Custom Air Locker Compressor Build

[Tedster100]

I wanted a compressor to run my air lockers so I put together a Viair unit and tank that would fit under the hood. I know you can buy a unit from ARB for a couple hundred but I wanted a small tank too so I built this. I retro-fitted a propane tank adapter so a camp fuel tank could be used to give me a small amount of storage to keep it from constantly cycling.

 

[Tedster100]

I had some 3/8 aluminium plate laying around and made the tank saddles out of some angle scrap. Using the plate made it real easy to drill & tap holes to mount everything and it allowed me to bolt it to the fender from the bottom. 3 bolts & the whole thing comes out. It's all wired up and fit right into the passenger fender. I even ran an air line to the back and put an air chuck on it so a line can be plugged in from the back or I can plug a power tank in back there and back-feed the system if needed. I think I have about $160 in the whole thing.

 

[Rox Crusher]

great idea !

 

[jw0747]

Are you old enough to remember the TV show "Watch Mr. Wizard?" Your air gizmo looks like one of his. You're the modern day Mr. Wizard. Nice!!

 

[SSDDBRONCO]

That's pretty creative

 

[tasker]

so you made two, one for me? %)

 

[68rockcrawler]

You do nice work!

 

[Broncobowsher]

Nice work, but I do have a question. Does that quick connect fitting flow fast enough? I looked at those in the past and the holes looked really small and restrictive.

In the past I have resorted to cutting the neck off of the bottle, welding a cheap nut on, then drilling the nut out for pipe thread. The cutting the neck off without becoming a fireball is an interesting challenge.

 

[Tedster100]

so you made two, one for me? %)

Actually, I did made a bigger one with a continuous duty compressor with a higher flow rate and a 1/2 gallon tank. I was going to run this for the ARB's and tires, etc. but I ended up picking up a power tank. That's why I went with the small compressor up front. I'll make you a deal on this one... It's mounted on an aluminium plate and since it will generate more heat between the compressor and the tank due to continuous use I used some stainless tubing to connect the two. It's mounted on rubber mounts and is actually quieter than the little one.

 

[tasker]

You have my address!%)

 

[Tedster100]

Nice work, but I do have a question. Does that quick connect fitting flow fast enough? I looked at those in the past and the holes looked really small and restrictive.

In the past I have resorted to cutting the neck off of the bottle, welding a cheap nut on, then drilling the nut out for pipe thread. The cutting the neck off without becoming a fireball is an interesting challenge.

The adapter does use a pin with a small orifice to push the tank valve open. I'm sure it would be restrictive for using it to air up tires but for running the lockers it's more than enough flow. I cycled the front on and off several times and the it let the air out fast enough to re-fill the locker without dropping pressure enough to cycle the compressor back on. It's got a 90-120 psi switch on it and the regulator was set at 85 so it has 30 psi from the tank to burn before the compressor kicks in. I may look at drilling out the orifice to make it flow a little better, it just screws in from inside. I'm not planning on using it to air tires so it should work just fine.

 

[Broncobowsher]

OK. I was worried that it would be so slow the compressor would kick on with the pressure drop in the lines.

 

[broncokak]

Nice set up. Great fab work too.

There is a nice hiding spot for a small tank (an old 5# fire extinguisher ifs nicely) under the battery. bSaves some space up on the fender well for other stuff.

 

[Fireball05]

Tedster - very nice setup!

Tasker - you don't need something like this. Just run the air lines from your diffs to a spot close to the driver seat. You can use all your hot air to activate your lockers!

 

[Tedster100]

Tedster - very nice setup!

Tasker - you don't need something like this. Just run the air lines from your diffs to a spot close to the driver seat. You can use all your hot air to activate your lockers!

That would be like using a bazooka to kill a housefly, overkill for sure! He has way to much hot air for the lockers.

 

[Rymadd]

That's badass! Looks professional!