YOU'VE HEARD OF A H.A.M.B. CHOP, how about a H.A.M.B. bag?

[tredboy]

so the local guy who specializes in airbag and hydraulic suspensions quoted me $4500.00 to airbag and notch the frame on my '51 chevy. not only does that sound a little unreasonable, but i can't afford it right now. so i thought about a H.A.M.B. bag where in a weekend, a few people (near the philadelphia area for me) that know what i don't about notching a frame and airbags could get together with me and knock this out. i realize this may sound like i want something for nothing, but obviously i would pay for all items needed as well as food/beverages/beer and do what i can to help everyone as far as a place to stay or whatever. i just need some more brain cells and hands to help out, and besides, it's another excuse for some car guys to get together and goof around with someone else's car. does this idea have any merit? lemme know what ya think...

tred.

[Rocky]

Well, I think your idea has merit. I applaud your courage in asking something that could get you flamed. I would assume there would be a thorough play-by-play photo type feature on the process to be shared here on the HAMB.
I'd love to bag my own project and an in-depth explanation would be helpful to me.

[zman]

The price doesn't sound totally unreasonable. If it's all name brand quality parts and good work. The parts alone will probably run a little over $2k. And he may have planned on removing the front sheetmetal, etc. I would start putting a serious list of parts together. With prices... All in all a good idea, if you were down here I would offer my shop...

[2tall2beahotrodder]

I'd show up ..




I'd be the Mikey of the set like OCC. http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/tongue.gif

[bigron]

i'll read the post! hey i'd help if i wasn't so far away. i think it's a good idea.

[Nappy]

And everyone can bring you free license plates and whatever else you're looking for that particular week for free, too, right?

Seems like everything you post is either trying to scab free stuff or free transportation for parts.

Read up and do it yourself, pay to have it done, and if you can't do either just buy a fucking late model and go away.

Count me out for 'HAMBbag'. My contributions are to legit charities.

[tredboy]

actually, all the free license plates and traded plates are for a hamb fund raising project, a few people on here have asked and know about that, thanks for just assuming i'm an asshole nappy without asking me if i'm sponging off of people!
i don't have a whole lot of knowledge to contribute to the board right now, i know you guys don't like flame throwers, so that tech is out, you don't care for shiny paint jobs, so that's out too. hmm, i'm runnin' out of ideas fast.

i plan to contribute money instead of tech.

tred.

[Nappy]

My bad, then, on the parts for the secret projects.
I'm no heavy hitter guru of all things automotive either and rely on advice of others too, but I try. I can relate there and I didn't mean to be a total Dick about it.
Have gotten help from the HAMB and have sent stuff gratis to HAMBers as probably most have. There's a pretty good flow of HAMB karma that makes this place work.
But I guess I wouldn't post saying 'everyone show up and work on my car'.
But that's just me.
Maybe I just need to get laid or something and otherwise shut up.
Sorry to vent on you this morning, good luck with the bagging.
~ Rob

[tredboy]

nappy said it exactly, how do i ask for help without sounding like "show up and work on my car for free"?

1. i think it would be a fun time and make a great post with tons of photos for the h.a.m.b.
2. i would offer to pay everyone a small token in addition to the food and brew, but i can see feelings getting hurt there real easily or just plain negative feelings, so i didn't even bring that up
3. somehow i need to prove my "worthiness" like those who have received a h.a.m.b. chop

i really thought of this as a 'hey you wanna come over and mess around with my car this weekend' thing with a bunch of people that i don't know. maybe it can be a little less formal than a h.a.m.b. chop...

tred.


p.s. just for the record, i did pm ryan at the beginning of the year and offer to create and monitor a hamb calendar of events so we could all see what shows were going on, and so he didn't have to waste his time doing it. i was willing to put in the time to do the research and keep it updated, etc. he never got back to me and the idea fizzled, but i'm tryin' to help others.

[ChuckleHead_Al]

That would be exciting..

[lownslow]

tred,
tha price is not unreasonable at all........if you have somebody bag your car you had better make sure they know what they are doing. they can either wreck your car or kill you and your passengers etc.....this is not something to do on the cheap.........that price is about the going rate ......

