Installing AIR BAGS on your STOCK 49-54 Chevy front clip. Bags on a budget

[@JoseJimenez-um8tq]

That looks badass laid out

[@Elgueroloco-60]

Great video, definitely gonna help when I bag my 50 Chevy. I'm probably not going to step my lower control arm tho, mainly because I don't want my car laying frame just in case I ever blow a bag and still need to drive her home lol

[@tommygleason8433]

Good morning, you mentioned a dropped upright service. Did you all get that started? And if so what's your service charge. Thank you

[@michaelmedders1793]

Would really like to see how the shocks are mounted after the bags are in..

[@handmadehooligan]

There are pics on my IG @handmadehooligan

[@CountryBoyGasGarage]

Awesome!🤘🔥 I want to airbag my 59 Chevy El Camino. I might reach out to you for some advice or help when the time comes. 👍

[@jonathanwade8246]

Hell yea buddy message me any time

[@johndoe-if3vu]

Hey hows it going... lil late in the game here, but great, great, GREAT vid, thanks a lot... I'm doing the same thing on my 54, just finished upping the a arms and fitting the upper brackets.. I'm about to do the clip reinforcements next. Just have a quick question.... since the A arms are already upped, do I still need the dropped knuckles/uprights? I was wondering if I kept the stock uprights and get one of those steering arms from fatman I'd get alignment (?) or do I need the whole thing (dropped uprights and steering arms) ? Thanks a lot man, great job you're doing 🤘

[@handmadehooligan]

@@johndoe-if3vu you dont need the dropped uprights , but you do need the dropped steering bar if you wanna ride low. With out it there’s alot of bump steer

[@johndoe-if3vu]

@@handmadehooligan Cool, thanks... by "dropped steering bar" you mean the 'special' steering arm that fatman and others sell? And how about using two driver side tie rod ends like you mention? would that fix the bump steering by itself, or will I still need the "steering bar"? sorry for the 1000 questions, just trying to get it on the road asap... thanks again

[@salsammy37]

Great job on the video, what airbags did you use? Do you have a part# for them . Thanks

[@handmadehooligan]

Air ride specialties

[@Meusec]

when you mentioned the adjustable steering arm do you have to shorten it after you bag it ? to stop from getting bump steer?

[@handmadehooligan]

To avoid bump steer get dropped arms from fat man

[@Meusec]

Fat man went out of business. Is there another way or maybe another company you may know of?

[@Meusec]

@@handmadehooligan fat man shut there doors a couple of weeks ago. looking for an alterative way

[@PHILLIPBLESS]

Hey man great vid. I have the same set up in my 49 but I’m getting real bad bump steer. Do you where I can find the steering arm?

[@jonathanwade8246]

Chevs of the 40s

[@PHILLIPBLESS]

@@jonathanwade8246 thanks 🙏

[@lovemypits02]

I have a 52.. I have been working on I'm putting a 350 in it because the straight-6 blew up and it's pretty expensive for another 6.. so I am working on totally different suspension to handle the 350 I really want to bag the car..and looking for anything that helps

[@jonathanwade8246]

The straight 6 actually weighs more than the 350 , stock suspension is more than adequate. Air bags will definitely help the ride. I suggest a mustang II unless you’re interested in keeping the stock set up like I did . Either way the cost to rebuild stock and bag it isn’t super cheap. But it’s not as expensive as a II

[@lovemypits02]

@@jonathanwade8246 Thank you I'm really trying to do a budget build right now I just feel like I'm doing more costly mistakes or maybe I am not my car is stock all original I can't afford a Barrett-Jackson and I just wanted something to get around and have fun.... I read the ham journal I'm always trying to research we live on a farm so that takes quite a bit of time

[@AJS-i6w]

Hello great vid what size of bag ?

