Projects Airbags on my 1957 F100 (Build Thread) Finally!

[custom100]

Well I've been threatening to do this for at least a year now, and I've finally got everything I need and the time to do it. I bought my truck out of a junk yard for $500 about two and a half years ago after seeing a couple of this body style at the L.A. Roadster clubs Father's Day Show. It took me about a year or so to make it a decent daily driver. I really wish I would have done a build thread from beginning to end on the truck! I did a flip kit in the rear and a Mustang II IFS in the front with dropped spindles to get it low. I liked the stance when it was finished, but it rides like CRAP! I've had air suspension on some of my past projects and have always loved it. So I'm done dealing with the crappy ride and I'm finally gonna put airbags on my Effie!

Up front I have the Mustang II IFS that I put under the truck when I built the truck, so I got a cup kit for that and some stainless tubular arms that are set up for bags. Should be an easy bolt on. Just gotta add some out board shock mounts on the frame.


In the back I went with No Limit Engineering's Fatbar parallel 4-Link kit. It's a really nice kit and comes with bags, brackets, shocks, and hardware so I shouldn't have to get anything else. The kit is set up for my truck which will make it much easier then a universal kit. No Limit makes some really nice parts for a lot of different trucks and cars. When I built the truck originally I didn't plan on putting it on air, but set the suspension pretty low, so I did a small pipe notch in the frame to give myself some clearance. Well it still wasn't enough clearance. After the springs settled a bit the axle hits the frame just about every time I hit a good bump, which is part of the reason I'm doing air suspension. Because of this, I'm also going to install a step-notch. I wanted it to look really smooth so I got a round step-notch kit. It gives the look of a mandrel bent frame rail and should look pretty cool!

I'm gonna use AccuAir's e-Level with their air management kit to control everything. I used their complete system on my Cadillac that I did on bags and swore I would never do another setup without one. You set your ride heights and their system will keep it there no matter how many people get in your car or how much stuff I put in the bed. Plus, with all the set-ups I used before I couldn't align the car because you could never put it back to the exact same place. Their system uses electric height sensors and not pressure, so it goes to the same spot every time and allows you to align the car or truck and not wear out your tires.

Here are some pictures of the day I brought the truck home and what it looks like now. I've never done a build thread so bear with me.

[510madmav]

love that thing top to bottom. Excellent job.

[66Coupe]

Man, can't wait to see this thing sitting low!

[100% Matt]

Subscribed!

[custom100]

Okay, so we got the bed off the truck yesterday, took a LOT of measurements on axle placement to turned my buddy's lift into a make shift frame table. My buddy Matt helped me yank all the drums apart and dropped the axle out.

Then I torched off the front and rear leaf spring mounts and started getting the step notch setup. I have to say, the round step notch is gonna look cool but without the flat top to measure off of, it's a bitch to set up!

My buddy who owns the shop has done a lot of work on custom frames and says he has some tricks up his sleeve to make the notch look like it's one piece! I can't wait to see it finished!

You can see how much bigger the new notch is gonna be compared to the old one. Shouldn't have an issue with the axle hitting the frame ever agian!

[choptvan]

that is going to be bitchin!

[midcal48]

What kind of tires are those??

[newsomtravis]

sweet truck, headin toward sweeter!

[okiewelder]

I have a 62 unibody that I C'd the back of the frame on becacause I did the rearend flip. I later had wished I had gone with the lincoln mark 8 IRS. Here is a website that sells some frame brackets that would be pretty easy to copy for just the price of the steel. http://team321.com/truckirs/homepage.html

[METAL MELTDOWN]

looks like your in good hands for the build. When setting up equip on site, I find that doing things simply usually makes things go easier. One trick I use a lot is the use of plumb bobs for locating tricky pieces. All it takes is a little pc of crud under a square to mess you up. Using a plumb bob off your centre line of your notch(assuming your frame is level) will help with linig up the radius notch. It also frees up your hands for tacking etc. If you already use this practice please disregard. Good luck with the build.

[custom100]

Here is a link to the tires. They are the ones on the bottom.
http://www.dbtires.com/2010_catalog/hi/19.htm

After tons of measuring and double checking I got the step notch all set up. I'll post pictures later today. I've gotta get them off my buddies camera.

[customline54]

thats a sweet truck

[Redlined]

Nicely done.

[custom100]

Ok, I got the notch all set up, again measured about 6,000 times, tacked everything into place, and started welding. I cut the inside frame rails and cleaned it up so I could run all the air line and wires up through the notch. Need to get it finished welded and ground so I can start setting up the 4-Link and bags.

Thanks for all the love on the truck guys. I can't wait to post pics of it dropped!

[PunkAssGearhead88]

Lookin good! Your buddy had a great idea there.. made it look easy! I dig the color of your truck as well, I actually thought of painting mine the same color (before I ever even saw your truck) but just ended up going with a bright white.

[custom100]

Nice to see so many of these getting built! I love these trucks! Everybody I told I was building a 57 F100 asked me why I'm not building a 56! Looks like they're getting popular!

[kingpins]

thats a sweet truck man. i cant wait to get my international bagged

[WhiteDevilsCC]

Keep the pics coming

[69supercj]

This is gonna be SAAWEEEEEET!

[66Coupe]

Loving it!!!