AirLift/Rotiform Install Write Up with Lots of Pictures

I finally began the install of the AirLift kit on my convertible. I’ve been busy with work but finally got some time to myself to sit back and work in the shop. I’m taking my time with this and enjoying putting it together. I’m OCD so while it could have been done in a day, I wanted to look over everything. I also need to do it little by little since I still have work obligations during the day.

Sorry in advance for the lousy iPhone photos.



In this thread I’ll be doing the following:
-Install AirLift Air Suspension Kit with Digital V2 Controller (P/N: 95723)
-Cutting Bump-Stop Brackets/Relocating Bump Stops
-Installing Rotiform BLQ Wheels 20x10/20x12 (Thanks to Neema)

To begin with… the rear end and removing the Bump Stop Brackets

Cleaning her up.


The bracket to be removed.


To lower the axle, you need to remove these fun braces on the convertibles




You can remove these things two different ways. You can torch it and bang it with a hammer or you can opt for the more surgical procedure. I elected to do it elegantly to give it an OEM appearance as much as possible.


My nifty new spot weld cutting kit.







Here is the bracket again… say your good byes



Used a center punch to make it easy to get the drill bit traction. Here it is after a little work. There is 4 Spot welds on the top and 5 on the bottom. The bottom is a bitch.



Fucking bottom.



Bracket removed







Used compressor wheel to sand down the edges.





Then used this.





Followed by black gloss paint.



You could never tell there was a bracket there.

Here are the brackets.

Bump Stop Relocation (Thanks to Neema for hooking me up with this.) This moves the Bump Stops inward for added wheel clearance. The bracket removal and this relocation go hand in hand for added wheel clearance. I need all I can get for 12” width of a wheel.





Remove bump stops.





Then bolt the bumpstop back up on the bolts closest to the middle of the car. I forgot to take a picture of it. I’ll put one up when I can.


Starting the install on the AirLift Kit

Taking the shocks out, my car has the Performance Package with the two-way electronic adjustable shocks, so I noticed something.

Here is the harness plug for the rear shocks.



The PP cars have a different upper bolt on the shock so it can clear the input, so this bolt will not work on the AirLift rear shock. I fished around the shop and found something that would make due until the regular GT rear shock bolt shows up.

PP Shock Bolt is pictured on the left.



AirLift Shock



Rear Airbag


To run air to the rear bag you have to cut a .5” hole 1.375” away from the bolt hole on the upper part of the spring perch. This was a challenge for a convertible since there is added reinforcement brackets that coupes do not have. I had to estimate and cut this hole from the bottom of the car versus the coupe-way-of-doing-it, on the top. In the end, it all came together in holy matrimony.



Damn it looks good now.

Starting on the front of the car.





Pretty much disassembled.





New swaybar endlinks are included with the kit, that are significantly shorter.





Comparison on front strut.



New endlinks installed.



Doing a little bit of cleaning.



Buttoned up.





Parts stash.

Time to layout the wiring.







Regulator to be mounted behind the power top motor.



Running airline and power harness down passenger side



Passenger side grommet hole with air line coming through.



Regulator mocked up with lines



Air line from front strut connected



Harness pulled through into wheel well.







Wiring it into fuse box for battery source and to turn on with ignition on.



Putting wrapping back on.



Air tank mocked up



And that’s it for this weekend. I’ll be back at it on Monday morning to give it a test run!

In for seeing those Roti's on this beast! Excited!!

Good work Cam, excited to see the finished product.

Cam, I recommend some blue loctite on the rear strut mount nut. I recently noticed mine had completely unthreaded, probably due to vibrations from the compressor.

Nice job Cam! Is there many 13' GT500s out there with Airlift?!

You are probably the only one.

HellsBells said:

Cam, I recommend some blue loctite on the rear strut mount nut. I recently noticed mine had completely unthreaded, probably due to vibrations from the compressor.

Click to expand...

Upper shock bolt? What about the airbag? I am a little concerned about the lower bolt that hooks the bag to the axle since you don't thread much of it and it appears loose. I guess it's normal though.

LAStang1234 said:

Nice job Cam! Is there many 13' GT500s out there with Airlift?!

You are probably the only one.

Click to expand...

I haven't seen anyone else do it, but then again I didn't really look. It's kind of counter intuitive with spending the money for the PP option since I know a lot want to keep the shocks/struts (I did at first), but whatever.

I just wanna go low and ride like a caddy!

Sweet write up Cam can't wait
To see her done shell look sick


Sent from your moms phone

I'm not a fan of airbags(prob age) but very clean install. I'm curious to see the final product.

Make sure where you attach it to the axle isn't loose. I had to run a tap through the little black bracket because the bolt was slightly offset to allow the bolt to tighten down completely.

Wes06 said:

Make sure where you attach it to the axle isn't loose. I had to run a tap through the little black bracket because the bolt was slightly offset to allow the bolt to tighten down completely.

Click to expand...

Once the replacement top shock bolts come in (probably Tuesday), I am going to lower the axle again and retry and tighten them. It's been tricky to get the airline in all the way while its in the spring perch.

I am shooting to start it up tomorrow and do a test run so I can at least move the car off the rack and let it sit to test for leaks.

Excellent write up so far!

in for epic wheels and lows

Fucking sick!

GallopingFord said:

Once the replacement top shock bolts come in (probably Tuesday), I am going to lower the axle again and retry and tighten them. It's been tricky to get the airline in all the way while its in the spring perch.

I am shooting to start it up tomorrow and do a test run so I can at least move the car off the rack and let it sit to test for leaks.

Click to expand...

actually i installed the air line for the rears while they were still un-attached at the top, just made it easier to do. Then I had help to push the bag up into the perch while i tightened the nut onto it

Way to go Cam! Happy to see you doing things you enjoy to your car man!

Ill reiterate what others have already said, it's going to be so sick with the airlift and the wheels!

Damn I can't wait to see the finished product!!

looking forward to seeing another slammed vert, you are going to love the slammed look. find the height you will mostly be driving at and have the car aligned at that height, I drive mine stock height and it rides better then stock.