Project CAR (Coupe Air Ride) is under way!!!

[hellgti]

[audiphile]

Quote, originally posted by WCHLVR »

Very true, however with Racelands and the Strut bags there are some EVERY tight tolerances. This car will be using a combination of my strut cap spacers and my new hyrbid/rebuildable caps to gain a little extra room! Can you provide the specs on the pic you posted?

I know what you mean about the tight tolerances... as you know I've been contemplating the raceland/bag set up (among other options) and I've done the measurements... it'll be tight. This will be the 3rd iteration of a front bag set up and needless to say I want to get it right this time. I'll let my motor swap preoccupy my attention until you get this coupe buttoned up... should help make my decision easier

Back in oh.... 2004? 2005? before anybody in North America wanted their VW to go up and down the Blaupunkt show rabbit (I'm sure you know the one) was being parted and I bought its one off air ride kit done by Air Ride Tech. It was an interesting mix of top of the line off the shelf stuff (rears are shockwaves, dakota gauge/switch panel, really nice valves, etc.) and cobbled together crap (the front air struts). It sat way too high for my liking in the front due to the strut length so v2. found mustang II rear shocked re purposed as strut inserts. It actually worked quite nicely except the shafts weren't strong enough to be hammered like struts are.

I can't seem to find any pics of the set up atm... not sure if I even took any.

[jonny_breakz]

Quote, originally posted by Traffic Jam Zombie »

Very nice Terry. I gotta say, over the last few months you've really come up with some interesting ideas! At this rate the vortex gawds are gonna 'move' you into 'advertiser' status

Awesome work T Get'er done!

[WCHLVR]

No real updates today. Just doing some CAD work for the airbag mounting plates.

[mad caddy16v]

Quote, originally posted by WCHLVR »

Very good question. The reason is to help clear this- If we were to run just a flat plate and leave the strut bearing on the other side of the tower (the norm right now) we would be a lot further away from laying out. With the spacer/cap combo used in conjunction with a custom upper bag mount we will be able to clear everything and have a decent ride to boot! Tolerances are still very tight and every millimeter will be needed in order for it to meet/exceed our goal! If everything goes as planned, this will serve as prototype for an affordable bolt-on air setup for everyone! We will have to see how this plays out!

?/word of caution. those are universal company strut bags correct? that inner sleeve is there to bottom out on the top bag cap, to stop the bag from being over extended on deflate. when i did my bag struts back in the day on the caddy, i was on the phone with those guys about shorting or eliminating it, and i was STRONGLY warned against it, as the bag could roll too far.... that was a huge limiting factor for me, so the new set im building im using some other tricks as well. looking great so far, just wanted to share what i learned.

[WCHLVR]

Thanks for the heads up. I did notice that under the right conditions the upper and lower bag caps could pinch the inner bag. We have to see where this takes us!

[JLF]

Im a fan of this car, the people involved, and the quality of work completed!

Well done guys!

Subscribed!

Now... when is my car getting done?

[WCHLVR]

Quote, originally posted by JLF »

...Now... when is my car getting done?

As soon as you get it over here.

All the CAD work is done. Time for some metal/parts.

[tomespo]

watching

[WCHLVR]

No real updates... Still waiting on a parts.

[98DUB]

Quote, originally posted by WCHLVR »

No real updates... Still waiting on a parts.

dang

[dahamsVR6jet]

go get em!!!!!

[98DUB]

ummmmm.......

[opusdestructo]

dude said in a week there would be some updates

[veedubberkid86]

terrys on it. im not worried

[T3Bunny]

subscribed!

[WCHLVR]

Quote, originally posted by veedubberkid86 »

terrys on it. im not worried

Yeah... just behind on some other stuffs. Got a large order together for my 'Jet guy. Hope to have working stock by the end of the week.

[opusdestructo]

my faith never wavered

[16v_HOR]

Terry, you've outdone yourself once again. In addition, I'm glad to see that not one person has bashed this thread thus far (knock on wood). It's good to see the mk1 community open to things that stir up soo much **** in the general vw community. Now put that bish on the ground

[opusdestructo]

i for one think bags are sweet. if this kit cost less than it would take me to build one + raise the strut towers myself then i would be all about. gotta love pan scrapers.

