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- Joined
- Oct 5, 2007
- Messages
- 5,369
- Reaction score
- 2,956
- Points
- 113
- Location
- Toledo Ohio
- Vehicle Year
- 20002005199
- Make / Model
- Fords
- Engine Size
- 3.0 2.3
it's 2 AM, the brain is getting a bit wonky, and I'm coming up with the crazy idea to convert a 3.0L into an air compressor. the engine is already an air pump right? it sounds reasonable that we could modify it to make a self-contained gas powered air compressor.
the plan seems easy; use a fuel injected engine so 2 cylinders can be "turned off", then make some headers that divert the "non-exhaust" of those 2 cylinders to a tank. not needing all 4 strokes anymore you can add an extra lobe on the affected valves to create a 2 stroke on those cylinders. add lobes to open the intake valve on the power stroke, and the exhaust valve on compression strokes. of course deleting overlap would be necessary.
doing the math, a 3L engine with the center 2 cylinders converted should pump out 70 CFM at atmospheric pressure while running at 2000 RPMs. pumping losses would cut that back some, lets settle for 50 CFM at 2000 RPMs actual.
cranking compression is in the vicinity of 135+, so it should easily build usable pressure.
I'm not sure how to calculate the air flow at a useable 90 PSI.
comparing it to my existing 2hp that puts out 7.4 CFM at 90 while turning the compressor at an estimated 500-600 RPMs it would seem that larger cylinders at triple the RPMs should provide some decent flow.
what do you all think?? start welding cams & headers? or man-up and buy a real compressor?
side note, the only task I need more air for is sandblasting. my 40+ year old Montgomery Ward 2hp unit is still adequate for tools and tires.
(using 2hp for sandblasting is comparable to using dial-up for the internet)
the plan seems easy; use a fuel injected engine so 2 cylinders can be "turned off", then make some headers that divert the "non-exhaust" of those 2 cylinders to a tank. not needing all 4 strokes anymore you can add an extra lobe on the affected valves to create a 2 stroke on those cylinders. add lobes to open the intake valve on the power stroke, and the exhaust valve on compression strokes. of course deleting overlap would be necessary.
doing the math, a 3L engine with the center 2 cylinders converted should pump out 70 CFM at atmospheric pressure while running at 2000 RPMs. pumping losses would cut that back some, lets settle for 50 CFM at 2000 RPMs actual.
cranking compression is in the vicinity of 135+, so it should easily build usable pressure.
I'm not sure how to calculate the air flow at a useable 90 PSI.
comparing it to my existing 2hp that puts out 7.4 CFM at 90 while turning the compressor at an estimated 500-600 RPMs it would seem that larger cylinders at triple the RPMs should provide some decent flow.
what do you all think?? start welding cams & headers? or man-up and buy a real compressor?
side note, the only task I need more air for is sandblasting. my 40+ year old Montgomery Ward 2hp unit is still adequate for tools and tires.
(using 2hp for sandblasting is comparable to using dial-up for the internet)
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