I would like to run airshocks in the rear of my 87.I need them to drop to about a three inch drop and raise to stock height or higher.Is it possible to run a pump to a small tank and be able to fill and dump air into the shocks on demand like airbags.Can anyone tell me what type of airshocks I need to do this.

 

3 inchs is a bit much to get out of air shocks. I only really get about 2 inches of lift with mine. And I have a tank and a control valve with air press gauge built in. I can fill them and dump them from the cab. I'm using Monroe air shocks.

 

Air shocks ride like poop on the street, mostly just for drag racing. Air struts or airbags on the leaf springs would be the way to go. You can do an electric dump valve or mechanical, you'll need an air gauge, lines, air pump (don't use a cheap one, they don't last), and a tank as well.

 

air shocks ride fine on the street, you just have to leave 20-30 psi in them at all times to keep the bags puffed up. I don't see why you'd run air shocks for drag racing. I can see why you'd use them on a stock truck for hauling stuff (like me)

The 3+" of travel is going to be the hard part. the diameter of operation of the bag on the shocks is going to have trouble doing that, it's going to be sort of a min-max thing. I assume this is static dropped with leaves or blocks? 1. make sure the leaves can un-flex that far. 2. make sure your shock mounts are completely un-rusted and perfect: at full height they're going to be taking almost the full weight of the truck. There's nothing wrong at all with supplying them from an on-board air supply but I doubt they'll have the grunt you're looking for.

Monroe and gabriel are the main suppliers of air-shocks I know of. I run monroes spec'ed for an 82. same compressed height, less than 1" shorter extended, and they don't max out at full extension so it's all good. monroe has the data for all their shocks and struts downloadable in PDF, you should get it and find the right mounting type and lengths for what you need.

 

im running gab. air shocks on the back of my yot.
i get great lift and lowering from them, and the ride is good as well.
note, im also running a mono left in the back so there is little resistance to the shocks vs reg leafs and suspension on most. i got the works on the air system, pumps, tank, valves, switches, and all the goodies.

 

I want to see some pictures of your setup. Some pictures of the shocks front and back please

 

damn and I was happy with the shocks on my old truck, didnt get quite THAT much outta them though, I finally broke a mono after 4 years or so haha but I almost never had air in the shocks

 

F. is Air-Lift Dom 2500 with Suicide Door f. mount brackets.
R. is Gab. air shocks (soon to be Dom. 2600 when i get the 4 link built)
All piped to Waylayed 1/4" valves f.b.s.s.
5 gal. air tank
(2) viair 350 100% d.c. comp.
(2) water traps 1 per comp.
Waylayed 5 switch switch-box

All the pumps, tank, valves & relays are contained in a custom build alum. box mounted behind cab.
I'll find some pics and get them posted.

 

i have and 87 that looks just like "2thpic"s truck, and i want make mine sit on its frame like that are and difference in the trucks from those years and what all will i have to do?

 

Nope no diff. in year models
You will have to notch the back frame to get the back down and install bags and brackets in the font.
get an air tank, compressor, valves, bags, switchbox, relay, water trap, and all the in betweens.
o, also i took out the t. bars and all that when with them.
running a mono leaf in back till i get a 4-link.

 

Mono leaf = SKETCHY....

 

X2 ... Just do it the "right way" You really shouldnt rely on shocks to be the suspension of your truck.

 

Here's a link to a thread on a truck I recently lowered using short air shocks to work correctly with the 3" of leaf drop since blocks don't affect shock length. I used a sweet little in cab air management system with em.

Last weeks 3 day drop project (blk 04 extra cab 5/6-1/4") - CustomTacos.com Forum

 

do you happen to have a part # to those shocks there beef??