Before I can tear into the front clip, fenders, and cab removal, I need to have my airlines up and working. I am not fighting rusty fasteners with only muscles. So progress is being made running the hard lines. I am putting a quick disconnect fitting every four feet. About 2/3 of the way down the wall will be a water trap, followed by another filter/oiler. The remaining run will be regulated and oiled for air tool use. I am putting in a 1" drop for every 10 feet of run leading up to the water trap.

 

Copper line? Soldered? Or sweat fit?

 

Silver solder

 

Don't want it blowing apart at inopportune moments?

Good Plan.

 

I made some good progress today. I should be ready for the first pressure test by the weekend.

 

I tested the system today. Zero leaks at solder joints. Three or four leaks at threads with teflon tape. Some will need melting the adjacent solder joint to tighten up. I can live with this. Happy all the solder joints were good! The compressor is definitely an upgrade. It goes from zero to 175 psi in seven minutes with an 80 gallon tank.

 

175? Why so high? Do you do that for the 'reserve air' as opposed to a lower set pressure?

 

The compressor goes to 175 psi. The pressure to my air tools will be regulated down to 90 psi per the tool mfg recommendations. The higher pressure in the tank will allow tool use longer before the compressor turns on again.

 

Yep. That works.

I miss my industrial air compressor. It's 200 gallon tank made sure the compressor just didn't run all that much, considering there were only one or two people using it at a time. Just don't have the space in the current garage for it, nor do I have a 220 source to hook it up to......

 

I have a slew of parts arriving this week. I am getting the stuff I had on my shelf for the truck project when the fire hit. So soon, I will be back where I was part-wise. I will be able to avoid some of the pitfalls I ran into the first go around, so hopefully this '95 Dakota will go smoother and quicker than last time.