another unorthadox lift question

Ok guys, I am counting on some bagging experts here for some assistance. I am trying to get a list together of things that i will need to do an airbag suspension setup on my B. The difference here is that I am trying to gain some LIFT and not to body drop. This swap will be further down the road (like in a year or so) so I'm not going to go out and spend money on parts today and be confused (because I'm broke )

What I know that I'll need:

longer brake lines (I could use new ones anyways)
copper tubing to run air supply
compressor (undecided on belt driven or dc/ac)
air bags (duh!)
valves (going to do one for each bag)

Other notes worth mentioning:

Going to be a 1 inch body lift involved
Turbo diesel engine
wayyyyyyyy further down the road will be a 4 link suspension, unless critical earlier on for bags

Technical questions

In theory, what range of lift do you think could be achieved with bags?
assuming stock suspension height, how far down would it possibly go when deflated?
What else would need to be modified (like control arms?)
Would the torsions be removed or would they stay?
Same question about sway bars?
any good links for Bagging Theory 101? All I can seem to find are links for air shocks for lifts and porno

There are some good threads on here but please ask all the questions you have, I'm sure others have similar questions

In theory, what range of lift do you think could be achieved with bags?

You could easily get 20" out of your setup if you do what most people call as a lever set up. Basically it just means on a link bar you place the bag near the pivot point. You can use a Pythagorean theorem calculation to estimate your over all height per bar length. Just picture yourself calculating slope.

assuming stock suspension height, how far down would it possibly go when deflated?
It could go down basically until it hits something but being that you are using it for lift you would probably like it to go down until just barely over the tires. If you add clearance it will go down even further. Basically that is all that is done when laying a frame or doing a body drop is taking what ever prevents the truck from going down further out of the equation.

What else would need to be modified (like control arms?)
To get the most lift you would most likely need to remove the control arms and replace with a solid axle up front with a 4 link, 3 link, 2 link or ladder bar style set up. For the rear you could use leaf springs but they would limit your lift. It would also be best to run a 4 link, 3 link, 2 link or ladder bar set up in the rear.

Would the torsions be removed or would they stay?
Torsions could actually stay if you do not remove the control arms but they would limit your overall lift. The torsion bar is basically your coil spring in the Mazda style suspension.

Same question about sway bars?
Sway bars can stay if you only want a small lift, they will flex. For the link style setups mentioned above you need a ladder bar, or watts link to keep the axle in place.

I wrote all of that after waking up so let me know if it sounds confusing

well you gave me a lot of terms to look up when I am done with my classwork for the week. full time + college = headache. So basically it seems that I'll be doing the suspension stuff first then bags. Also with a solid axle in the front I'd probably be good to get a 4wd one as well and look for a 4wd Bongo t-case to go onto my trans.

So a good order of operations would be:

1: do the 4 link in the rear, eliminate the leaf springs
2: do a SAS in the front
2b: 4wd t-case
3: 4 link the front SAS
4: BAGS

Ideally I wouldn't be doing that much of a lift, probably going for about 3-4 inches total (including body lift) for average ride height. Still, the way that you mentioned it, it sounds like I could have some serious fun showing off how high my truck could potentially go, and at the same time when she's parked and off I could have it drop down lower than stock height. This sound about right?

Thank you much, this gives me some more to look into. I welcome any feedback others may have including pics of similar trucks with this type of setup. I'll keep updating with thoughts and theories to bounce around.

Baha's pretty much right on with everything I was thinking.

One thing, since you're not trying to get a lot of lift. You might be able to get away with leaving the front independent suspension. It might get pretty difficult fitting a bag up there though. I've never looked at the front of a Mazda 4x4.

I'm only riding in a B2000 RWD, mine isn't a 4X4 (yet.)