Cheap air bags for a land yacht? Other bad ideas?

I've been sitting on a project which is calling my name.

It's a 1960 flat top Sedan Deville. Straight as an arrow. We call her Roxanne.

Looks like this:

She's about the size of 3 football fields. I could fit a normal sized car in the trunk. Easily fit the bodies of all of the henchmen of the average drug lord in the trunk at once.

I really wanted to bolt it together cheaply and sell it for a few bucks, but if any car ever wanted to be slammed, this is it.

So, enable me...

Any ideas on a low cost way to approach air bags?

I guess we could talk engine too... I've got the original 390 mill with a twin quad setup, which has a pretty high cool factor, but I guess there are other options. I'd love to do a supercharged 541, or a fuel injected 454. Unfortunately, my wallet can't handle those.

I know the engine I have is going to be the lowest priced option, but any other fun ideas?

Price is an issue.

Define money is a issue.

A york compressor from a junkyard hooked up to a 5 gallon tank with a used set of switches and bags from airbag.com. Maybe 800-1000$ all in if you make the mounting plates yourself.

FYI you will need to clearance the bags in the the front and it is a serious pain if you do it on the car.

Forgot to add go 1/4 inch or bigger on the lines or you are going to regret it.

With a $10 mod, a sanden 5 series a/c compressor will put out 300 psi and up to 8cfm. They're a little easier to come by than the yorks these days - you just have to keep a little synthetic grease in them (about 2-3 oz every month or so) where the york is self lubricating. Setting up the air will run about $150-175 with pressure switches, filters, tank, fittings and hose for 1/4". Alternatively, find a compressor from a lincoln or range rover at the pick n pull. e-bay airbags???

I'd say LSx, but the 390 sounds more interesting - clean it up, throw on some ITBs. Tuck most of the wiring.

I actually have a set of front airbags that will work that I might be able to send you. They were the spares off the front of my 61 Cadillac.

How much would you like for them?

I've long wanted to do a similar project with a similar vintage Lincoln.

Subtlety us the way to go with this type of build IMO. Clean, detail, and restore the existing engine maybe some period correct mods, or stealthy upgrades. Period correct wheels, or if the hubcaps are in good shape, keep them.

Still sitting on the full setup to put on the Colony Park, maybe this summer. Seriously thinking its worth the $$ to ditch the front bags I have and go with shockwaves.

Photo isn't showing up, I need to see this Caddy! I love old caddys.

You know the Colony Park doesn't need them anywhere near as much as this does!

HappyAndy wrote: I've long wanted to do a similar project with a similar vintage Lincoln. Subtlety us the way to go with this type of build IMO. Clean, detail, and restore the existing engine maybe some period correct mods, or stealthy upgrades. Period correct wheels, or if the hubcaps are in good shape, keep them.

I agree partially.

I like the clean and detailed part. Could definitely agree on the engine.

But I don't think it is worthy of anything approaching a restoration, so the period correctness is not huge to me. It's a 4 door. Never was that collectible, and makes a terrible sleeper (because it is one of the most obvious hunks of metal on the road, and weighs over 5000 lbs).

The hubcaps are thoroughly uninspiring.

I'm thinking slamming it, and taking the smooth and clean to an extreme (maybe de-chrome, shave door handles, etc). Perhaps some nice big wheels tucked up into the fender skirts. Still debating this game plan.

I think I may re-route the exhaust through the tailights, leave the fin lights as the primaries, and convert them to LED's.

Everything I can to exaggerate the bigness of the car.

Those hubcaps might work with a set of nice wide whitewalls:

Bump for any more available bad ideas.

The 60 Cadillac 4 window "flat top" is the only car of that era I really like.

A 390 dual quad will be more than adequate to motivate the big cruiser. It already came with the best auto available back then, but I suppose you could look into what it would take(bellhousing) to get 4 on the floor (the dirt cheap 80 GM truck 833 OD sounds perfect for this) in there.

All I know is I love this idea and want to see you get to work on it!

z31maniac wrote: All I know is I love this idea and want to see you get to work on it!

I actually bought it for a Challenge friendly price.

I could bring it, but I don't think there is much point. It's gonna be pretty hard to get 5500 lbs motivated around an autox course!

I guess it would be quite amusing to watch Alan sliding around on the bench seat!

Expensive, but for a bagged barge, Supremes and wide whites would be my number 1 choice