(Warning, this is a long post, read at your own risk. lol )
Everybody that has a bagged truck seems to always crave two things, to go even lower and more air. This was my quest for more air, going lower will come later.
My previous air demands were met by a pair of Viair 450C compressors. These comps are now to serve as back ups in case something ever goes wrong with the EDC. For almost two years I ran these puppies to 175 psi daily and they are still going strong. Great compressors, but my problem was that I wanted a faster recovery than the 450s could supply.
Here is the truck used in this write up, my 03 S10 x-cab, 4.3/auto.
So I started researching EDCs. I looked into the kit from Airlift and decided that was too much to spend and I really wanted a 210 instead of the 209 the kits come with. I also found that though there is a lot of info out there on the comps themselves there does not seem to be a lot of info on installing them in S10s.
Anyways with the choice made to go with the 210 I set about finding one. I found this one on eBay from a seller that sells rebuilt AC comps. I picked this one up for $80 bucks. More than one from a junk yard, but I wanted one I knew to be in good shape.
To engage the clutch I picked up a twin groove clutch pulley from Napa. It is for a mid 80's model Ford truck, part number is 274224.
To mount the comp to the motor I went with the Suicide Doors York 209 bracket kit. This bracket will fit the 210 but it takes a little modding. It would make things easier if SD offered this bracket in a 210 configuration as well. Anyways here are a couple pictures of the bracket, just a note though, after these pics where taken, I had to make the holes a bit bigger to fully clear.
To run the comp I made what I call "my air log". It holds the pressure switch, check valve, water/oil trap, and plumbing for the unloader valve.
At this stage I started on the install. Here is what it looked like before. It is dirty under the hood, so please over look that and I know some people won't like the pink, but thats OK.
Here it is with everything that was in the way removed. The alternator, overflow jug, computer, fan shroud, and battery all had to be moved out of the way.
Here is the pully for the alt that will drive the York. It is from Kilby Enterprises, (though I ordered it from Gauge and they drop shipped it from Airlift lol)
Compressor braket loosely mounted.
Adding the 40 weight oil.
Comp mounted. The fitting on top are from Kilby, the price was OK, but they rape you on shipping.
Comp, idler pulley, belt, and alt. in place along with the upper support bracket.
To keep the intake air clean I picked up a "ricer" filter from Advanced Auto and a fitting from the local hardware store.
To keep the compressor happy I added a crank case vent to it made from another ricer filter, some brake line and a fitting from Napa. I installed the fitting into the oil fill hole an bent up the brake line and mounted the filter to the top. Not shown is the rubber hose I used to make the filter fit the line.
At this point I noticed a small problem, with the comp in place the battery was way too close to the clutch pulley. This was an easy fix, I just moved the battery over in the tray, the other problem was the battery cable was not able to fit between the tray and the pulley with out being to close to the pulley. I fixed that by trimming away the corner of the battery tray. Now there is plenty of room.
Now for the next little problem, what to do with the computer? Originally it mounted to the over flow jug, now with it gone I needed a mount for it. I knew I wanted it in the stock location so I started on a mount to put it there. I used brake line to make this and brazed it up. I made two pieces, a lower level that mounted to the inner fender in the stock over flow jug location using the stock hardware. The upper level was made to attach to the computer in the stock location using the stock hardware. Then 1" braces were brazed in to lift the computer up and mount it like I wanted it.
The computer mount.
Installed on the inner fender.
With the computer mounted to the mount.
I ran the leader hose (from waylayed) across the back of the engine and down the left side of the frame. I was going to run it down the right side, but there was just not enough room.
I mounted the log in the bed and ran the wires and airline to the tank. I still need to loom the wires and tie them up out of the way.
Here it is finished up under the hood. I still have some wiring to clean up and I need to pick up a small over flow jug, but over all it is finished and working.
And just how fast is it? Here is the time it took to fill my 8 gallon tank from 0psi to 175 psi.
Needless to say I am quite happy with the outcome of the project and would recommend an EDC over a standard electric compressor any day.
Thanks for reading my long winded post and any advice or questions please feel free to post them up.
