Smaller cold air intake to make room for ARB compressor?

Draco · **Posted:** Tue Nov 09, 2010 11:53 pm

I'm in the process of installing some ARB lockers and air compressor into my 2003 KJ. What that really means is I'm paying a local diff shop to do that.

They haven't installed a compressor into a KJ (though I swore they said they had installed one in a KK). It looks like the best spot is in the vicinity of the cold air intake (CAI). Moving the cruise control unit and making a custom platform behind the CAI looks like an option and I saw evidence of other people doing that while searching. But the geometry is pretty tricky there.

Pulling out the air box, there's a primo flat spot that would be a great place to mount a simple custom platform. As I recall it's a little forward and down of the strut attachment area. My first thought was "no problem, take out the stock airbox and install a smaller aftermarket CAI". But looking around the LOST site the general recommendation seems to be to not screw around too much with the stock box.

Still, I'm going to ask the question anyway. Do any of the aftermarket CAI's reduce the airbox size enough to make it easier to install a (larger) ARB compressor? I'm not looking for a performance improvement, but sure don't want to make performance worse. I don't want to make it harder to get through emissions testing. I certainly don't feel like spending $300 on a CAI right now, but if it would make the compressor install easier it might be worth it.

???

Ernie

p.s., this is the installation of the gears and lockers listed in my signature. Right now the KJ is on a lift and the parts are in a box. I already attempted to pay dues and was going to post to the "Member Introductions" spot once this project is done.

Draco · **Posted:** Wed Nov 10, 2010 10:19 am

Searching through the site again this morning I found Troy's (post about his location.

I like this setup, so I went ahead and ordered an AFE air intake. The cost was $232 including shipping, which didn't seem too bad.

bugnout · **Posted:** Wed Nov 10, 2010 3:04 pm

I think you posted this in the 4x2 section by mistake.

Troy's setup is nice and clean. PM him and he will probably give you the details. I installed my compressor between the battery and the brake booster. Not much room there, needed a custom bracket to support the base, and it requires some major contortion whenever I pull the battery out. Very tight spot, but I didn't want to mess with the air cleaner.

Draco · **Posted:** Wed Nov 10, 2010 10:57 pm

Thanks for the response!

Building a platform to sit behind the air box was option number two. Somebody, maybe you, posted a picture of a beautiful large custom platform there with a compressor.

I actually deliberately posted the topic here, because I was thinking of it as a "cold air intake" question and thus a "performance mod for all KJ's" question, rather than a "locker" question.

I was told late today that at the very end of the rear diff install, an air fitting got damaged. So the rear locker needs to be replaced. That means my KJ is stuck in the shop until next week. Oh well.

I was impressed in the past by what you did to your Jeep, BTW, so I'll take this opportunity to say Nice Job! I covet that steel JBA D30 front diff housing. Wanted so much to make one part of this project but couldn't justify the expense to my wife. Made me want to bang on the D30a with a hammer until it broke so I had an excuse to buy the steel diff housing. Maybe someday.

I took particular notice of the Alpine Loop pictures. My wife and I went on that road / trail in the counter-clockwise direction (Silverton -- Lake City -- Ouray) around 2003 or 2004 when everything was completely stock. We scraped bottom a fair bit, especially on the final rocky section leading to Ouray. My wife had to spot a lot, so it was slow going. That trip is what poked me to lift the Jeep in the first place. We're looking forward to going back there in a year or two.

bugnout · **Posted:** Wed Nov 10, 2010 11:17 pm

That's too bad, but good thing they didn't try to make do. When I had my lockers installed, the bolts that came with the gear set were the wrong grade and I had to wait 3 days for the right bolts to arrive. It was frustrating, but gave me a lot of confidence that the mechanic double checked the parts and didn't just assemble it.

Be sure to post once you've had a chance to try out the new lockers.

m_volyrakis · **Posted:** Tue Dec 28, 2010 6:31 am

Well, mine is a 2,4 and had "plenty" of room on the upper left corner right behind the cruise control servo, plus a couple os screws were just waiting there as if they were made for the small ARB compressor to bolt on them...

My setup has changed a bit since these photos were taken,( not running the tank you see on the second photo any more) but the compressor is in the same place. I'll scoot a couple of fresh ones when I get to the jeep.

tonycrd · **Posted:** Tue Dec 28, 2010 6:52 am

I am going to try something like this for the compressor.

Can be found here: http://oneofffabrication.com/

m_volyrakis · **Posted:** Tue Dec 28, 2010 10:30 am

What do you mean by that? add a Hemi engine next to it? :-)r

tonycrd · **Posted:** Tue Dec 28, 2010 12:18 pm

I don't need a HEMI, I have a CRD....

Here's a better picture.

m_volyrakis · **Posted:** Tue Dec 28, 2010 1:29 pm

I want a CRD as well :cry:

Come on Santa... Pleaseeee!

I know I haven't been such a good boy this year..

But I can explain..

:ROTFL:

Draco · **Posted:** Sun Jan 02, 2011 2:08 pm

For what it's worth, here's where my compressor wound up:

In the second photo you can see a simple plate on the other side of the heat shield to stiffen up the assembly.

That's it!

m_volyrakis · **Posted:** Wed Jan 05, 2011 6:04 pm

Hey Draco, what is that relay in the second picture for?

Draco · **Posted:** Wed Jan 05, 2011 10:15 pm

m_volyrakis wrote:

Hey Draco, what is that relay in the second picture for?

That relay is the "PLUG-IN RELAY" in the diagram below. It is the relay that activates the compressor motor.

The actual compressor installation was done by the differential shop. We discussed the general plan, but they did all the wiring. My answer is based on inspection of the installed hardware and comparison with the wiring diagram.

By the way, the air intake appears to be helping performance. Can't be sure as I regeared at the same time. Between the two changes the engine is a lot more responsive.

m_volyrakis · **Posted:** Thu Jan 06, 2011 8:16 am

Hm.. I suspected it was a relay for the compressor, did it come OE?
I installed the ARB OE wiring on my ride and there was no plug for a relay..

Any suggestions anyone?

bugnout · **Posted:** Thu Jan 06, 2011 4:07 pm

The Compressor switch activates the relay which connects the battery to the compressor. Never seen a ARB harness without a relay. The relay isolates the high current compressor circuit from the low current controls.

Smaller cold air intake to make room for ARB compressor?

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