zeitgeist57 Posted June 20, 2016 Report Share Posted June 20, 2016 After stumbling over this old beast in Salem, OH last fall, I bought it from the original family owner (inherited it from his dad) and proceeded to fall in love with driving a land yacht. I quickly realized that - given my love for rap/hip-hop culture growing up in the '80s-90s - I had to airbag this thing. Over the winter, I spent countless hours going over and over internet forums and company recommendations/suggestions for air ride suspension setups. While there were a few kits that were close, no over-the-counter kits were available for the '77-'79 Mark V Continentals, so I realized I'd have to piece a kit together. Compounding my decision was the fact that I am a perennial cheap-a$$, and $1500 for a kit just wouldn't do. Thanks to Chris (Smokey), and a few other CC&C contacts, I received great advice on what to focus on: - aluminum air tank, at least 5 gallons. - Dual air compressors (NOT CHEAP ONES!) - 3/8" air lines if possible for faster fill/dump speed. - manual valves instead of electric solenoids. This isn't California, and moisture/cold temps can be a problem. - 2600lb air bags, all four corners. I ended up going through eBay, sourcing parts and prices. For what I was looking for, I found AirBagIt was a decent vendor. I purchased two kits: - 5gal steel tank, with 2 Viair 444C compressors: $294/shipped. - Full suspension kit: 2600lb bags, brackets, manual valves and gauges, lines and fittings: $600/shipped. Pics to come. I am excited to get wrenching on my Lincoln, and get this big bish bagged and slammed as soon as possible. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SpaceGhost Posted June 20, 2016 Report Share Posted June 20, 2016 Yes, go on. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Geeto67 Posted June 20, 2016 Report Share Posted June 20, 2016 I still say we should have looked for some hydraulic setups - pancake, front to back, side to side and all that shit. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fiji ST Posted June 20, 2016 Report Share Posted June 20, 2016 Can't wait to see this. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Smokey Posted June 21, 2016 Report Share Posted June 21, 2016 I'm pumped man! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cstmg8 Posted June 21, 2016 Report Share Posted June 21, 2016 Nice Clay, can't wait. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SRTurbo04 Posted June 21, 2016 Report Share Posted June 21, 2016 SWEET! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dharris89 Posted June 21, 2016 Report Share Posted June 21, 2016 my pappy said, “son you’re gonna drive me to drinkin’ if you don’t stop driving that hot rod lincoln” Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SRTurbo04 Posted June 21, 2016 Report Share Posted June 21, 2016 Have any pics of its current status ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Franchi Posted June 21, 2016 Report Share Posted June 21, 2016 I gotta admit, I'm pretty excited to see it. lol Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zeitgeist57 Posted June 21, 2016 Author Report Share Posted June 21, 2016 Thanks for the support, guys! I meant to get some pics up but had a Clippers after-work event last night and a birfday party and board meeting tonight. Will update shortly. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cstmg8 Posted June 21, 2016 Report Share Posted June 21, 2016 So would you make your high speed runs with the bags up or down?? 😂 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zeitgeist57 Posted June 22, 2016 Author Report Share Posted June 22, 2016 (edited) My original pictures - including "FOR SALE" sign when I saw it on the back country road. Note the gravel driveway and the farm across the street. http://imgur.com/aevwc9nl.jpg You gotta appreciate some old-guy's handwriting flat-out CROSSING OFF the sale price. That's pretty much the "tell" to me that I had to call. http://imgur.com/5aRanidl.jpg Hello, my CTS-V! Tough to get traffic when the only things looking at your Lincoln in the driveway are farm animals. http://imgur.com/yIP3Nqal.jpg Headlight doors work, they just lose vacuum after a day or so and slowly creep back open. These were the money shots the guy sent me after our phone call. I sent them to the wifey. She was on board after that! http://imgur.com/9VGR4TIl.jpg http://imgur.com/Iya4nVjl.jpg http://imgur.com/2HcYmuql.jpg http://imgur.com/uYJLWsZl.jpg Edited June 22, 2016 by zeitgeist57 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zeitgeist57 Posted June 22, 2016 Author Report Share Posted June 22, 2016 (edited) FIRST MOD: WHITEWALLS AND WIRE WHEELS. After driving this thing for a few weeks before the first December snow/icefall, I quickly fell in love with it. All of the couples my wife and I hang out with thought it was the greatest car: EVERYONE had a story of their father or grandfather having a Lincoln like this. People loved smelling the interior. I'd get texts from friends that would see me driving it around town. I'd get lookers at stoplights and thumbs-up as I cruised. My kids named it "Bunny" because of the soft, furry interior. This thing was pimp-tastic. As I mentioned before, I couldn't NOT modify this thing in the only way it should be done: lowriding, with a nod to the era it used to own. No crazy 20"+ wheels, no bumping stereo with fiberglass enclosures...just fresh, crisp, and clean. The wheel covers, shockingly, are a rare and relatively expensive 1978-only Continental option. It's funny what automakers spent money on in those days. I found used caps online for over $150 per wheel! http://imgur.com/BYFvtXml.jpg Holy positive-offset, Batman! They were clean, but they HAD to go. In my mind, the