[WCHLVR]

Hoping to do a final mock-up (w/ pics) for the front tomorrow .... but DAAAAAAAAAMN its cold outside right now. We are just getting our arses handed to us for coldness. We'll see how this plays out.

[Dubs_Only]

Interested to see how this turns out. Bags are on my wishlist.

[SKIDMRK]

definitely watching...

[T3Bunny]

Quote, originally posted by WCHLVR »

.... but DAAAAAAAAAMN its cold outside right now. We are just getting our arses handed to us for coldness.

Same here! I am moving to Panama. Its warm there. All the time.

[opusdestructo]

even california is cold right now

[WCHLVR]

Quote, originally posted by opusdestructo »

even california is cold right now

Its the wind and the 1% humidity that's the killer.

[SGLoki]

Quote, originally posted by 16v_HOR »

T I'm glad to see that not one person has bashed this thread thus far (knock on wood). It's good to see the mk1 community open to things that stir up soo much **** in the general vw community.

PSH, its a total P.O.S... it's too low, lift it!!!

Nah seriously, love the innovation. but I wouldn't call the tex a community, just a gathering place without any real beer.

[lynchdgti]

Terry got skills !

[Fugn Dubbin]

lower!

gah i can't wait to get this kit.

[WCHLVR]

Thanks guys!

Had great plans... much forward movement this week though.... Sorry! Too freaking cold!

I know excuses excuses excuses! Right?

Fear not... this kit will be built!

[Fugn Dubbin]

excuses are like *******s....

[T3Bunny]

Okay I have a few questions for you WCHLVR, and anyone else that has lived with air. I have been leaning towards air myself but am concerned about reliability and handling.

1) When the car is low, it has less air in the bags. I am assuming as you raise the car up the ride gets firmer? Is there a noticible differance in ride and handling?

2) How is the handling performance with the bags at a moderate low driving height?

3) Reliability? How do these things hold up over a few years? Not concerned about easily replaced "expendables" like the plastic air lines... But concerned about bags mainly. Recomendations?

4) The kicker I guess... I have both tokico illuminas adjustable struts and currently running H&R coilovers. Would one of these be usable for the strut portion?

I don't want to hijack this thread. I have always been a coilover guy and am curious to the differances between bags and coils, other than the obvious height adjustability via a switch. I bet I am not alone in my questions and maybe this will help a few others thinking about it?

I am interested becasue I would like a slightly "softer/smoother" ride for the open road. I suspect bags will be gentler on my suspension in bad conditions. But I am likely to be putting 15-20k on it in a couple months period and on roads that will be highly questionable. Reliability of the major components will be a big factor.

Besides I love low, but can't ever get my car on the damn lift....

[hellgti]

global warming my azz!!

[Fugn Dubbin]

Quote, originally posted by T3Bunny »

Okay I have a few questions for you WCHLVR, and anyone else that has lived with air. I have been leaning towards air myself but am concerned about reliability and handling. 1) When the car is low, it has less air in the bags. I am assuming as you raise the car up the ride gets firmer? Is there a noticible differance in ride and handling? 2) How is the handling performance with the bags at a moderate low driving height? 3) Reliability? How do these things hold up over a few years? Not concerned about easily replaced "expendables" like the plastic air lines... But concerned about bags mainly. Recomendations? 4) The kicker I guess... I have both tokico illuminas adjustable struts and currently running H&R coilovers. Would one of these be usable for the strut portion? I don't want to hijack this thread. I have always been a coilover guy and am curious to the differances between bags and coils, other than the obvious height adjustability via a switch. I bet I am not alone in my questions and maybe this will help a few others thinking about it? I am interested becasue I would like a slightly "softer/smoother" ride for the open road. I suspect bags will be gentler on my suspension in bad conditions. But I am likely to be putting 15-20k on it in a couple months period and on roads that will be highly questionable. Reliability of the major components will be a big factor. Besides I love low, but can't ever get my car on the damn lift....

http://www.caranddriver.com/fe...stuff

[T3Bunny]

VERY informaive article!

Fascinating and air suspension works the way I would like it to too! Lower=stiffer! Perfect.

The only thing not answered by that is reliability concerns.

And seems I should pursue using the tokico's if I go about this. They are adjustable on top too so even better. I honestly don't think I would be going low enough to make it matter that they are stock length. Anyways back on track.

Looking forward to seeing more on this thread!