We installed the Shockwave/AirBar system on our g-28 Project 2nd gen
 

Well, Like the title says.. normally I have to be all hush hush about these things till the article comes out but I can give you a couple of brief tidbits.

1. System was pretty easy to install. Only welding was to affix gussets to the axle tube for the upper links of the 4-link. Only cutting required was to take out part of the front frame to clear the bags. All the rest was a bolt in deal. We installed the complete shockwave front and rear system with thier Strong-Arm front upper and lower control arms and double adjustable shocks. Oh, and a hollow front sway bar that they sell with the system(not sure if the one that came off was hollow or not). Only thing we have to still have to work on is reworking the e-brake cable on the passengers side.


2. Car weighed 3510 before and about 3420 after so we knocked about 80lbs off the cars weight. About half of this was off the front. Weight was without driver.

3. Car rides much better now on the highway as measured by the ass-o-meter.

4. Car performed equal to if not slightly better than it did with the old system. The old system was tested with the Nitto NT01 R-compound tires and that is what was run on this system as well so we have an apples to apples comparo of the before and after. I don't have the exact final #'s since I have to calculate them but the 200ft skippad yielded about .94g's and the cone speed was about 46mph.

5. It is nice being able to dial in the ride height to get the right stance. Also nice to raise the car up for crappy roads and driveways.

6. I am now a believer.. We lost weight off the car, gained drivability and the ability to adjust ride heigth. We kept the same performance at the expense of some trunk space (for the tank and equipment). I think with some screwing around with shock settings we might be able to squeeze a bit more out of system, keep in mind we finished the install Wednesday morning and hit the track 2 hours later. We also might try installing the rear sway bar and testing "just to see" but the car felt good in the tests.

7. The guys from Air Ride (Bret and Rod) are great guys and were a pleasure to work with. As a bonus they are "car guys" that know thier stuff.

Epilog: Is this the perfect system for a pure track whore or race car? Probley not but for the 99% of the guys out there that want a good handling street car that can have fun on the track it is a hell of a system with a lot of flexability. Plus you can "lay frame" at the car show :thumbsup:

Story should be out in a couple months with the exact performance data and a full review of the install and testing.. I just wanted to give you guys something since this has been a hot topic recently.

Any preview pics?

air ride
 

I saw their mustang at the Year One event and it looked good...of coarse I did not ride in it.

I like the system and if I had a 4 link in the rear I would be all over it. Since I don't, it looks like it is up to you to bag Penny. Old Bag Penny, Douche Bag Penny...you are creative and will come up with something.

I think you hit the nail on the head with the "for 99%" comment. Most of us will do 99.9 percent of our driving on the mean streets with the occasional jaunt to the track. Track days sound great until you smoke $1200 worth of high end tires smoke you set of killer brakes.

Again, if I were 4 linked I would be all over it! Looking forward to the article.

Hey Steve1969LS1 Was there any problems mounting up the 4 link to the rear frame without any major cutting. Also was it a triangle 4 link?

You smoke tires??? no wonder your talk gibberish so much.. :P

I do need to find shocks for Penny.. after this bags are on the short list along with traditional coil overs..

It's not the be-all end-all system but it is nice, performs and has several unique benefits. Glad it didn't turn out to be just another show car gizmo..

That said, all air bag systems are not the same.. you have to have one engineered for performance

No cutting at all of the rear of the car.. only welding was attaching the mounting points to the differential axle tube.

There was cutting of the front subframe for bag clearance.

Wow, I have a completely original 74 Z-28, It is a neat car and I have considered puttin nice wheels and brakes on it and not screw any thing else up on it. I do have a spare rear end and a front sub-frame for a second gen, just maybe...

Steve, for those that haven't followed the build, what did the old suspension combo consist of?

Excellent! I'm looking forward to that read. :thumbsup:

Standard modified leaf stuff..

GW upper armes.. all new PST bushings.. aftermarket rear leafs and a beefy swaybar. Oh, KYB shocks. It wasn't big $$ but it did well in the tests and on the track.

Not saying the air ride stuff is the best handling option but it did pretty damn good and it's nice to know it is not all show and no go.. And it was lighter.. we were surprised.