Everybody that has a bagged truck seems to always crave two things, to go even lower and more air. This was my quest for more air, going lower will come later.
My previous air demands were met by a pair of Viair 450C compressors. These comps are now to serve as back ups in case something ever goes wrong with the EDC. For almost two years I ran these puppies to 175 psi daily and they are still going strong. Great compressors, but my problem was that I wanted a faster recovery than the 450s could supply.
Here is the truck used in this write up, my 03 S10 x-cab, 4.3/auto.
So I started researching EDCs. I looked into the kit from Airlift and decided that was too much to spend and I really wanted a 210 instead of the 209 the kits come with. I also found that though there is a lot of info out there on the comps themselves there does not seem to be a lot of info on installing them in S10s.
Anyways with the choice made to go with the 210 I set about finding one. I found this one on eBay from a seller that sells rebuilt AC comps. I picked this one up for $80 bucks. More than one from a junk yard, but I wanted one I knew to be in good shape.
To engage the clutch I picked up a twin groove clutch pulley from Napa. It is for a mid 80's model Ford truck, part number is 274224.
To mount the comp to the motor I went with the Suicide Doors York 209 bracket kit. This bracket will fit the 210 but it takes a little modding. It would make things easier if SD offered this bracket in a 210 configuration as well. Anyways here are a couple pictures of the bracket, just a note though, after these pics where taken, I had to make the holes a bit bigger to fully clear.
To run the comp I made what I call "my air log". It holds the pressure switch, check valve, water/oil trap, and plumbing for the unloader valve.
At this stage I started on the install. Here is what it looked like before. It is dirty under the hood, so please over look that and I know some people won't like the pink, but thats OK.
Here it is with everything that was in the way removed. The alternator, overflow jug, computer, fan shroud, and battery all had to be moved out of the way.
Here is the pully for the alt that will drive the York. It is from Kilby Enterprises, (though I ordered it from Gauge and they drop shipped it from Airlift lol)
Compressor braket loosely mounted.
Adding the 40 weight oil.
Comp mounted. The fitting on top are from Kilby, the price was OK, but they rape you on shipping.
Comp, idler pulley, belt, and alt. in place along with the upper support bracket.
To keep the intake air clean I picked up a "ricer" filter from Advanced Auto and a fitting from the local hardware store.
To keep the compressor happy I added a crank case vent to it made from another ricer filter, some brake line and a fitting from Napa. I installed the fitting into the oil fill hole an bent up the brake line and mounted the filter to the top. Not shown is the rubber hose I used to make the filter fit the line.
At this point I noticed a small problem, with the comp in place the battery was way too close to the clutch pulley. This was an easy fix, I just moved the battery over in the tray, the other problem was the battery cable was not able to fit between the tray and the pulley with out being to close to the pulley. I fixed that by trimming away the corner of the battery tray. Now there is plenty of room.
Now for the next little problem, what to do with the computer? Originally it mounted to the over flow jug, now with it gone I needed a mount for it. I knew I wanted it in the stock location so I started on a mount to put it there. I used brake line to make this and brazed it up. I made two pieces, a lower level that mounted to the inner fender in the stock over flow jug location using the stock hardware. The upper level was made to attach to the computer in the stock location using the stock hardware. Then 1" braces were brazed in to lift the computer up and mount it like I wanted it.
The computer mount.
Installed on the inner fender.
With the computer mounted to the mount.
I ran the leader hose (from waylayed) across the back of the engine and down the left side of the frame. I was going to run it down the right side, but there was just not enough room.
I mounted the log in the bed and ran the wires and airline to the tank. I still need to loom the wires and tie them up out of the way.
Here it is finished up under the hood. I still have some wiring to clean up and I need to pick up a small over flow jug, but over all it is finished and working.
And just how fast is it? Here is the time it took to fill my 8 gallon tank from 0psi to 175 psi.
Needless to say I am quite happy with the outcome of the project and would recommend an EDC over a standard electric compressor any day.
Thanks for reading my long winded post and any advice or questions please feel free to post them up.