Special Guest: FBI (Fender Bender International)

[meade916]

Just talked to Phil from FBI this morning and i asked him to get one of the experts over at their shop to check in here once in a while and help you guys with the more complicated Air Bag questions.  These guys arent just experts in air ride systems they are experts in just about anything involving customizing trucks and most cars.....lots of billet stuff too.  If one of 'em shows up and signs on they will get their own section to ask direct questions too. 

In the mean time if you need any technical assistance, even on a product they dont carry, call 1-877 fbi-mini and check out www.fbimini.com 

[sinwagon]

Hey Steve. Dan @ FBI Here. Site looks really good. Let me know if I can help. :R :R :R

[meade916]

hey whatsup Dan.....these guys have questions and i obviously cant handle some of them because i only have limited experience so if you see somethin' you can handle feel free to take over.  This is now your section btw....

[fbiphil]

Steve,

Thanks for inviting us on here!  I look forward to helping out with any questions you guys have.

Our phone number is (877) 324-6464, (not "800")- I think the 800 number is a porno line or something!  Feel free to call it, but asking about pumps and bags will probably get you hung up on!

-Phil at FBI

[Forevrbumpn]

I have a question about 4x4 85' s-10/s15 blazer/gmc... The front suspension bushing wise is all torn to sht, and I have seen a 1" drop front/4" in the back-kit for the 4x4, anyway to get that front end lower? With out $1000's of mods? Its got some fat 245-75-15 tires I hate, would like to jump up in rim size, and down in tire size. Something like a 16" rim, about a 225/60-65- 16"(tires rub easily on the fender original owner attempted a 4wheeler outta this one) and try and keep the tires tucked in as much as possible.

And damn, the transfer case doesnt shift, is it hard to take the tranfer cases out, also with out mods to axles, ect.?

So, recap-

1) descent drop kit for the 4x4 model- plusssss bushing kits big time-    tired of hearing my shocks hit bare metal-same as control arms

2) Cheap-o rims that will tuck in better

3) Transfer case- take out and toss???

I would like to bring this s-10 back to life, and sell it... alot of the interior is being glassed, door pods, kick panels, and rear-sides panels with dual 6.5"s in each side.

[fbiphil]

Honestly, if your plan is to sell it when you're done, don't bother with the drop.  Most folks that would be interested in your ride when the interior is done up won't care too much about how low it is!  If anything, go with that 1" front kit, and combine it with a 1" or 2" drop block in the rear to level it out.  If you want to lower the front much more than that you're going to run into MAJOR expenses, and the alignment will never be right again.

Energy Suspension makes upper and lower bushing kits, and a new set of shocks will cure your shock bushing woes.  Check the balljoints up front while you're at it- it's cheaper to do it all at the same time, and that will be a good selling feature for prospective buyers as well!

As for cheap rims, I'd check craigslist.org or ebay for some 16s.  Heck, if you can find a set of eXtreme wheels from a newer S10, they should tuck nicely, and they're a 16" wheel...

To remove your transfer case, you'd have to run a 2wd transmission.  This would mean (at the very least- I may be missing other steps!) having your driveshaft shortened, making a new transmission crossmember, removing your front driveshaft, and possibly reworking your exhaust.  In short, it's probably not worth doing!!!  Just get a new transfer case from the junkyard and swap it in, or live with it being stuck in gear.

Good luck with the project- it sounds like you've got your work cut out for you!

-Phil at FBI

[Forevrbumpn]

haha... damnit, where is a magic wand when you need one?

Thanks for the info.... Guess just the 1f/2r drop will do. And the Extreme rims from the newer models is a good idea.

And scratch the transfer case idea... was already told there would be major welding, and frame modifications, which I never would be able to afford, in 10years... Just wanted a second opinion on that part.

Thanks Phil

[Guest SyKo13]

How much would an air kit run me for an 02 maxima....

[fbiphil]

Nobody I'm aware of makes a direct bolt-on kit for the Maxima, and it's a MacPherson strut car, so you're in for some fun!  Universal Air Suspension makes a universal front strut bag kit that uses your stock strut- it just replaces the coil spring with a bag.  This kit works pretty well on everything I've seen it installed on, but the limitation is your stock front struts- the car will only go as low as they allow.  To find out how low you'll get, you can take your coils off the strut, reinstall the struts and let the jack down- if that's low enough for you, then this kit's good to go!

For a complete setup using the Universal Air kit, along with a 5 gallon chrome tank, front back side to side, with a good compressor to fill it back up, you're going to be looking at around $1300-1500, depending on how many bells and whistles you'd like.  This system will be completely 1/2", with electric valves and DOT lines and fittings.

Let me know what you think, and we'll take it from there!

-Phil at FBI

[meade916]

Steve,

Thanks for inviting us on here!  I look forward to helping out with any questions you guys have.

Our phone number is (877) 324-6464, (not "800")- I think the 800 number is a porno line or something!  Feel free to call it, but asking about pumps and bags will probably get you hung up on!

-Phil at FBI

whatsup Phil thanks for signin up.  Between you and Dan, this section is already cleaned up really nice and you guys (as always) seem to know exactly what your talking about. 

Anyway i dont know how many people i told "1-800" sorry bout that ill try to get it right next time.