here is what I did on my 55 for the triangulated rear suspension I am using (picture just before final welding)



about 1/2 the frame for the C notch.

boxed with 3/16 from shock cross member to center cross member

with this C notch height, and my 8.8 lincoln rear, the rear axle just hit the bed wood in stock position. I needed 3/4 to get clearance. I moved the wood on top of the bed side rails, and made spacers for the 4 cross mounts.. on the middle 2, I raised the supports up. on the ends I put the spacer on top of the cross rail.


Sam

 

Sam do you have any of the airbags on the rear? I would like to see if i could?

 

this is the only one useful I think..



they are outboard of the frame, and sit on the long lower arm I am using. seen here

Sam

 

<a href="http://s919.photobucket.com/albums/ad37/rtcalabrojr/?action=view&current=001.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i919.photobucket.com/albums/ad37/rtcalabrojr/001.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>
Sam, do you think i can put the bag between the tire and frame rail behind the 4 bar bracket on the axle? I held the bag in place and it looks like it would fit but did not know how much clearance i should have around it?

 

looks close.. you will need about an inch clearance above the pressurized bag size on both sides..

I am using the air ride 1500lb tapered air spring which are smaller diameter overall

Sam

 

The other place would be inside the frame rail. Do you think it would be ok there?

 

it would certainly be ok. (space/fitting).. I put mine outside the frame to get the widest spring position and stability. these are replacing the leaf springs in the stock setup.

my shocks are also outside the frame rail and angle back (chassis) to front (axle).
parallel to the chassis

Sam

 

Sam, i was talking with a friend at work about my problem in the rear today. His idea was to cantilever the axle? I guess like they do in F1 race cars, or some type of race car. That way i could use the bags i have and keep them outside the frame rail. It has me thinking.... Im just stuck in tunnel vision with all i see outhere is straight up and down. I guess the cool factor could be there with his idea. He said you are building a show truck right? Well not really but DARKSIDE i am!!!

 

well. I'm not sure I know what that means.. here is a link that uses that term and has some actual 4bar systems using it..
http://www.kplinks.com/files/catalog/KP_VOL_1_WEB.pdf

if I get the drift right, they have relocated the bag/shock to an auxiliary wedge and use the wedge to control the primary suspension movement.

this exaggerates the angle, and increases the leverage of the wedge..

why you would want to do that I'm not sure.. Yes you could move the bag behind the wheel but it would consume a lot of working space.. (I can't even figure out where to route my exhaust.. with my triangulated suspension..

Sam

 

This is not the greatest cantilever setup (its huge and not to my personal taste), but the quickest pic I could find (25 seconds at the max). However this will give you an idea of what a cantilever suspension could look like. Now that you see this, you can imagine how you can improve on the idea and positioning and the complexity... Also there have been pleanty of beautiful examples of cantilevered suspensions in past minitruckin mags. You might want to pick up a issue to get some good suspension ideas.



now in the latest issue of minitruckin there is a cantilevered, gear operated suspension that is ugly but it shows that people are trying to be different and innovative. Wanted to throw this out there for ya...


your airbags appear to be firestones, specifically 255's on the front (2500's) and 224's (2600's) on the rear. They work just fine but know that they are old technology now. Heres why, as the bag inflates it not only expands in a verticle manor but it also balloons out horizontally like Sam said. There is a growth (width specification). One inch on each side should be adaquete however. There are airbags made by airride tech, contitech, and slam specialties that have been specifically made for suspensions that when inflated, they dont ballon as much or at all. This might be a good idea if your looking to stuff a air bag in that tight spot on the rear axle?!

that being said, I would advise against mounting a bag over the axle as a fairly rough ride and a small amount of lift on the suspension is the result. mount the bag like Sam did if you can. It will provide lots of lift and the rear will ride alot softer as the bag is under leverage. I have mounted the bags on the lower axle on all of the trucks I have done.

 

Wow...That pic is somthin else!...Cantilever rear ends are cool to look at, but thats about it...I think you should put your airbags on the inside rail with shocks on the outside...This would give a better ride..and plenty of room..Good Luck

 

F1cory, Have you done this kind of setip before? I was just looking at the c-notch im planning. Well nothing set in stone yet. I was wondering how much of a c-notch? I mean i dont really care about the bed floor at this point. I would rather have the truck as close to the ground as i can. I have just put on the rear running board support. The frame is right now sitting on the axle. I first thought about just cutting into half the frame. But i dont think it will be high for what im looking for. So what do i use to make the bigger c and how do i attach it to the frame. Any one can answer this if they have a clue to what im asking, i can confuse my self!! LOL

 

what you want is a step notch.. I'll try to take pics of mine in progress..
basically 100% of the frame height.

Sam

 

Sam, yes thats what i want.