Just ordered a Powertank
- Thread starter kennith
- Start date
ptschram
Well-known member
I will bet a brand new Power Tank system that I can go into my shop and if given an hour, I can assemble a reasonable facsimile of a Power Tank with components already in stock.
THAT is ironic.
I fixed that for you.:rofl:
It's just easier to buy something at times. When you've got a number of things going at once, as well as an unpredictable schedule, even bolting something together can be one more pain in the ass.
I spent all night hanging on the phone with people and Russia and Europe. I spent the previous afternoon fucking around with people on the left coast, and this morning dealing with the East Coast and England. I haven't slept since the night before last, when I grabbed a two hour nap.
...Half the people won't cough up any cash until I go running all over the damned place; and even then I'll probably have to remind them. It doesn't always turn out great. I only got shy of a grand out of the rest of that bullshit.
I'm restoring my XJS, and starting from the very beginning again on the DII. I'm also clearing some of my property, fucking around with two sound systems, training my ass off, and starting another PC build.
Screw building a tank setup. I wanted a cool blue one anyway.It was more money, but I like that it's a neat Powertank, and I didn't have to fuck around with putting it together.
The most difficult thing I'll have to do is mount it, but someone already helped me out by showing me how they mounted theirs.
Cheers,
Kennith
I don't think it's fair to use the term lazy to describe either of us.
In fact, I think my willingness to buy rather than build the fiddly parts is a recognition that my time DOES have value and it is better at times to spend money than time. I can earn more money, I cannot earn more time, try as I might.
When I was trying to get my rig ready for Brett's rallye, I realized that I did not have time to make the tabs to mount my radiator. I have since bought more than $100 in various sized tabs, gussets, brackets, etc. Yes, I do have a press with dies to use it as a brake, yes, I do have a shear and a Plasma, along with grinders, sanders, drills, etc. (my wife a few years back said "You don't need a factory in the barn" to which I replied "if you even say that, you have a deep and fundamental misunderstanding of what I have spent the last 40 years of my life doing".)
I would rather spend five minutes deciding which tab would fit best, rather than spend 30 minutes making two.
That is not laziness, just the best use of one's time.
My time in the shop is far more precious than in the past.
As for collecting on debts, you don't know the half of it until you drive a tool truck!:smilelol:
I put a panel together behind the rear trim to install the bracket. I also tossed some aluminum spacers in there to help everything tighten up. It works very well.
I got the idea from Ho's installation, and it turned out fairly nice, I think. I fucked up a couple of rivnuts, but I will replace them tomorrow. I think I tightened them too much, and the bolts got stuck, spinning the nuts.
They came out with a bit of tinkering, though. Now I've just got to drill the things out and install new ones with less force.
I did mount the trim and tank just for fun. It's pretty damned solid even without all the hardware. Once I sort that issue out, it's not going anywhere.
Cheers,
Kennith
I got the idea from Ho's installation, and it turned out fairly nice, I think. I fucked up a couple of rivnuts, but I will replace them tomorrow. I think I tightened them too much, and the bolts got stuck, spinning the nuts.
They came out with a bit of tinkering, though. Now I've just got to drill the things out and install new ones with less force.
I did mount the trim and tank just for fun. It's pretty damned solid even without all the hardware. Once I sort that issue out, it's not going anywhere.
Cheers,
Kennith
Attachments
Just to be clear, those are machine screws with lock washers, nyloc nuts, and Loctite holding that sheet to the body. I don't want anyone finding this and thinking it would be cool to just throw some sheet metal screws in there.
Also, none of them are in line. Any selected three of those points create a plane. That should keep things nice and stiff. The holes are also very precise.
I just wish my rivnutting was precise.:rofl:
Edit:
I also left myself enough room to mount something else up there if I want, beside the Powertank. It's not too big a spot, but I could easily fit a small nylon pouch for the hose and tire inflator, or even a flashlight bracket. I'll think of something.
Cheers,
Kennith
Also, none of them are in line. Any selected three of those points create a plane. That should keep things nice and stiff. The holes are also very precise.
I just wish my rivnutting was precise.:rofl:
Edit:
I also left myself enough room to mount something else up there if I want, beside the Powertank. It's not too big a spot, but I could easily fit a small nylon pouch for the hose and tire inflator, or even a flashlight bracket. I'll think of something.
Cheers,
Kennith
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Btw, just had mine refilled yesterday and the welding shop I go to said it needed to be re-certified (every 5 years). Haven't had to get it done before, but I think there are a couple local places that do a fairly quick turnaround on those inspections. Just a heads up on the cert requirement.
ptschram
Well-known member
I'm kinda surprised by this as CO2 is a low-pressure gas and most places don't bother-unless they are trying to fleece you out of $.
OTOH, I also buy new tanks and exchange them and that may be a big part of it. Speaking of which, I need more tri-mix and a N2 tank.
This is probably why, all the places in my area look at the certification. Just had one inspected at a fire extinguisher place for $25.
At this point I'm thinking a small aluminum tank and two cheap pumps. If one dies, the other keeps going.
That sounds way more practical than one quality pump. :ack:
Small tanks serve no purpose unless you have air lockers. The tank(not CO2) will be depleted extremely quickly and you'll be running off just the compressor anyway.
If I didn't have lockers I wouldn't have a tank. This will be my next tank.
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Didn't sound like a fleecing at all. The guy I spoke to said it was a requirement and they could do it for $30, although they would have to send it off to a different location, which would take about 2 weeks. He did recommend a few other (unaffiliated) local places that could do it on the spot.
That sounds way more practical than one quality pump.
Small tanks serve no purpose unless you have air lockers. The tank(not CO2) will be depleted extremely quickly and you'll be running off just the compressor anyway.
If I didn't have lockers I wouldn't have a tank. This will be my next tank.
Meant to post on my thread.
Tank would just be for bursts like blowing something out quickly or seating a bead.
Makes sense.
FWIW Brett tried this with the stock ac pump but gave up after the blow off valve malfunctioned. Maybe he just screwed it up.
York is awesome. It is a BMF of air pumps.
But work and expense needed to cleanly install one go way outside a Powertank/portable compressor debate.
This and the truck took a dump and won't run so further testing couldn't be completed. It worked well for the two days I wheeled it. Except the diaphragm on the coalescing filter kept losing the seal when I was on steep inclines. This dumped air pressure and caused the compressor to run needlessly. I'm sticking with the Puma on my 95.
ptschram
Well-known member
This is true, to a degree. An engine driven pump is best, but it might also be nice to have air when the car won't run, or when you don't want to run it.
Little compressors can be done right without costing a fortune. The problem is, nobody is doing it.
Cheers,
Kennith