Air Bagging a Bomb on a Budget - Part 1

It's simple to bag a bomb... 

   

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It's simple to bag a bomb once you know how.

The Tovar brothers of Southern California are certainly not strangers to our regular readers; we've featured their perfectly restored bombas many times throughout the years. Most recently, we've also been working with Eddie and Michael Tovar as they update Michael's daily-driven '49 Chevrolet straight-six two-door sedan. We've shown you how they converted it to 12-volt system, how a hidden Sony sound system was created and how a Hot Rod Air A/C unit was installed. Now they've decided to "bag" the bomb.

However, instead of adding a Mustang II front clip-or even an aftermarket crossmember-Eddie "The Butcher" and Michael "The Beader" decided to do it the low-buck old school way by modifying the stock suspension to work with airbags. Michael is working with John and the air ride experts at Mac's Springs (in Highland, California) to be certain that they use the correct bags, compressor, tank, fittings, lines, valves, etc. for the system.

We photographed the front end conversion (which took all day) from beginning to end. Then, a few days later as we were going over the photos with Michael, he said, "You know, just looking at that finished photo, I can tell exactly how to do it." We believe that any savvy car builder would agree.

This month, we'll show you how simple it is to bag the front end of a '49 through '54 Chevrolet on a budget. Then, we'll be doing the back (which may include a C-notch and a bridge). And finally, we'll have "Ponch" at The Bag Man in (Anaheim, California) plumb and wire the system.

Start by blocking the rear...        read full caption Start by blocking the rear tires, raising the front end with a 2-ton floor jack and placing 2-ton jack stands under the frame for support. Then remove the tire/wheel and raise the spindle with the floor jack so the suspension can be disassembled.	Clamping vise-grips on the...        read full caption Clamping vise-grips on the top of the shock, unbolt the top shock nut with a 5/8-inch open-end wrench.	Unbolt and remove the sway...        read full caption Unbolt and remove the sway bar end link using a 51/416-inch open-end and ratchet wrench.
Use a 5/8-inch ratchet wrench...        read full caption Use a 5/8-inch ratchet wrench to unbolt the bottom of the shock and the shock retainer plate. Then remove the shock.	Unbolt the lower A-arm from...        read full caption Unbolt the lower A-arm from the spindle with an 11/16-inch ratchet wrench.	Now with the floor jack placed...        read full caption Now with the floor jack placed under the lower control arm, swing the spindle assembly out and up.
Place a 4x4-inch wood block...        read full caption Place a 4x4-inch wood block between the upper control arm and the bump stop to hold the spindle assembly up and out of the way.	Then (remembering that the...        read full caption Then (remembering that the spring is still under tension) slowly and cautiously lower the floor jack and remove the spring.	Unbolt the lower control arm...        read full caption Unbolt the lower control arm where it attaches at the top with a 5/8-inch ratchet wrench.