Welcome! Please use the navigational links to explore our website.
PartsASAP LogoCompany Logo Auction Link (800) 853-2651

Shop Now

   Allis Chalmers Case Farmall IH Ford 8N,9N,2N Ford
   Ferguson John Deere Massey Ferguson Minn. Moline Oliver

Tool Talk Discussion Forum

V8 Engine/Air Compressor

Welcome Guest, Log in or Register
Author 
DH in Carolina

01-19-2004 16:50:07




Report to Moderator

I remember seeing a Ford V8 engine used as a air compressor about 30 years ago. This engine ran on four cylinders and pumped air on the other four cylinders. I am thinking of building one and know that I would have to cut the intake in half and block off one side . Has anyone seen this type compressor or know much about one? Thanks DH




[Log in to Reply]   [No Email]
JACK

01-20-2004 21:59:38




Report to Moderator
 Re: V8 Engine/Air Compressor in reply to DH in Carolina, 01-19-2004 16:50:07  
THE CITY I WORK FOR HAS 3 OLD SMITH WITH 460 FORDS THEY ARE EARLY 70'AND THEY ALL HAVE A SPECIAL COMORESSOR HEAD ON ONE SIDE. I GOT ONE FROM THEM 4 YEARS AGO FOR $100.00 HAD BAD COMPRESSOR VALES IT COST ME ABOUT 700.00 TO REDO THE COMPRESSOR SIDE AND HAVE BEEN RENTING IT OUT EVER SINCE.



[Log in to Reply]  [No Email]
buickanddeere

01-20-2004 05:42:01




Report to Moderator
 Re: V8 Engine/Air Compressor in reply to DH in Carolina, 01-19-2004 16:50:07  
Ok if you use a diesel engine as the base. No manifold changes either. Lots of wrecked VW etc inline fours out there cheap.Just replace two injectors with one way valves.



[Log in to Reply]  [No Email]
Philip

01-20-2004 04:35:48




Report to Moderator
 Re: V8 Engine/Air Compressor in reply to DH in Carolina, 01-19-2004 16:50:07  
DH, I work for GrimmerSchmidt compressors, who has been building the Ford 302 and 351 monoblock compressor (along with others, including diesels) for over 30 years. Check out our web site at grimmerschmidt.com. These compressors put put 125 to 175 scfm. Do you have that kind of demand? Honestly, you would be ahead buying a used worn out compressor and overhaulling rather than building your own. Philip.

[Log in to Reply]  [No Email]
Roger

01-20-2004 12:53:17




Report to Moderator
 Re: Re: V8 Engine/Air Compressor in reply to Philip, 01-20-2004 04:35:48  
Monoblock compressors are nice, and make a lot of sense when you consider most people have no idea of how a rotary screw works. They should be mandatory for rental shops,i think. We used to sell Grimmer Schmidt monoscrews for awhile. They were very quiet and compact machines. I think Emglo bought them out a few years ago.



[Log in to Reply]  [No Email]
Philip

01-20-2004 13:06:12




Report to Moderator
 Re: Re: Re: V8 Engine/Air Compressor in reply to Roger, 01-20-2004 12:53:17  
Roger, Mr. Grimmer sold GS compressors to Emglo about 10 years ago. Mr. Grimmer them started the high pressure air and cng Hurricane Compressor company, who I now work for. GS later was sold to a company which also absorbed Smith. 2 years ago Mr. Grimmer purchased GS compressors back and started Grimmer Industries, which includes Hurricane, Grimmer Schmidt, and ANGI. Smith was purchased by Boss Air in Michigan City. You are right on about the rental yards, monoblocks are nice, but are becoming more rare as automotive engines are changing every 5 years as compared to the Ford small block (now out of production) which had a run of over 30 years. Philip.

[Log in to Reply]  [No Email]
Roger

01-20-2004 19:09:02




Report to Moderator
 Re: Re: Re: Re: V8 Engine/Air Compressor in reply to Philip, 01-20-2004 13:06:12  
I always wondered if GrimmerSchmidt and Gordon-Smith were related companies.



