1969 Bay Window, with air suspension, (with Video)

looks good!!!

looks sweet!

Looks awesome! So did the spindles work out good?

looks good will it sit the frame on the ground

Thank you very much for the comments. At the moment I have a few pieces of 2X4's under the frame because if not, the jack will not go in. I have all the shock mounts but I need to do some more welding. It is super time consuming.
The rear half of the bus is about 3/4 of an inch from the ground, but the front beam will lay down all the way. The spindles worked great and I have independent suspension in the front (not torsion bars). I raised the engine 1" 1/2 but it is about 3/4 from the ground. I only did 2" tubs in the front because I didn't want my seats to be too high and hit my head on the roof. If the frame is on the ground, then my tires will be resting on the tubs.
After I clean some of the welds and do some painting, I'll post some more pictures of the fabrication.

It feels great to have a rolling chassis...
Thanks to all of in Georgia Dubs for parts, advice, technical help and support. Thank you Bryce for helping out with the flipped spindles.

that is bad ass!!! thank you for inspiring me to finish my Bus, i am getting off here and going to work on it right now.

Have you drove it yet?

No, but I am a little happier since it is a rolling chassis. I still have lots of work to do, and I ran out of "project" cash. I hope to start on it next month again.

I finally got some time to work on the air shocks. Worked on it for about 8hours straight. A little paint and a little more grinding and it is done. The shocks pivots fine and the steering does not touch the shock. I have about 4 inches of full travel, but the upper mounts are adjustable (2inches up and 2 down). I am not an expert and this is what I can afford. I am open for suggestions and if you see anything wrong let me know.

The air shock idea did not work, so my son and I fabricated and assembled an air ride suspension system with two 2,500lb bags, a compressor and some switches

my beam...total cost $485


Wagenswest $1,400

petervalle wrote:The air shock idea did not work, so my son and I fabricated and assembled an air ride suspension system with two 2,500lb bags, a compressor and some switches

my beam...total cost $485

looks awesome

Thanks

That looks much nicer! Your getting closer....

thats one nice looking beam
are you going to make some gussets for the upper bag mounts?

It has gussets on the inside, with 1/4 metal. I have some for the outside edge, but with the amount of welds and the thickness of metal it will be ok. But if anyone else thinks I should put them on, I will. It only takes about 30 min to weld them.

Thanks for the info

i'd go ahead and take the extra 30 minutes to put them on
it certainly wouldn't hurt lol

X2. even tho its 1/4'' over time it may create a diagonal fold in the steel plate, especially with the weight of the bus, and the stress it will create. I'd just go ahead and weld in the gussets. like callahan said, It certainly won't hurt.

Thanks guys, we have the gussets already cut, so I'll put them on the beam.

The only other thing left to do is buy a few more air fittings and put the front end back together.

were did the bags come from

Well, the gussets are in, just waiting on the fittings for the Bags.
I got the bags from www.airbagit.com they were like $59 each.

Well guys, I finally have the front end as a rolling chassis, with air bags and air system connected. Still have more work to do, but now I can start working on the rear air bags. The bags move slow because I am running 1/4inch lines, I got a bargain on the compressor, fittings and lines from a friend. I fill up the tank with my home compressor and the little one just keeps the pressure above 120psi

fixed the video link.....looking good! So when are we going to see it?

I need that 6" beam for Frida....hahaha The four inch one is just not enough to get the tires in the tubs.....

Thanks, i did not know the link was bad. The front is almost all there, I ordered the rear bags, so we can start working on that. The project is moving real slow, but there is light at the end of the tunnel. I really want to get it running before the year is out, but the weather will tell.

I have a 65-66 split beam here at the house, that you can cut for Frida.

two words:

BAD ASS