I am is search of an air compressor for my truck. I am installing an ARB air locker now but I want to install an exhaust brake in the future that I think is powered by air. I was looking into the ARB compressor, but I just want to make sure there isn't something better out there that I don't see. I was even wondering if there is a mechanical one that mounts to our engines? What are you guys that run exhaust brakes using? Thanks

 

Many of the off-road and Ford crowd have retrofitted belt-driven YORK air-conditioning compressors onto their engines.

These are found on about all older Fords, many Volvos, and numerous better old cars.

The reason for the York is it has it's own oil reservoir and needs not be oiled through the intake/exhaust, and they make some serious air and make it FAST.

A separate V-belt drive-pulley would need be sandwiched in front of the fan-hub pulley, or you can find hybrid alternator pulleys that have both the 8-rib track plus a V-rib track.

You can use any old air-conditioner compressor, but you would need to mount an oiler on the intake side and check it's level almost daily.


VIAIR, among others, make some decent 12-volt electric compressors if your air demands are minimal.

 

I have personally been looking into the same thing with a york compressor but after a trip to the scrap yard i noticed that alot of the old big rigs and dumptrucks and such use a belt driven air compressor as opposed to the newer gear driven air compressors, this might be a cheaper route to go if you know of a local scrap yard. My question is if anybody has a write up about swapping a v-belt to serpentine.

 

after doing a little research on it i would have to say this is one of the best writeups ive seen on it as it covers alot of different things about doing the york compressor swap and a normal swap also has a little bit of info on changing the pulley from v belt to serpentine http://www.jedi.com/obiwan/jeep/yorkair.html

 

I have just set abus motor in my truck it has a Bendix mounted where the vacuum pump was on my other motor.I had a Vair 480 on the truck last year used it for exhaust brake and air ride worked good but wanted more air to beable to run a air gun and not have to wait for the air to build up

 

I have had good luck with the extemeaire unit from
http://www.extremeoutback.com/index....%20Compressors

As far as the york style for the dodge you might try
http://www.kilbyenterprises.com/kits.htm It doesnt look like they make a kit for a first gen but they may be able to help.

 

Thanks guys! I really like the York compressor idea. The price for the kit is jaw dropping to say the least at almost $1200. I already have an air tank and would have to make a bracket to mount the compressor anyway. I am going to try to find a used compressor, the rebuild kits seem cheap and the electric clutch is in my budget. I just don't know how they determine what side is left and right for the suction side. I don't have AC in my truck and would like to mount it where my compressor would go. I also don't have my truck to take measurements. Does anyone know where the best place to mount it would be?

 

I'm using a Air Zenith, 12 volt, its 100% duty cycle and 2.9 cfm at 200 psi. It works well.