I was wondering if any one has used airbags to support their locost? I was thinking this since airbag maintainsame ride eight adn teh spring rate is changed with air pressure then all you would need is some short shocks to mount it all. plus the airbags are kinda cheap at $60usd each. a compressor and tank would be needed but wouldn't have to be too big for something of this size.

Bringing up an old topic, but I am interested in this as well. can it be done? I'm thinking the air-ride system from an old Lincoln Continental.

Goodyear (amongst others) make air springs for just the purpose you describe. You don't need an on-board compressor unless you intend tackling varying terain.
You'll probably change the settings a few times initally until you're satisfied with the ride, but after that it's just a case of checking the pressure once a week/month or whatever they recommend.
Air springs give a lovely progressive ride and won't bottom out.

I would of thought that you would need some form of pressure regulation. If they are just primarily sealed bags, then when the temperature rises inside the bags, you are likely to get varying spring rates (and hieghts).

Cold day = low rider
Hot day/good blast = off roader...

There used to be kits which augmented the cars normal springs for when a caravan or trailer was being towed. I think they had an on-board compressor but that was only for setting the ride height and not for regulating the air springs in real time.
I know Fournales do replacement air shocks for some of the big luxury cruiser bikes which have a compressor, which again, is only for setting the ride height when the bike is loaded with luggage for a trip or whatever.
Fox also used to make shocks for motocrossers which were set and forget. You went out and did your practice laps, fiddled with the nitrogen pressures in the shocks to suit the track and that was it. They do get hot like any shock given the same workload, but they don't rise in height. The bodies were finned to assist cooling.
They still make some "air" shocks for off-road and the ride is sensational.

The hot rod and custom boys use them on their vehicles. So it is possible. Try getting hold of a magazine like Custom Car or go to the NSRA forum (Nat. Street Rod Assoc.)

JB

Air or gas springs are tricky simply increasing the gas pressure dosen't have the effect most people would assume -- rather than increasing the spring rate it is more like changing the spring for a softer spring but with much more preload.

Having worked on a number of Lincolns with defective air suspensions I have one thing to say...don't even think of it..a very terrible system...multiple points of leakage..poor wiring and controller. In addition the shocks and air springs are a bit large and unsuitagle for a light car.

I have gone for more of a cruiser than a racer with my car and have been considering going with air shocks to either piggy back beside my coils or instead of them. I dont really want to go the air bag route as just more stuff to go wrong on what should be a simple car. Any one going that route?
Dale