Air shocks w/ compressor: what works?

I need an on board compressor for my air shocks. What will, and won't work, and why?What size tank? Full duty/25% duty? Will the 17 amp draw be too much for my 40 amp generator? What other specs are important? I found an Omega Research AC 200 that is on sale for 150 + sh. It's 25% duty,120 lbs, with a 5.6 liter tank. Is this gonna do what I need? When loaded for a trip, 90 lbs does the trick. With 3 passengers, 100+ is in order. When I get to the show or cruise night, I want to limp around the show on 20 lbs so it sits right. When I leave, I gotta get back up to 70-90 lbs. The only place you can pump them up to that is a tire store, or service station, IF one is open. I'm not going to do any frame surgery and/or bag it. I just want to do the most with what I have.

 

BTT for you.

I remember some guys in the late seventies had a setup on the dash with a guage and a switch to inflate and deflate. I'd like to find a similar setup for my wagon.

 

subscribed, you're doing exactly what I plan to do.

 

If you are only talking about rear air shocks and not air bags, GM had a factory system offered since at least the 1960s. The original system used a vacuum-powered compressor but the later ones are electric. There is a height sensor over the rear axle that either inflates or deflates the shocks, but you can eliminate it and just use a toggle switch. Look under most 1980s and early 1990s Cadillacs, though Buicks and Oldsmobiles used them as well. I've got one of these to operate the Air Lift bags in my O/T Olds Custom Cruiser wagon.

 

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Air-...r_Truck_Parts_Accessories&hash=item483c27547d

 

<meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8"><meta name="ProgId" content="Word.Document"><meta name="Generator" content="Microsoft Word 10"><meta name="Originator" content="Microsoft Word 10"><link rel="File-List" href="file:///C:%5CUsers%5CTEDATK%7E1%5CAppData%5CLocal%5CTemp%5Cmsohtml1%5C01%5Cclip_filelist.xml"><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:WordDocument> <w:View>Normal</w:View> <w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:Compatibility> <w:BreakWrappedTables/> <w:SnapToGridInCell/> <w:WrapTextWithPunct/> <w:UseAsianBreakRules/> </w:Compatibility> <w:BrowserLevel>MicrosoftInternetExplorer4</w:BrowserLevel> </w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--><style> <!-- /* Style Definitions */ p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal {mso-style-parent:""; margin:0in; margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";} @page Section1 {size:8.5in 11.0in; margin:1.0in 1.25in 1.0in 1.25in; mso-header-margin:.5in; mso-footer-margin:.5in; mso-paper-source:0;} div.Section1 {page:Section1;} --> </style><!--[if gte mso 10]> <style> /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:10.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman";} </style> <![endif]--> On my 50 Chevy I have rear air shock with an on board air compressor and gauge and switch on the dash that I can raise it and lower it from the driver seat.
I don&#8217;t have or need an air tank to just the pump works fine.

 

Use one of these

http://www.jcwhitney.com/electric-air-control-kit/p2005941.jcwx?filterid=c11299j1

 

I'd stick with the OEM stuff, that Caddy pc looks very good, any idea on the output / power requirements for that.

Lincoln also had that feature, not sure of the years, just remember them. look at all the 90's lincolns running around with the ass dragging

 

If your worried about an electric compressor being too much for your generator, you may consider a motor driven pump. Thats what I plan on doing, you can make one out of an old a/c compressor. Plus its quiet and as long as the cars running your always building the pressure you require quickly.

 

If you set up the shocks with a schrader valve in the trunk and then set up the compressor and tank with a hose and quick coupler for an air chuck then you will not have to worry about the compressor drawing to much, because it will only run when it needs it. I also suggest putting on a toggle switch to control the compressor so it only runs when the motor is running.

 

I can 2nd the Caddy vacuum operated pump solution. Don't know what kinds of volumes it could handle but would pump up the rear Air shocks very quickly on my 72 Eldo. Think it had a reservoir as well.

 

A little late but...
http://www.summitracing.com/parts/AIR-25804/

Summit part# 25804

 

My 88 Deville has a nice little compressor up under the hood to fill the factory air shocks. Those Caddy compressers should be cheap in the wrecking yards but I'd figure out how to test one before buying it.