Rollnnn's CLK55 AMG Rocket Bunny build thread...

[Rollnnn]

Hello,
Thanks to everyone on here that helped my out with my air suspension. Im pretty new to air so it was really confusing but I learned a lot here. It was pretty difficult to get it going, but I think IFinally have it working correctly. Here is my short build thread...

When i picked up the car:

[Rollnnn]

Basically the reason for buying this car, was to do the Sarto Racing rocket bunny kit. This was the first mod:

[Rollnnn]

I had DTM Autobody do the install. This kit involves a lot of body work. Make sure you take it to a trust worthy shop the first time around.

[Rollnnn]

It took about a week and a half for install:

[Rollnnn]

This is a pretty crazy build. In order to get it to look and sit right you have to lower the rear between 7-9". Regular lowering springs or coilovers can't do this.

I partnered up with Megan Racing to develop the correct coilovers for this build.


The fronts were easy, the rear was difficult. We had to use shorter inserts with shorter springs. This took about a month, R&D plus waiting for the right pieces to come in. We were finally able to get it sit right.

[Rollnnn]

After driving around for awhile, i really wanted to put the car on air. It sits so low, that it was hard to get in and out of driveways.

I partnered up with Airlift for the air over coilover system. For those of you interested in air, there are no dedicated kits available for the w209 or w203. You have to use universal parts. It takes a lot of custom work, but it can be done.

Airlift provided the V2 air Management system, tank, bags, 2 viair compressors, water traps, wiring, lines and mostly everything needed. There were a few things i had to purchase extra that airlift does not make, that is needed for these cars.

Airlift V2 management system:


5 gallon polished tank:


2 chrome viair compressors:


2 Water traps:


Bags and everything else:

[Rollnnn]

After doing some research for a good Air installer, I decided to go with City Garage in Long beach, CA. Marlon and his crew took special care of the build. They are known in the mini-truck, classics, low-rider, hot-rod scene to do great air/hydraulics installs and are all metal fabricators so i knew it would be in good hands.

[Rollnnn]

Here is where the suspension gets even trickier. Ill start with the front. The way the front struts are set up, we had to drill out the front top mounts. These mounts only fit the spring, you cannot use these with an airbag.


I had to purchase a new top mount that works with airbags and is designed for this car. Universal Air Suspension makes these:


I also had to buy these plates, which is a perch also made by Universal Air, that screws onto the air bag and screws directly onto Megan Coilovers.


The rear shock was a big problem. I don't have any pics of the rear but in order to mount the bag they had to pull it out a little so it doesn't rub anything, so a mount was made. The bag is wider than the spring so it needs more clearance. With this body kit you only have a few inches to play with in terms of suspension travel. If you look at the rear arch it curves under the tire. If the shock extends too much and the car goes too high it will hit the bottom of the kit. In other words it has to be just right. I had to use the a short stroke shock that was provided by Megan Racing. Its the right one in the pic a couple posts above with the shocks.

[Rollnnn]

The bags provided from Airlift were also too long, so I had to trade those for some shorter single bellow Universal Air Bags:

[Rollnnn]

With the trunk setup i wanted to have it look good for show, but at the same time still leave some trunk space. City Garage did a metal bar setup that is welded to the top of the trunk that holds both compressors and the tank:




Both Compressors:


With Tank:




front view looking through rear seats:

[Rollnnn]

So I lied, my first 2 mods were a lug conversion and a euro license plate.

Lug conversion:

[Rollnnn]

Made my way down south to meet up with my Wheel Partners, HRE WHeels.


When i got there, they weren't quite done being built yet, so Yoshi took me on a tour of the facilities. Pretty cool place.

I picked up the HRE Classics 303.
Front 19x10, Rear 19x12. High polished lips, matte black barrel, brushed tinted clear, with gold hardware.

[mgpdoc]

More please.

[Rollnnn]

Then i had to drive down to Ontario to pick some tires from my tire partners, Toyo Tires

I originally went with the Toyo Proxes1, front 255/35/19, rear 305/30/19 but needed a little more clearance to fit the bags. I ended up with with Toyo Proxes T1 sport, front 245/35/19, rear 295/30/19.

[Rollnnn]

I brought everything over to 168motoring in Torrance to have them mounted. They also had to do a little trimming of the kit so it wouldn't rub.