[@handmadehooligan]

2500 in the front 2600 in the rear Re25 or re26

[@philfisher7258]

First and foremost…great video! Super helpful. But, I have questions. Lol! I’m starting a 49 Fleetline that needs a full restoration. It’s not the first car I’ve done so I know what I’m in for but on my other ride (47 Chevy Fleetmaster) the front clip was already swapped to a corvair front end back in the day. I replaced all that and went Mustang II. My question is on the 49, which is bone stock and original, it seems that this may not be the way to go installing air ride. Mostly I’m looking for advice, you see, to bag the stock crossmember and then add power steering is in the $1000 range, dropped uprights (if needed) are in the $500 range, dropped steering arms $300, all new bushings, which the car needs) are also in the $300 range and then disc brake conversion $500 range. So taking all that into account wouldn’t it be better to just get a Mustang II set up? It’s a legit question and in no way critical of what your video is. If this car was a cruiser that I had invested some time and money in already fixing front suspension and steering and I don’t want to take a hit there, this is totally the way to go but for me starting from scratch where everything needs to be replaced or gone through does it make more sense to go Must II? Any insight is appreciated.

[@handmadehooligan]

Yes a mustang II may be a cheaper route. I didn’t care about power steering , I dropped my own lowers and rebuilt my own steering. I spent about 800-1000 bucks on my front end including the bags air management breaks and steering .. A bagged fat man mustang II is 3250 plus shipping , then 300 for disk breaks. Plus whatever air management cost you have.

[@philfisher7258]

@@handmadehooligan yeah, I wasn’t going fat man but yeah, the numbers just seem to point me to Mustang II. I know there’s some. I’ve set ups that are in $2500 area hub to hub. This car is for the wife and she has said power steering is a must. Lol! As well as a few other comforts. But I appreciate the insight. Helps me decide the direction to take on this one.

[@jonathanwade8246]

You’re welcome , just be careful with the cheaper set ups. I have heard and seen horrible things. Most don’t lay out on bags , the consumables wear quickly as well. Especially eBay

[@philfisher7258]

@@jonathanwade8246 eBay set ups aren’t coming near this car. Lol! I have seen first hand how they are junk. I appreciate the heads up though.

[@clark5242]

Great video! I have a 54 hardtop. I am looking to do this in the future. I have an extra front end and the guy I got it from said the uprights are the lowered ones. Am I correct that if I build the extra front end out of the car, I can unbolt the OG and bolt in the modded one? Thanks

[@handmadehooligan]

Yes you can build it out of the car , you should add some gussets above the bag to the frame from the crossmember after you install it

[@66impss30]

What disc brake set up did you use?

[@handmadehooligan]

Cpp

[@michaelmedders1793]

Would like to know what shocks you got for the front… also I messaged you on Instagram, and did you put shocks on the rear???

[@jrch6487]

Can you do an update on your suspension please

[@handmadehooligan]

What are you looking for , it’s been back on the road for a few weeks now. Rides great. There’s some pictures of the shock placement on my IG @handmadehooligan

[@jrch6487]

Where are you located at and if I pay you can you do the work??

[@handmadehooligan]

@@jrch6487 I’m In springfield oregon , not sure what your looking to get done ?

[@jrch6487]

Oh never mind I am in Vegas do you have a video for the rear suspension

[@handmadehooligan]

I don’t , I did that way before I started my channel

[@scottprewett6860]

Very nice

[@DropTopMike]

Are you still doing work in your shop?? You could make some money selling a dropped upright / support and stepped lower arms. Maybe even offer a core trade out so you keep stock.

[@handmadehooligan]

The shop is open (Atomic Rod and Custom) I mostly do fab work and I have a really good paint and body guy

[@rickyjimenezsr5348]

If I don’t step my A arms will I have problems

[@DropTopMike]

I guess same ride height depending on how long that 4" tube is. Bags only have so much travel. avoid riding near max psi and near 0 psi (bump stops).

[@juliosandoval8244]

I rather do mustang 2 front clip or 69 camaro subframe on it better on airride