only good wheel for this type of car was a true wire rim. Over the winter, I spent an insane amount of time researching and shopping for wire wheels online: contacting shops in California, combing ads on Craigslist, and searching eBay. Trying to find the right fitment is tough enough with wire wheels - trying to do it with a stingy budget was maddening. THANKFULLY, I finally found some mis-labeled ad out in New Lexington from some guy selling "Daytons" (these aren't Daytons). for cheap. I called him and told him those are in great shape, but not Daytons. He knocked off a couple hundred, and I bought them for less than $400 with the knock-offs and adapters. http://imgur.com/rW8u4y3l.jpg Having wire wheels on any vehicle is a learning experience. There is definitely a few steps that have to be adhered to in order to keep you, the car, and others on the road safe. However, when it comes together I knew it would look good. http://imgur.com/t1xBq3Hl.jpg After meeting the old guy who had the wire wheels, I realized I had no idea what the offset of the wheels would be. At this picture with the test fit, I was initially afraid there wasn't enough negative offset. I didn't want the wheels to poke out, but at least let's try to fill the wheel wells. Secretly, I always had it in my mind that I'd need room to clear an air-ride suspension system. After getting the wheels, it was a little more searching online for the right set of whitewalls. I wanted to go fatter, but the game gets pricey very quickly, and Vogue's were insanely priced. I ended up calling Derek @ Best One Tire and he hooked me up with a compromise (thinner whitewall) but on a good tire at a great price. All of the guys in the shop were as geeked as I was to be throwing some whitewalls on wire rims. Again, everyone had a story about family/friends in the old-skool/lowriding game! http://imgur.com/UAGmBwQl.jpg http://imgur.com/I69Qcxgl.jpg I ended up loving the fitment - from 225/70-15 to 235/75-15, again...finding good whitewall tires on a budget was tough! - and even with a much fatter tire, you can easily stick a fist in the wheel gap and there is at LEAST 8" of wheelwell above the tires. How it sits today. http://imgur.com/sgDz7xnl.jpg I watched too many Compton references in the '90s...I had to get chrome half-shields for the headlights. http://imgur.com/CU76fyCl.jpg NEXT UPDATE: AIR BAG COMPONENTS! Edited June 22, 2016 by zeitgeist57 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rustlestiltskin Posted June 22, 2016 Report Share Posted June 22, 2016 Lol this is awesome. Please tell me you have a signature fur coat and velvet fedora you keep in the car to wear when cruising this beast. This will look amazing when you are able to dump it on its frame at a cruise in. The color combo is :megusta: Me after you sent me pics of it along with the crazy deal you got for it http://gifrific.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/Bobby-Hill-Shakes-Head-Bikes-Away-King-of-the-Hill.gif Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zeitgeist57 Posted June 22, 2016 Author Report Share Posted June 22, 2016 Realistically, with the big tires, I probably won't lay frame. My goal first is adjustability. Second is to get the center of the wire wheel knock-offs to line up with the beltline of the car. That would be about 6 - 8" of drop from the current ride height. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Farkas Posted June 23, 2016 Report Share Posted June 23, 2016 You're going to hate the manual valves. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RC K9 Posted June 23, 2016 Report Share Posted June 23, 2016 i would rock that car hard. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Smokey Posted June 23, 2016 Report Share Posted June 23, 2016 You're going to hate the manual valves. For his low budget I'd be afraid of the quality of any electronic setup you could get. My buddy has a ride-tech setup on his 64 Deville and has constant problems with it and no amount of hours on the phone with their tech support will fix it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BIGGU Posted June 23, 2016 Report Share Posted June 23, 2016 I agree you will hate manual valves. Honestly, V2 management can be had for 500-650 ish and its a great system. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zeitgeist57 Posted June 23, 2016 Author Report Share Posted June 23, 2016 Curious why I'm going to hate the manual valves? FWIW, this is not a daily driver. If it sees 3 events a week that will be a lot. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Otis Nice Posted June 24, 2016 Report Share Posted June 24, 2016 I'm not a lowrider guy. Some might even say I'm not a car guy, but rather a redneck truck guy. That being said: Clay, this is the best thing you've done since Cleetus III. Awesome. I'd rock that thing fo' sho'. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ImUrOBGYN Posted June 24, 2016 Report Share Posted June 24, 2016 Digging it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Farkas Posted June 24, 2016 Report Share Posted June 24, 2016 For his low budget I'd be afraid of the quality of any electronic setup you could get. My buddy has a ride-tech setup on his 64 Deville and has constant problems with it and no amount of hours on the phone with their tech support will fix it. I've never heard of ride-tech... so that's probably part of the problem lol. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spankis Posted June 24, 2016 Report Share Posted June 24, 2016 I've never heard of ride-tech... so that's probably part of the problem lol. Very popular in the hotrod / resto- mod scene. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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