[xj] Air Ride on Xj6

XJ
1

Hi guys,

Anybody got any ‘‘how to’s’’ or pictures/links of installing air bags
to a 1971 Jag xj6 IFS & IRS?

Much Appreciated.
Lennox–
Lennox
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2

Why in the world would anyone want to do this?

The Jag suspension is one of the best in the world, with the rear end assy being used on sports cars of
all sorts around the world.

Installing “Air-Ride” on all four corners of the car would defeat all the efforts of the engineers and the
car would end up riding like a brick. Are the roads in South Africa really that bad?

Joe A
Phoenix now but used to live in JoBurg and the roads were reasonable there!)To: xj@jag-lovers.org
Subject: [xj] Air Ride on Xj6
From: “Lennox” lennox@global.co.za
Date sent: Thu, 25 Aug 2011 07:19:39 -0700

Hi guys,

Anybody got any ‘‘how to’s’’ or pictures/links of installing air bags
to a 1971 Jag xj6 IFS & IRS?

Much Appreciated.
Lennox

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3

Lennox wrote:

Hi guys,

Anybody got any ‘‘how to’s’’ or pictures/links of installing air bags
to a 1971 Jag xj6 IFS & IRS?

It’s not worth the bother, Lennox…

…unless you are usually carrying loads beyond the standard limits - or
your problem comes from aged, sagging springs. In the latter case the
remedial action is obvious…:slight_smile:

If the former; you could consider ‘load leveller’ shocks, or uprating
the springs. But by and large I tend to agree with Joe - any upgrade
will likely compromise the Jaguar suspension integrity…

Frank
xj6 85 Sov Europe (UK/NZ)===================================================
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4

In reply to a message from Frank Andersen sent Fri 26 Aug 2011:

I’m actually building a lowrider using the Jag IFS & IRS on a F100.
The roads here are pretty decent. I managed to find some pics but
not any ‘‘how to’s’’ though.–
Lennox
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5

In reply to a message from Lennox sent Fri 26 Aug 2011:

Those old F100s look great when you get the stance right.

I don’t have any info for you but I’d think the front wouldn’t be
too tricky. The bags would likely fit in the existing spring
pans. You wouldn’t even have to move the shock since they don’t
pass through the spring like some cars.

The rear uses coil-over shocks. It sits pretty low already. You’d
have to fabricate perches for the bags. I don’t think I’ve ever
seen it done, but it’s certainly possible with a little back-yard
engineering. Of course, as the other guys said, you’re eliminating
some pretty good actual engineering.–
The original message included these comments:

I’m actually building a lowrider using the Jag IFS & IRS on a F100.
The roads here are pretty decent. I managed to find some pics but
not any ‘‘how to’s’’ though.

–
John Testrake 74XJ12L rhd, 87 XJ12/700R4
St.Louis, United States
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6

In reply to a message from John Testrake sent Fri 26 Aug 2011:

It seems to me to be doable without disturbing the majority of the
architecture that makes ths suspension function so well.

Removing the the steel coils and installing air bags in their place
would alter nothing if the rate is replicated in size and psi.

So, in ‘‘stock’’ Jaguar, it would serve little purpose. A softer
ride is one of the values of an air bag suspension. the ride of a
Jaguar is already soft enlugh without becoming billowy.

Now, installing the Jaguar suspension in a different chassis is a
whole other matter. The tuning may be way off. Spring rate too high
or too low. Air bags make it tunable. And in a low rider, yup,
drain 'em and it lays on the ground. Pump up a bit and
ride ‘‘cool’’, but bump susceptible. Add some more and be bump safe.

The big rigs use them now, it is a great system. Although early
domestic efforts in passenger cars were flawed.

Why not, go for it.

HMMM, a Jaguar low rider, !!! Oh well, I saw one on 20’s???

Carl–
The original message included these comments:

Those old F100s look great when you get the stance right.
I don’t have any info for you but I’d think the front wouldn’t be
too tricky. The bags would likely fit in the existing spring
pans. You wouldn’t even have to move the shock since they don’t
pass through the spring like some cars.
The rear uses coil-over shocks. It sits pretty low already. You’d
have to fabricate perches for the bags. I don’t think I’ve ever
seen it done, but it’s certainly possible with a little back-yard
engineering. Of course, as the other guys said, you’re eliminating
some pretty good actual engineering.

–
Carl Hutchins 1983 Jaguar XJ6 with LT1 and 1994 Jeep Grand
Walnut Creek, California, United States
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7

In reply to a message from Frank Andersen sent Fri 26 Aug 2011:

Go to fluevog.com then click stuff and you’ll see a MarkX on
airbags first saw in Jaguar World Monthly Magazine.–
The original message included these comments:

Anybody got any ‘‘how to’s’’ or pictures/links of installing air bags
to a 1971 Jag xj6 IFS & IRS?

–
britirn
West Covina, California, United States
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8

Hey Lennox!
I’m in the process of doing the same as you to my 71 xj6 S1, I’m also building a lowrider and installing a corvette engine in it. I have not found much about the air suspension however there is a company that has a bolt on kit for both, front and rear. Extremely expensive, so I’m looking for other ways, so far no info. Some people don’t understand what we are doing but they do know what respect means, we need to put it to work when it comes to different ideas. Let me know if you find anything

9

Advisability of airbags on a Jag XJ6 IFS/IRS notwithstanding, there’s a Facebook group that’s dedicated to swaping the Jag’s suspension into other make vehicles-

Facebook Groups If the link doesn’t work you can search “Jaguar IFS and IRS Swap Group”

The Ford F100 is a popular platform to swap in the Jag suspension into and there’s a few there with airbags.

There’s also a Jag suspension swap group on the HAMB (the Half Assed Message Board) It isn’t very active and some of the archives were deleted but there’s still useful info there.

The fact of the matter is that there’s a lot better/developed airbag suspensions available than a ‘science project’ trying to make a Jag suspension work on air. It isn’t a well-trodden path.

I have a Jag suspension on air in my hot-rod and the ride is a bit choppy - nothing like my stock XJ6. It is going to take a fair amount of fiddling around with geometry and shocks to straighten it out. If you’re not discouraged yet, there’s a build thread for my truck with a Jag airbag suspension here - 49 GMC Five Window - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

10

This is awesome! Thanks for the info. I am trying to figure out a way to airbag the rear on my 71 jaguar xj6.

11

Hi,

Don’t ruin the ”magic carpet ride”. If you want air, get an X350 XJ (2004-2009).

Cheers!