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QUESTION. WHAT DOES THE A/C PUMP DO? DOES IT UTILIZE THE SPINING OF THE BELT TO COMPRESS AIR? IF SO, COULD (HYPOTHETICALY) A SUCH PUMP BE CONVERTED TO AN ONBOARD AIR COMPRESSOR? JUST A THOUGHT.

Yes many were converted for that purpose among the off road enthusiasts. Google the topic in reference to offroading and you should come across several conversions. Many offroad guys carried a hose with a spark plug hole adapter fitting and just pull one plug, install the hose and fill a tire in the field by running the engine with the plug replaced with the air line.

Hi Sotven,
The York AC pumps have their own oil reservoir. Other makes use the lubricants in the freon for lubrication and wont last long just pumping air. I got one from a junkyard and it works well for the onboard air system in my Power Wagon.
Tim

Some folks just add an oiler to the inlet side of the pump.

HMMMM... FOOD FOR THOUGHT. I NEED TO RESEARCH THIS TOPIC MORE. IF WHAT I HAVE IN MIND COULD BE DONE, THEN IT WOULD BE COOL. ONBOARD COMPRESSED AIR FROM AN A/C COMPRESSOR. THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR REPLIES

When you purchase the compressor be sure to get the electric clutch and pulley with it. You may need to fit a wider belt groove pulley but you will need the clutch so you don't run the compressor continuously.

The Chrysler RV2 twin cylinder pump is the best for this type of use. It actually has a pressurized oiling system with a small oil pump in it! it looks like a baby V twin engine.

I doon't know what kind of oiling system it had, if any, but a neighbor of mine had a home-built air compressor that he made out of an old propane tank and the A/C compressor from a '60s vintage Rambler American. He used it to power his nail gun while building his new barn. It was directly powered by a 5 hp B&S engine (no clutch on the compressor). The pop-off valve never stopped hissing until he shut the engine down.

cuz wrote:When you purchase the compressor be sure to get the electric clutch and pulley with it. You may need to fit a wider belt groove pulley but you will need the clutch so you don't run the compressor continuously.

MY CURRENT THOUGHT IS TO CONVERT MY M37 TO A DODGE 360 V8. SO THE ENGINE WILL HAVE THE STOCK A/C COMPRESSOR. HOWEVER, I HAVE NO USE FOR THE A/C, HENCE EITHER I DITCH IT, OR CONVERT IT TO DO SOMETHING USEFUL (LIKE ONBOARD COMPRESSED AIR PERHAPS LOL)

Lifer wrote:I doon't know what kind of oiling system it had, if any, but a neighbor of mine had a home-built air compressor that he made out of an old propane tank and the A/C compressor from a '60s vintage Rambler American. He used it to power his nail gun while building his new barn. It was directly powered by a 5 hp B&S engine (no clutch on the compressor). The pop-off valve never stopped hissing until he shut the engine down.

I SUSPECT. THAT THE A/C COMPRESSOR, ONLY OPERATES WHEN CURRENT IS APPLIED TO ITS ELECTRIC CLUTCH. SO, OIL WOULD BE NECESARRY FOR THE TIME THAT IT IS USED. IF I WAS TO HAVE FITTINGS RUN FROM THE OUTPUT OF THE COMPRESSOR TO SAY INFLATE E TIRE, I COULD SPRAY SOME OIL INTO THE INTAKE OPENING PRIOR TO USE (HOW LONG DOES IT TAKE TO INFLATE A TIRE, LETS SAY 15 MINUTES?) ALSO A TINY AIR FILTER ON THE INTAKE WOULD KEEP THE COMPRESSOR CLEAN ENOUGH IN THERE. AGAIN, JUST AN IDEA

SOTVEN wrote:

Lifer wrote:I doon't know what kind of oiling system it had, if any, but a neighbor of mine had a home-built air compressor that he made out of an old propane tank and the A/C compressor from a '60s vintage Rambler American. He used it to power his nail gun while building his new barn. It was directly powered by a 5 hp B&S engine (no clutch on the compressor). The pop-off valve never stopped hissing until he shut the engine down.

I SUSPECT. THAT THE A/C COMPRESSOR, ONLY OPERATES WHEN CURRENT IS APPLIED TO ITS ELECTRIC CLUTCH. SO, OIL WOULD BE NECESARRY FOR THE TIME THAT IT IS USED. IF I WAS TO HAVE FITTINGS RUN FROM THE OUTPUT OF THE COMPRESSOR TO SAY INFLATE E TIRE, I COULD SPRAY SOME OIL INTO THE INTAKE OPENING PRIOR TO USE (HOW LONG DOES IT TAKE TO INFLATE A TIRE, LETS SAY 15 MINUTES?) ALSO A TINY AIR FILTER ON THE INTAKE WOULD KEEP THE COMPRESSOR CLEAN ENOUGH IN THERE. AGAIN, JUST AN IDEA

A compressor converted to move air will move almost the same volume of air as your shop compressor does. It'll inflate tires just as fast, especially if you include a small tank (5 gallon is more than enough) to have an extra supply of volume. I have several friends that run converted A/c pumps for just this purpose, and they work exceptionally well. The york twin cylinder is the best (at least around here) and was found on lots of dodges, chryslers, and volvo's of the 70's and they are capable of 200psi and somewhere around 15cfm or more of volume. I've also seen the more common Sanden compressors used with good results as well. The york has a better oiling system, but the sanden is easier to find.

A-HA, SEEMS THAT EVERYTHING IS POSSIBLE AFTER ALL. JUST FIGURING OUT "HOW"

SOTVEN wrote:A-HA, SEEMS THAT EVERYTHING IS POSSIBLE AFTER ALL. JUST FIGURING OUT "HOW"

Not a big deal either. Get and mount a compressor. Mount a tank, and plumb it to the compressor just like home. Use a 12v pressure switch mounted in the tank to provide on/off switched current to the 12v clutch on the compressor. Use a master switch with fuse inline from the 12v source to the pressure switch at the tank. Viola! One system, wired for air, and the compressor will cycle between two set pressures (high/off - Low/on) just like your compressor at home. Plumb some hose for a convenient outlet and your done.

It really is that simple. Well, almost anyway...