[DrJ]

H.A.M.B. CHOP is doing something traditional, bags aren't.
If "we" were to do something traditional on the lines of H.A.M.B. CHOP it would be H.A.M.B. SLAM.
Put that pig-hauler on the pavement permanent with blocks and cut coils, and do two or three of them in an afternoon... http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cool.gif

[tokyo]

DrJ...awhile back, me and my boyz did three cars in 27 hours straight...all lowered, all cut coils, and all FUN!!!

tok

[Chopped50Ford]

[ QUOTE ]
H.A.M.B. CHOP is doing something traditional, bags aren't. If "we" were to do something traditional on the lines of H.A.M.B. CHOP it would be H.A.M.B. SLAM.
Put that pig-hauler on the pavement permanent with blocks and cut coils, and do two or three of them in an afternoon...

[/ QUOTE ]

I would have to agree Dr. J. (pause) Well said.

[tredboy]

my problem seems to be that if the car's too low, i will get 'binding' in the rear or 'noises' coming from the transmission, and possibly rear fluid traveling through the torque tube and leaking out or getting into places it shouldn't...

i would love to just drop it permanent, but that seems to have a large set of problems to go along with it that are eliminated by cutting the living hell out of a frame and floor and trans hump and rear window pockets and...


would anyone wanna help out with an informal hamb slam if that's the chosen route?

[luckystiff]

now if you just want to do a good solid drop and not have the bags it's very easy with most anything. yeah you might have to a few things more than cutting coils and putting in blocks if you really want to drop it. don't know the car so it's hard to say exactly but options are all around. cut or lowered springs, dropped spindles, spring pocket drops, and sometimes all of the above can get the front of most anything to pavement dragging levels. now you can run into a few bad areas in any if you go to low. i've had to raise mounts to get the oil pan above very scarry levels things of that nature. usually anything i ???'d it was easy to make a skidplate to comfort my lame ass. may make changing your oil and things take twice as long ,but.... in the rear there's tons of stuff to get yourself way down too. blocks(i'd say make your own if you need anything more than 2 inches or hell just make 'em yourself anyhow), deleaf/dearch springs, monoleaf, tricks with shakles, bla bla bla. used in combination all of those will most likely lead you to a notch and tunnel refabbing if only slightly. you will have to correct your pinion angle most which may involve shortening your driveshaft slightly. all in all still WAY cheaper than bags. i agree with donnie and zman and everyone else i forgot that said so on thatsabout the going rate for a well done bagging. parts alone will cost alot if you buy quality and if you don't you'll buy them again. i love the convenience of bags but am going to avoid them as cool as it is to see a car slammed with bags i always shit myself when i see a car that the stance if perfect and it drives away at that height. thats what we're going to be doing with my buick. it's still a coupla inches to high right now, but we're gonna convert to disc and use camaro spindles with a few tricks to get it about 3 from where it is now. out back i'm gonna go another 2 which will require relocating the gas tank most likely. prices you gotta pay if you want to be cool. anythings possible. in high school i dropped my daily driver dodge d50 10 inches in the front and a full foot out back. had very little travel but i would take out the reflectors between lanes in changing.haha...ken....

[Psychobilly Boi]

[ QUOTE ]
H.A.M.B. CHOP is doing something traditional, bags aren't.

[/ QUOTE ]

Whats more traditional then rodders helping each other out, especially the ones who cant afford or have the know how to do it themselves?

Danny

PS. I'm siding with you though on the HAMB SLAM Blocks and Chocks Festival. Sounds like a blast.

[delaware george]

just let me know when tred....i don't know shit about bags,but i'd be willing to help with the labor and i have a good welder and tools.

by the way,tred rode to a carshow(about a 3 minute ride from his house,he could of walked)with me and wouldn't let me or melanie pay for anything.he got us in,bought all the beer,food,everything....he helps people out,even if you can't see it over the internet. http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/tongue.gif

i like the idea,i've been trying to get something like this going for a while now.i've been wanting to do this once a month.each month just get together at a different guys house and knock out whatever project he's been struggling with.i usually get more work done when i'm alone,but always learn more when someone else is there http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif

[krupanut]

tred, this is for a 51 Chevy right?

