On board compressor for air shocks.

Mitsubishi Delica Camper vans, lift kits & other Delica Accessories!

Moderator: BCDelica

Post Reply
User avatar
Growlerbearnz
Posts: 2041
Joined: Sat Jun 26, 2010 1:58 pm
Member's Photo Album: http://www.delica.ca/Photos/
Vehicle: Delica P25W
Location: New Zealand

On board compressor for air shocks.

Post by Growlerbearnz »

I keep forgetting to inflate the air shocks when towing and only notice when I'm on the motorway. Also, when you get to the campsite and unhitch the caravan, it's a pain to air down the shocks for driving around, and then pump them up again when it's time to tow the 'van home.
So here's a fun little project: take a bunch of air fittings and a cheap(ish) 12V compressor, and build an onboard air system for the air shocks. Monroe's awful fittings didn't make it easy, but I got there in the end.

A bunch of random parts from the pneumatic fittings box. Compressor for inflating the shocks, a solenoid valve for deflating. But first, build a box to mount it all in.
Parts.JPG
Parts.JPG (129.28 KiB) Viewed 9637 times
Folding stainless is a pain when you have the world's worst sheet metal folder.
fold.JPG
fold.JPG (250.78 KiB) Viewed 9637 times
Peeling the plastic protective sheet off is the best bit.
box.JPG
box.JPG (59.32 KiB) Viewed 9637 times
All the bits installed in the case, along with some sound deadener because that case was super resonant.
assembles.JPG
assembles.JPG (90.96 KiB) Viewed 9637 times
Installed above the gearbox crossmember where it's dry.
installed.JPG
installed.JPG (79.57 KiB) Viewed 9637 times
An outlet for pumping up tyres, if needed. The air shocks act as an air tank.
outlet.JPG
outlet.JPG (58.75 KiB) Viewed 9637 times
Now the tricky part. Monroe shocks have this stupid, cheap, proprietary connector.
stupidFitting2.JPG
stupidFitting2.JPG (45.64 KiB) Viewed 9637 times
Beneath the stupid Monroe fitting is a 7/16" - 20 thread. Almost an AN or JIC fitting, but without the tapered seat to form an airtight seal. Still, I can make an adapter that'll screw on.
StupidFitting.JPG
StupidFitting.JPG (50.37 KiB) Viewed 9637 times
Adapters made from a chunk of aluminium. 7/16" - 20 threads on one end, a more normal air line thread of 1/8NPT on the other (with 4mm push-in fitting installed)
adapters.JPG
adapters.JPG (68.18 KiB) Viewed 9637 times
Adapters installed. Threads sealed with anaerobic thread sealant.
AdapterInstalled.JPG
AdapterInstalled.JPG (104.58 KiB) Viewed 9637 times
Dashboard control- a modified tailgate lock/unlock switch and a moderately accurate pressure gauge. Green is 20-90psi, the range the shocks are happy with for long-term use. They'll go to 150psi for short periods.
dash.JPG
dash.JPG (72.39 KiB) Viewed 9637 times
Now I can do the lowrider hopping up and down thing- as long as you film it on timelapse. It takes about 30 seconds to go from 20 to 90psi.
Nothing says "poor workmanship" more than wrinkles in the duct tape.
User avatar
lrp374
Posts: 1023
Joined: Sun Nov 23, 2008 9:56 pm
Vehicle: 91 Super Exceed
Location: Kamloops

On board compressor for air shocks.

Post by lrp374 »

Just when I thought you'd run out of projects!! :-D
User avatar
Growlerbearnz
Posts: 2041
Joined: Sat Jun 26, 2010 1:58 pm
Member's Photo Album: http://www.delica.ca/Photos/
Vehicle: Delica P25W
Location: New Zealand

On board compressor for air shocks.

Post by Growlerbearnz »

Never finished. While I had the dashboard apart I also modified the wiring loom so the tailgate locks and unlocks with all the other doors, the park lights come on when the ignition is on (as Daytime Running Lights), the horn runs through a relay (so I can add an air horn later), and my lambda/O2 gauge turns on with the ignition rather than with accessories (it wastes a lot of power if the engine's not running).

Oh and tightened one of the pivot bolts on the steering column adjust mechanism, that was causing a vague feeling in the steering by letting the steering wheel move ever so slightly. Whee!

The next job is to repair and paint the tailgate, which has a touch of rust starting behind the windscreen rubber. But of course I'm not going to just fix it, I'm going to modify it to suit my swing-out tyre carrier (delete the numberplate recess) and stiffen it internally (I dislike how flexible the standard tailgate is). I have a spare tailgate stored... somewhere...
Nothing says "poor workmanship" more than wrinkles in the duct tape.
User avatar
lrp374
Posts: 1023
Joined: Sun Nov 23, 2008 9:56 pm
Vehicle: 91 Super Exceed
Location: Kamloops

On board compressor for air shocks.

Post by lrp374 »

Growler I've got a question on the threads used on the shock. You've made a block with 7/8" x 20 tpi threads on one end and 1/8" NPT on the other. What are these tpi threads and would a tap for that be easy to find in Canada? I'd like to use something more standard if I add a compressor later.
Thanks
Larry
User avatar
Growlerbearnz
Posts: 2041
Joined: Sat Jun 26, 2010 1:58 pm
Member's Photo Album: http://www.delica.ca/Photos/
Vehicle: Delica P25W
Location: New Zealand

On board compressor for air shocks.

Post by Growlerbearnz »

Whoops! They're 7/16" diameter, 20 Threads Per Inch (tpi). (Not 7/8" diameter, which would be huge! Editing the post now...)

A 7/16-20 tap is easy to find, it's a pretty standard imperial size for bolts and nuts, it's just an unusual thread size for air lines.

It looks like you can just buy adapters, like these:
https://www.ebay.com/itm/Monroe-Air-Sho ... 3293426978
Nothing says "poor workmanship" more than wrinkles in the duct tape.
User avatar
lrp374
Posts: 1023
Joined: Sun Nov 23, 2008 9:56 pm
Vehicle: 91 Super Exceed
Location: Kamloops

On board compressor for air shocks.

Post by lrp374 »

I took one of the plastic nuts to CT and used their bolt board to figure out what happened. Didn't help much as 7/16 is not a very common size. The EBay item looks like it could save quite a bit of work or looking. Thanks for the help!!
M.hutt
Posts: 3
Joined: Wed Nov 28, 2018 4:19 am
Member's Photo Album: http://www.delica.ca/Photos/
Vehicle: Delica L300 Exceed
Location: Abbotsford

On board compressor for air shocks.

Post by M.hutt »

Growlerbearnz wrote: Mon May 07, 2018 10:55 pm Never finished. While I had the dashboard apart I also modified the wiring loom so the tailgate locks and unlocks with all the other doors, the park lights come on when the ignition is on (as Daytime Running Lights), the horn runs through a relay (so I can add an air horn later), and my lambda/O2 gauge turns on with the ignition rather than with accessories (it wastes a lot of power if the engine's not running).
Any chance we'll see a walkthrough on how to do these specific mods!? These are exactly what I'd love to do!

Cheers!
Post Reply

Return to “Delica Modifications”