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12 Volt Air Compressor

ArizonaK5

ArizonaK5

1/2 ton status
Joined
Mar 5, 2020
Posts
110
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Location
Goodyear Az
I'm looking into getting a portable air compressor for my 1976 K5. Looking for suggestion on the air compressor set up people are using. Best brand/model for the money. Built in with tank or portable. What people find that works best for them. Pictures would be even better.
 
Vivair 440P with a 3 gallon aluminum tank is what I have. They have a pretty wide offering of compressors for different needs, some even have a 100% duty cycle. For reliability and volume at a fair price, I think they are the way to go. There are better ones and cheaper ones, but bang for your buck I think they are the way to go.
 
Is this just for airing up tires? I've had a Harbor Freight one for 5 years now that I use to air up tires and its still going strong. They have two different ones, the bigger one is the one I have, airs up my 35s just fine. I've even used it to fill tires after I mounted them on different rims.
 
I’ve had the large Smittybilt that was a few years old when it was given to me. It worked ok but it was not 100% duty cycle and even with a 2.5 gallon tank I added in the compressor struggled to fill my 35’s.

Could have been the age but when I wanted to replace it after it failed I chose an arb twin. With my existing tank the compressor is a beast. I blew a bead at blazer bash and the twin pushed enough volume to reseat the bead.

Even with my discount at the shop I work at it still ran me over $500 but it’s totally proven worth it.

Beware though there are Chinese knock offs of the twin showing up on Amazon at a pretty big discount over the real thing. I don’t have any clue if they hold up the same over the long term. Buyer beware.
 
ZooMad75 said:
I’ve had the large Smittybilt that was a few years old when it was given to me. It worked ok but it was not 100% duty cycle and even with a 2.5 gallon tank I added in the compressor struggled to fill my 35’s.

Could have been the age but when I wanted to replace it after it failed I chose an arb twin. With my existing tank the compressor is a beast. I blew a bead at blazer bash and the twin pushed enough volume to reseat the bead.

Even with my discount at the shop I work at it still ran me over $500 but it’s totally proven worth it.

Beware though there are Chinese knock offs of the twin showing up on Amazon at a pretty big discount over the real thing. I don’t have any clue if they hold up the same over the long term. Buyer beware.
Click to expand...
I was pretty impressed that that compressor was able to seat that tire….it was a ways off on the front side
 
Chickntrk said:
I was pretty impressed that that compressor was able to seat that tire….it was a ways off on the front side
Click to expand...
You and me both. Considering the only flammable aerosol we had was brake cleaner and it miserably failed at popping the bead with fire, the compressor was our only hope. It was my repurposed air line between the compressor and tank that failed after the tire reseated. That reminds me I need to source a better line for that.
 
It’s been over 16 hours and I can’t take it any more!
If no one else is going to ask then I will.
What exactly is a !2 volt compressor, why not just go with a standard 12V? :dunno:


:rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl:
 
rampage said:
It’s been over 16 hours and I can’t take it any more!
If no one else is going to ask then I will.
What exactly is a !2 volt compressor, why not just go with a standard 12V? :dunno:


:rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl:
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You assume the eyesight of any of older guys here is going to pick that off on their phones? I didn’t notice it until this afternoon.

Looked like a 12 to me…. LOL.
 
ZooMad75 said:
You assume the eyesight of any of older guys here is going to pick that off on their phones? I didn’t notice it until this afternoon.

Looked like a 12 to me…. LOL.
Click to expand...
Maybe it’s my eyesight, cuz it looks like a 12 to me now too. :thinking:
I think someone is messing with me. :rotfl:
 
Ditto on the 12. Back on topic. As much as I would like an onboard system. I'm leaning toward the VIAIR 450P-45043. Still have too many other things I have to throw at this project. Maybe down the road if I still feel i want that. Thanks for the input on the !2 volt compressor (LOL)
 
ArizonaK5 said:
Ditto on the 12. Back on topic. As much as I would like an onboard system. I'm leaning toward the VIAIR 450P-45043. Still have too many other things I have to throw at this project. Maybe down the road if I still feel i want that. Thanks for the input on the !2 volt compressor (LOL)
Click to expand...
Because you asked for pics...
52142214651_b65a5b92f3_b.jpg


The Viair will work being a 100% duty cycle, it just won't be fast.
 
You're killing me! Thanks for the picture. What model is that? Like that very much! With that, you're never going to say I wish I would of did that instead. :waytogo::bow::usaflag:
 
I'm running a modified York 210 for engine driven onboard air. I have a distribution manifold to air up all four tires at the same time and if I idle the engine up I can fill four 37s from 15 psi to 35 psi in about 5 minutes. The York is modified with oil control rings on the pistons and a big cooling fin on the head to reduce the oil consumption. I've run the stock un-modified units in the past and the oil consumption isn't half bad. Wheeling half a dozen times a year meant topping up the oil once a year when I changed the engine oil. I have an oil/air separator, check valve and a 2.5 gal air tank on it.

www.littleshopmfg.com

GM 4.3, 5.0, 5.7 Pre-Vortec Belt Driven Compressor Kit

1090303
www.littleshopmfg.com www.littleshopmfg.com

I'm running one on a 6.0L LS, but these guys offer a kit for a pre-vortec SBC as well.
 
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ArizonaK5 said:
You're killing me! Thanks for the picture. What model is that? Like that very much! With that, you're never going to say I wish I would of did that instead. :waytogo::bow::usaflag:
Click to expand...

CKMTP12 Buy once, cry once. Short of running an engine driven York, there is not a better setup than the arb.
 
I have had a VIAIR 400p for a few years now, and no complaints. It's not the fastest, airing up a 37" tire from 12psi to 35psi, but it always works. It also gets hot. The portable bag makes it handy.
 
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