[Log in to Reply]  [No Email]
Van

01-19-2004 21:51:35




Report to Moderator
 Re: V8 Engine/Air Compressor in reply to DH in Carolina, 01-19-2004 16:50:07  
I saw one in a body shop once that was made out of a 460. Don't know how it was timed, but do remember that the exhaust valves were not opened on the compressor side and the rockers were removed, they used one way check valves in the spark plug holes and had them manifolded to a reciever. It was in a pit out back and was noisey when running but they never ran out of air.
Van



[Log in to Reply]  [No Email]
Roger

01-19-2004 21:11:14




Report to Moderator
 Re: V8 Engine/Air Compressor in reply to DH in Carolina, 01-19-2004 16:50:07  
The big problem trying to build your own is heat buildup. Compressor pistons come extremely close to the cylinder head in order to force out as much air as possible from the cylinder. Any air that does not get expelled, gets re-compressed. Once this happens a few times, the air begins to get extremely hot. I have seen a lot of valve discs colored blue and gold from heat discoloration. Even a properly designed air compressor will achieve temperatures in the 450F range, if it is a single stage unit running to 150psi. I'm not saying it can't be done, but the compressor side of the motor on a purpose built unit will have a special head and proper compressor valves to achieve correct cylinder purging on the compression stroke.

Years ago, a guy I worked with said he and his boss were trying to build a cheap compressor kit using VW engine blocks. The parts were made in Mexico and were unbelievably cheap. They figured they would start their own compressor company. Unfortunately, while the machine did compress air, it failed rapidly from heat stress. They could not figure out the problem, until they hired an engineer to do some testing. The low compression ratio of the engine was not allowing the compressor to fully clear the cylinders of compressed air, and it was overheating to the point of failure.

[Log in to Reply]  [No Email]
Big Ed

01-19-2004 17:09:50




Report to Moderator
 Re: V8 Engine/Air Compressor in reply to DH in Carolina, 01-19-2004 16:50:07  
SMITH in Kentucky,made a compressor using the Ford engine for years. I've owned 3or4 of them. Good,compressor ....but HARD on gas. It is nice to be able to get some parts local & reasonable {Starter, water-pump etc} But the compressor side parts are high.GRIMMER-SMIDTH[sp??] also used the FORD engine for a compressor as that. As a rule a used SMITH sells probably for less than you could make one.I belive that a 302 engine was used to make the 100 c.f.m. size and a 360 for the 150 C.F.M.in the SMITH

[Log in to Reply]  [No Email]
Steve-Maine

01-20-2004 02:22:18




Report to Moderator
 Re: Re: V8 Engine/Air Compressor in reply to Big Ed, 01-19-2004 17:09:50  
Years ago I got for some plans to use Ford V-8 to build a compressor but have lost them. I have a Lindsay 150 CFM which uses a 360 Dodge engine, rebult a few years ago and parts were very reasonsable. Steve



[Log in to Reply]  [No Email]
[Options]  [Printer Friendly]  [Posting Help]  [Return to Forum]   [Log in to Reply]

Hop to:


TRACTOR PARTS TRACTOR MANUALS
We sell tractor parts!  We have the parts you need to repair your tractor - the right parts. Our low prices and years of research make us your best choice when you need parts. Shop Online Today. [ About Us ]

Home  |  Forums


Copyright © 1997-2023 Yesterday's Tractor Co.

All Rights Reserved. Reproduction of any part of this website, including design and content, without written permission is strictly prohibited. Trade Marks and Trade Names contained and used in this Website are those of others, and are used in this Website in a descriptive sense to refer to the products of others. Use of this Web site constitutes acceptance of our User Agreement and Privacy Policy

TRADEMARK DISCLAIMER: Tradenames and Trademarks referred to within Yesterday's Tractor Co. products and within the Yesterday's Tractor Co. websites are the property of their respective trademark holders. None of these trademark holders are affiliated with Yesterday's Tractor Co., our products, or our website nor are we sponsored by them. John Deere and its logos are the registered trademarks of the John Deere Corporation. Agco, Agco Allis, White, Massey Ferguson and their logos are the registered trademarks of AGCO Corporation. Case, Case-IH, Farmall, International Harvester, New Holland and their logos are registered trademarks of CNH Global N.V.

Yesterday's Tractors - Antique Tractor Headquarters

Website Accessibility Policy