Ride Control Compressor Rebuild Kit, Can you buy them?

[Mike Shawgo]

and a couple more:

[Mike Shawgo]

And by the way, this is the car it's going into, my 71 Eldo.

--Mike
#20545

[Ted in Olympia WA]

A pretty part for a pretty car.

TED

[Greg McDonnell]

I recently (July, 2008) had the alc pump from my '77 Seville (vacuum) rebuilt and it works like new.  It has the car sitting as level as it must have from the factory.  A fellow in Pennsylvania did the work for me.  His name is Frank Smith.  He did an excellent job and charged me $250 plus shipping back to me.  It took him a while (about 2.5 months) but the wait was worth it in the end as I really enjoy seeing my car sit level and raise back up to level when weight is added to rear. 

He has the pump from my '68 Eldorado now and when he's finished with it, I'll send him the pump from my '72 Fleetwood.  I think I recall him saying he only rebuilds the vacuum type pumps and not the electronic ones that came later.  I have his contact info if anyone needs it.

Greg McDonnell
CLC#20841

[Guidematic]

 Mike,

Thanks for posting the pictures! Now I have a good referance for originality when I rebuild mine. I have one for an Eldo (short tank) that I completely rebuilt and it functions very well, but I left the tank natural. Now I can see the tanks were painted black. I also have another that functions (long tank) but needs a cosmetic rebuild. The guts are either refurbished or new. The one on my '70 functions very well, but also needs a cosmetic refurb.

Greg,

What did the fellow in PA do to your compressor? Did he use new parts or parts that were gathered from other compressors? There are no new parts available for them from what I understand. At least I have not been able to obtain any.

Mike

[Greg McDonnell]

Mike,

Thanks for posting the pictures! Now I have a good referance for originality when I rebuild mine. I have one for an Eldo (short tank) that I completely rebuilt and it functions very well, but I left the tank natural. Now I can see the tanks were painted black. I also have another that functions (long tank) but needs a cosmetic rebuild. The guts are either refurbished or new. The one on my '70 functions very well, but also needs a cosmetic refurb.

Greg,

What did the fellow in PA do to your compressor? Did he use new parts or parts that were gathered from other compressors? There are no new parts available for them from what I understand. At least I have not been able to obtain any.

Mike

Mike,

Frank would be the better one to ask regarding the extent of new vs scavenged parts from other compressors.  He did tell me he has some new parts he was able to get prior to them becoming scarce to next to impossible to find.  He has quite a few compressors from various years to rob parts from and did use some on the rebuild of my '77 Seville's pump.  He also provided me with new external parts and connectors in addition to the interior rebuild ('o' rings/washers, long nuts, cone shaped brass fitting and rubber bushings).  He bench tested the pump for several days to a week prior to shipping it back to me so he knew it was working properly.  I don't have an email address for him but do have a couple of phone numbers.  For those of us who aren't saavy in rebuilding these pumps and have no spare parts to do so, persons like Frank Smith are very valuable to have around.  Without him, my '77 Seville would still be sagging in the rear-lol!

Greg   

[Mike Shawgo]

Hi everyone,

Well, after working most of the day, I got the compressor in and connected. but it doesn't seem to be doing anything.  I had to cut the PCV hose and put in a T connection, as that was long gone.  I'm still questioning the correct hose connection a little.  The "air intake" outlet on the top of the compressor has the larger nipple, but the hose goes to the air cleaner which is a rather small tube.   The "vacuum" nipple on the side of the compressor is smaller, but goes to the T in the PCV hose, which due to the size of the PCV hose, is a little larger.   So, it almost seems like they are reversed.  I put about 120 psi of air in the tank, also took the car out on the road for a while, but nothing seems to be happening, and back end is low.

One other thing, I could not get the height control valve off--there is a gas line running right in front of one of the bolts.  It wouldn't budge even just a little, and I didn't want to break a gas line, so I didn't attempt to get it off.  Anyway, at this point I'm not sure where to troubleshoot.  Tomorrow I might pull one of the lines off of one of the shocks to see if they have any air in them, but I don't think they do.  I don't hear any air leaking from anything--just seems like it's not doing anything at all.

Any suggestions are most welcome.  Hope everyone is having a great Labor Day Weekend!

--Mike
#20545

[TJ Hopland]

Here is what mine looked like when I lost pressure in the system.    Without the trailer it only came up about 1/2".  Moral of the story make sure the lines are attached well and out of harms way.

[Guidematic]

 It's possible that the compressor may need a little help in getting going. It has been in tha package for a very long time and some of the works may just be sticking a bit.

The intake hose should go to the cap in the top, and the vacuum to the fitting on the side.

Mike

[Mike Shawgo]

Hi everyone, and happy Labor Day weekend!

The compressor works!   I just didn't have enough air in it.   My dad's compressor would only pump to about 60 psi.   I disconnected the control valve link in the back, and pushed up on the arm, and the shocks filled right up, but they took all the air out of the tank.  So, I took it to a farmer down the road and he got about 120 psi in it, so hopefully the engine will get more pressure in it as I drive. 

Thank  you all for your suggestions!

--Mike
#20545