ARB compressor install in BJ70 (1 Viewer)

[Cayman Dennis]

Just thought I'd share my ARB compressor install details with you good folks. This is just the compressor - a rear locker will arrive when funding does... Until then, its only purpose is to inflate tires.

I couldn't find a decent spot for this unit under the hood. Some stuff would have had to be shifted to make room. I decided to fit the unit inside the cab. Closer to the rear diff and cleaner, too. I don't have a lot of room in this SWB - no cargo drawers or anything like that.

So I took a look at my center console. Two thirds of it was full of a rear heater unit.



The heater came out since there are no rear passengers in my world. The ARB compressor fits perfectly inside here. The little junk tray still fits but when I remove it I have a place to plug my air hose in! This spot is dead center to the truck, too, so my air hose can reach every corner without stretching.

There is already a hole in the floorboard (formally used for coolant lines) that I will use to run the air line(s) to the diff(s) one day. The big fuse and relay are inside the console, too. The only mod I had to make to the wiring harness was to add a few feet of to the main power wire. I stuck some duramat sound deadening material inside the console to keep the noise down.



I put the switch on a blank face plate where the radio goes. I left room for the locker switches.



Cheers,
Dennis

 

[gotoy]

Same place as my own compressor is mounted. Other places are under the seats.

 

[Cayman Dennis]

I have the "air" suspension seats, so no room under there.

Dennis

 

[bj70_guy]

How hot does the comp get in that enclosed space? I never use the rear heater either, but can't seem to bring myself to gut it for something more useful

In my 70 I had the comp mounted under the hood front driver side, in the 74 I just mounted it in the back bolted to the side of my drawer. I like it as it's protected from the elements, but it gets your attention every time it cycles...!

I've seen them installed into the spot in the rear quarter where the factory bottle jack goes. Looks good there but seems like a tight squeeze.

 

[Gib009]

Thats not a bad idea using that dead space where the heater is.

I decided to mount mine on the backside of my drawers. This works perfectly for me as the hose is easy to get to from both sides of the car, it it using space that is usually unoccupied, and it is always plugged in ready to go. One downside however is that i have to rearrange whatevers next to it once the tyres are pumped up, as the compressor does get really hot after pumping up 4 35inch tyres from 10-35psi.

 

[seapotato]

Yeah good Idea. My rear heater is TU as well. ( rusted lines)

It's amazing how little space there is in a 70 to mount things. I had a helluva time finding a spot for my 24/12 converter, simply did not fit in the engine compartment....Barely fits in the kickpanels out back.
May have to do the drawer thing at some point.

cheers,
r