I suggest y'all get together and put blocks in the back and cut the front springs.

This would be much easier and cost way less plus it's very trad.

If there's someone close to you that can fab up some 3' blocks that would make a good tech post.
Take pics and explain the material used welding technique and how you measured the off set etc..]

Then cut up to two coils out of the front, again take pics of the process

This will get you plenty low and shouldn’t cause trouble with your torque tube.

The result might not be the "lay it on the frame " effect you may be looking for but it will look traditional and won't break the bank.

With the money you'd spend on bags you could pull the whole drive line and replace that boat anchor 216 and 411 closed rear and make the car drive at freeway speeds.

Although this would be kindergarten stuff to most builders here, I think it would be a great tech post for the folks that are just getting into building there first garage built custom.

Any way just a thought.

[krupanut]

WHoops just noticed you said 51 chevy in the first post http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/crazy.gif

[Dirk35]

I would deffinitly like to read the post of how it was done if you can get enough people to come up there and help you do it.

[sawzall]

Tred..

first and foremost 4500 is WAY too much for a this work.. I agree with you wholehartedly.. secondly the guys on here who are telling you to just "cut the coils" dont live in delaware nor do they drive on the shit ass roads of pennsylvania.. I honestly think we have the worst highways around.. (and I have driven on alot of them.)

as for your reputation as described by nappy, I havent seen your other posts and i know your a buddy of delaware george so that makes you a friend of mine...

THIRDLY
with the exception of the bags themselves the other parts of an air ride system CAN be had for cheap..

My 40 has full air ride and was bagged for LESS than 800 bucks.. if I were to do an install for a customer I would charge around 2000 for labor and materials.. this would provide a very inexpensive pump (which could be upgraded later), a simple reserve tank, air lines (1/4 inch) and paddle valves with a single gauge. I would fabricate all the brackets out of 3/16th plate..

I am not suggesting that I bag your car for you, but if you want some low buck pointers pm me and I'll put you onto the right path..

as for the hamb bag I may be able to help with that too...

later sawzall

[2tall2beahotrodder]

[ QUOTE ]
secondly the guys on here who are telling you to just "cut the coils" dont live in delaware nor do they drive on the shit ass roads of pennsylvania..



[/ QUOTE ]

Our roads are shit, dont cut them... Go look in the Mini Truck mags, they got Air bag shit for less than 1000 with a Decent Compressor

[tredboy]

ok, so for now (just so i don't miss the rest of the car show season) i am strongly considering a "hamb slam chocks and blocks" festival. when it gets cold outside, i won't be driving the car much at all, so i would like to bag it. i want to lower the car before the sept 11th hot rod hoedown, so i'll keep everyone posted.

thank you ALL for your advice and knowledge, and thank you nappy for being open-minded with me, i mostly fly below the hamb radar. this turned out even better than i expected.
http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cool.gif http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cool.gif http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cool.gif


tred.

[Tall Paul]

Sounds like a cool idea to me. I'd come give a hand. I am currently in the process of migrating from Oz to USA and don't know anyone over those parts so this would be a good idea for me to meet a few guys, hang out and work on cars. Only trouble is I get in on the 30th of August and am going to Lead East the following weekend so probably wouldnt have any time...doh!!!

I don't think you should feel bad for asking if anyone wants to give a hand..isn't this how the torch is meant to be passed anyway???

Paul

[Action Girl]

Hey tred...

If this goes down and I have some free time I'd come help also. I'm in a crunch trying to get Faye back on the road for Hoedown also, but if it works out, I'll do my best to get there. I probably can't do much but hand tools to people and refill drinks, but I'll do what I can.

Stacey

[tredboy]

you never did get back to me action girl, if you need help with faye, call me. http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cool.gif

we've gotta get her on the road before hot rod hoedown!

tred.