our current LevelPro control system has passed military aircraft standards. We are constantly approached by OEM’s to assist in the development and/or manufacture suspension systems for their vehicles.)
To top it all off, just give us a ring with a question. You speak to a real person who knows the product. We are all hot rodders (hell, during the summer the parking lot could be mistaken for a car show!) and we love what we do. We’re not here to make a million dollars, we’re here to be a part of the “car scene” and to enjoy going to work each day.

[britt@ridetech.com]

I looked at laser level sensors; however, they are $4500 for four and they work only on smooth terrain. So those were not a consideration.

I've also looked into accelerometers so I could build a more "active" system. We're not there yet, but it is a goal.

Right now my goals for the next system are to:
-be easier to use
-be easier to see
-look better (design wise. If anyone has ideas of what the next control panel should look like drop me an e-mail: britt@ridetech.com Should we use your design we'll make sure you "get some love")
-provide more "customer changeable" features
-attain presets in two steps
-get closer to the preset destination than we can now (currently it's 1/8th-inch for the LevelPro)
-be MUCH, MUCH, MUCH more intelligent (how about if the computer knew how fast the vehicle moved and could compensate? Like a car with a big block and no rear end weight; it would start raising the front first, then allow the rears to catch up. This would better manage the on board air supply which would lessen the compressor run time.)

Any other ideas?

[daren springett]

First of all, you have already produced an outstanding product! Airlifts system with leak detection sounds like a great feature and says it can maintain ride height with a leak, but if true, what a beating on the compressor to achieve this, also had a friend ruin his car as this system failed(shorted out some how,not to bash them) The autoloc looks nice also, but seems to have too many features and uses old style preassure sensors. Then there are some co. integrating the sensors into the springs themselves. I think whatever you come up with will be outstanding, just hope it is backward compatible

[amber@ridetech.com]

...attitude sensors...
Britt's always copping an attitude, we don't need a sensor to tell us that :)

sorry, i couldn't resist, lol