Well, $800 dollars you can be damn shure of 2 things. Either the kit is shitty or it's so old that he isn't looking for that much $ for it. Check if it comes with all the lines, fittings, Compressor, gauges, on/off air pessure switch, at least 3/8 valves, good rank ( one that doesn't show sights of rust!), controler, cylinders and etc. First things first. If the cylinders have a little rust on the rod, or they look dirty, Don't get it because you will be spending another $400 - $600 on new cylinders with brakets. Check if the brakets are not broken or craked!, Check if he ran an air drier. ( JUst like that crap that they put in body shops on the line supply ) A good air ride system should have one or you will be replacing your cylinders, valves and gauges yearly! Also don't use accumulators unless you have a really badass copressor and at least 10 gallons of air. Or else you will raise once and you will be almost out of air. The ride with out them is rought, But it's better for clowning around. Also before you install the kit. Buy check valves, so when you hit a pot hole you don't loose the air that you have in your cylinders and you get in an accident.
If you are worried about height and aliment, Defenitly get gauges. They help a lil'. Also cylinders last for a long time if you instal right and if you run an air dryer. I wouldn't consider winter use tho. Well at least here in Boston. (F*cking snow!)
Before you start putting it toguether ( By the way, try to put it toguether your self, I'm pretty shure that your friend is not gonna do as good of a job as you would on your car!) Make shure you have every thing, compressor, 8 valves for f,b,s,s. Or 4 For f,B only, check valves (no cylinder leak), gauges (helps to get your ride to the right height!), air tank ( please use a gauge on it so you don't blow your compressor), air drier, on/off air switch ( if you don't wanna be looking at your gauge to see the pressure b4 you shut the compressor off,), lines, cylinders, brackets, fittings, switch box.
First, build a nice place to mount you tank and compressor( in the trunk ). then carpet it if you like or pain it. Then mount the tank air copressor on the board. Then take of you spare tire. Mount all your velves there. Run the lines from the tank to the valves. Run the check valves and line to the strut towers of the car. Wire every thing up. Then after every thing in the car is done, all the lines have been run. Gauges installed, check valves installed, swithc box installed. You go and install you cylinders and just plug the line to them. THE CLOW AROUND LIKE A LITTLE KID ALL DAY LONG
Well hope this helps you. If you have any more questions you can ask me thru email
y3raf@hotmail.com
Fell free to email me. I have had an air system for over 2 1/2 years and just have made maintnance on it. A kit that I installed on my first civic and that I'm now installing on my 2000 civic.
One last word. DOn't be cheap with air ride. Or it will make your life miserable!
