Turning MQ Air Con into Air Compressor??

[SWBMQCraig]

Hey guys im interested in turning my air con into a endless air style system and have been reading up on it but have a few questions:

If anyone has done this before with a MQ air con unit? And how hard was it?

Do i need to set up a lubrication system? Some people have put oil or grease lubrication systems in to lubricate the pump but others reakon they have run their air con units as air compressors without any lubrication for ages..

How can i tell if i have got a swash type or reciprocating air con compressor?

Cheers Craig

[mifo_2000]

im not sure how its done but mines got the air con pump turned into a compressor!

i dont know whats done to the pump but i can take a pic of the way its set up on the weekend. It just has a swich in the engine bay which enguages the air con pump.

1 hose sucks air in, and one braided one comes out and goes strait to a coupling, it should go to a air tank but i bought it the way it is and only use the car as my daily driver

[dont_follow_me]

good question, I have been watching this for a day or so and i am surprised that there is no reply.

surely someone has done this to a MQ/GQ Patrol....

I wanna do the same thing to my gq but really need to know if the compressor needs lubrication or not.

[SWBMQCraig]

Take a look at this web page, tech info on how to mod them (with pics) and fit them to a GU.

The guy has compiled great tech info.

http://www.mcs.net.au/~grungle/endlessair.html

This link is good but its quite a big job! I hoping mine will be easier cos im not adding another air con pump just converting mine over ( i have the top off my shorty all summer anyway) and my air con unit is conveniently on the top of my engine! my main issue is sourcing some of the bits he is talking about and finding a location for the tank.

Also i still don't really understand how to plumb it all up? what pressure should i cap my tank at? and if its like 130psi or something thats too much for my airlocker yeah?

Craig

[Articulator]

I have a gq and have done this conversion.I run a valve saver lubrication driper system into the intake side. On the outlet side i have a non-return valve so not to keep constant pressure on the pump seals. I also have a pressure switch -- when my air tank reaches 130psi it switches off. When it drops to 110psi it turns on. Works on same principal as 240v household compressor.
Total cost/ 20lt volvo air brake tank-$35.00
Non-return valve- $12.00
pressure switch- $27.00
Hope this was of some help.

[SWBMQCraig]

I have a gq and have done this conversion.I run a valve saver lubrication driper system into the intake side. On the outlet side i have a non-return valve so not to keep constant pressure on the pump seals. I also have a pressure switch -- when my air tank reaches 130psi it switches off. When it drops to 110psi it turns on. Works on same principal as 240v household compressor.
Total cost/ 20lt volvo air brake tank-$35.00
Non-return valve- $12.00
pressure switch- $27.00
Hope this was of some help.

Thanks Articulator got a couple of questions though how did you set up the valve saver lubrication system and where did you get it from?
do you have anything to collect the excess oil or just drain it from your tank? do you run air lockers off this system?
Where did you get the pressure switch and return valve from?

Thanks Craig

[Articulator]

To set up the dripper system - Where the steel intake line off the compressor turns into flexible line i cut it long enough to reach up to the inner gaurd to keep it as high as possible. The dripper system comes with 6mm vaccum line .I reduced the size of the intake line inserted the vaccum line & hose clamped it. Most auto shops stock these units for about $60. I sourced mine from the wreckers.
The non-return valve&pressure switch i purchased from Steve Hobbs in melbourne via his ebay store/4x4store.
I dont run lockers off this set-up,but hobbsy has a wide range of pressure switches for all applications including the replacement ones for lockers..

Cheers Col