1964 Impala question

[scubast12]

2 questions .....
1. It has been really cold, (I'm from the north) My tank seems to fill, the compressor runs, but it won't fill the bags, ( I have the cool ride setup w/ the ride pro e2), It will release pressure but will not fill?

2. Second question is, If I was going to upgrade to 3/8's inch lines all around and a bigger tank would you change the compressor? maybe 2 tanks? I want faster response and more play time without blowing bags all the time? ( friend has 1/2 inch lines and blows bags regularly hopping it all around) .... Thanks

[britt@ridetech.com]

#1: The valves may be frozen shut. The inflate valves are pressurized by the tank at all times, so any condensation in the tank will flow to the valves.
Normal operation does not create much condensation, so this is not a normal problem. Most likely your compressor runs a lot more than our normal system (as you are playing with the system more than most) so you may be creating much more condensation then we are used to seeing.
Solution:
-We suggest valves be installed above tank centerline to avoid this situation. As we all know water flows downhill, if the valves are "upstream" the water has a much more difficult time reaching the valves.
-You may also want to mount the valves in the engine bay. The heat from the engine will keep your valves from freezing.

#2: Thomas 327=one compressor per 3-gallons of tank; ViAir=one compressor per 5-gallons of tank.
Adding tanks will allow multiple inflate/deflates. It will not make the system faster.
Speed is determined by the smallest orifice in the system. So if you have 3/8" valves and 1/4" fittings, it's not as fast as if you had everything 3/8".
You will not blow bags unless you run at a much higher pressure (we pressure test our smallest bag, the 7000 series Shockwave, to around 600psi before it fails) or it will blow because it's rubbing on something.

[scubast12]

The car has only been started a few times I am in mn, so the condensation may be a reason, but it may just be frozen lines, but its suppose to be 50 this week maybe I'll start it up again soon, thanks, for the upgrade recomendation, I will be doing that this spring if you think it will make a big difference?

[britt@ridetech.com]

Changing from 1/4" to 3/8" will make a dramatic change in how fast the vehicle inflates and deflates. To do it correctly you need to change to BigRed valves, change all the line to 3/8th and change the fittings to fit the larger line.

I have a complete 3/8th system in my 66 Lincoln and I love it. I used two 3 gallon tanks and two Thomas compressors due to space limitations. If I were doing your car I'd add another smaller tank or replace what you have with a single 5-gallon (this all depends on space). Once you know what tank you'll be using you'll know how many compressors you need. I'm sure you have a Thomas now (black compressor). So if you add another tank, or change to a 5-gallon you'll need another Thomas.