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ARB install suggestions

JT88K5

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I have in hand a new ARB air locker and pump for my D60 front axle in the K5. I’m looking for suggestions on where to mount the pump. Should I plumb up an air tank, and if so location?

I have a Detroit locker in the rear. At some point I want to replace that with an air locker. Might be sooner rather than later. If I don’t get the front done soon, I will probably pick up a rear locker and do both diffs at the same time. Right now the D60 is sitting empty while I line up someone to do the install. I will do all but the diffs myself. I won’t attempt those with no lift, too old and worn (mostly worn) to manhandle them laying on the floor.

One battery on passenger side, room for pump on the other side. I have a winch, would that change your approach? I’ve considered putting in a second battery, or do I need something better than the stock alternator?
 
I wanted clean dry air.

I recently picked up an ARB air compressor and started looking for the best place to mount it. With dual batteries under the hood and future plans for either an 8.1 or an L29 454 I figured I should save room for an ECM. That and the fact I like having as much room under the hood for maintenance and repairs as possible sent me looking elsewhere.
In a quest for clean dry air I ultimately decided on under the passenger seat for the compressor and under the rear bench for the tank. I mounted the compressor to a steel plate then mounted that to the factory seat bracket holes.

View attachment 271290

View attachment 271291
The compressor is lower then the tank so I made sure to add a moisture trap that was downhill from the compressor. A bulkhead fitting thru the floor lets me drain any moisture.

View attachment 271292
Recessed bulkhead fittings were added to the rear seat base.

View attachment 271293
The gauge is visible from the drivers seat, I am not sure if that is the best setup. Time will tell.

View attachment 271294
I will add a grommet to the carpet hole when this all comes back out for the nv4500 / 241 install.

View attachment 271296
 
I have in hand a new ARB air locker and pump for my D60 front axle in the K5. I’m looking for suggestions on where to mount the pump. Should I plumb up an air tank, and if so location?

I have a Detroit locker in the rear. At some point I want to replace that with an air locker. Might be sooner rather than later. If I don’t get the front done soon, I will probably pick up a rear locker and do both diffs at the same time. Right now the D60 is sitting empty while I line up someone to do the install. I will do all but the diffs myself. I won’t attempt those with no lift, too old and worn (mostly worn) to manhandle them laying on the floor.

One battery on passenger side, room for pump on the other side. I have a winch, would that change your approach? I’ve considered putting in a second battery, or do I need something better than the stock alternator?
I would recommend a second battery with an isolator. Wire your winch, compressor and other accessories to the second battery. A higher output alternator is always a benefit. On my rig, I mounted the arb compressor on the inner fender and it runs both front and rear lockers.
 
So did you mount it inside the cab?
He bolted it to the passenger seat. His passengers of the female persuasion like it that way

Mine is under the hood. By mine, I have the dual pump, with a cap over the air chuck port so it doesn’t get full of dirt
 
The wife probably wouldn’t complain about the under the seat location either. But there is no way I am listening to that noise just for her pleasure. With gas at $5 a gallon it’s way cheaper to buy her batteries.
 
Yeah, I don’t want to listen to that noisy thing either
 
I put my arb compressor on the inner fender. Get a generic auxiliary battery tray. The arb fit mine like the tray was made for it.

A strap was added for support to the side.
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Zoo, I like the tray setup vs bolting it directly to the inner fender. Do you run an air tank as well?
 
Zoo, I like the tray setup vs bolting it directly to the inner fender. Do you run an air tank as well?
I do have a 2.5 gallon tank from Smittybilt. It is actually a nice kit as it comes with push lock fittings and nylon hose, high pressure release valve, manual tank drain and a gauge.

I deviated from the kit and used a better gauge and mounted it inside under the dash. I also put a check valve in-line front the compressor to the tank. I did not run nylon hose from the compressor down to the tank though. I used a standard 4ft whip hose you’d mount to an air tool with the swivel end. The fixed end went to the compressor and the swivel went to the tank. That hose will get hot right at the compressor so nylon will not cut it.


My tank is buried under the radiator support on brackets bolted to the top of the frame rails. You can dig through my build to see how it’s mounted. Look at the pics from my 8.1 install and you’ll see how they are now.

The setup works awesome. The tank fills up in a couple of minutes.
 
Co2 tank with the arb line kit mounted in bed, the hose reaches all 4 tires to air up. My arb compressor is on the inner fender.
 

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