Fancy compressor

[Vladislav]

The original plan was for the thread to be called "A fancy engine" since I was going to start assembly of a E6 for the R-model. But along figuring on how to free up a big table in the shop I resolved to put together the compressor first since its painted components were taking place on the table for a long while.

 

[Vladislav]

It turned out a bit more attractive about its look when it had before the rebuild. The mechanical part was not perfect too. Cylinders had rusty caves but what seemed more troubleful was one of the connecting rods having cap bolt holes modyfied (drilled through for a bolt with nut). I could live with a repaired rod but it also had a small crack near the repair. What I definitely didn't want was a broken rod in a compressor somewhere in a middle of a highway.

Tried to locate an alu conn rod for Tu-Flo 700 but had almost no luck. Checked out other possibilities and found a NOS compressor locally. Actually that was 700 km from my place but at least in the same country. The compressor had different fittment being a Cummins or Detroit version so I couldn't use it complete nor all of its parts. Good thing the block was found the same so I took it together with pistons and rods avoiding the need of boring the cylinders. Crankshaft was shorter than needed at the drive end so I had to use the original one. Micro caliper shoved minimal to zero wear and that was good. But the size was the 1st repair already so I bought new bearing shells for it. That NOS one was std, of no use there. I also bought a PAI repair set but mostly for gaskets.

[Vladislav]

I have a couple of questions about these compressors though since my one is in fact not completely assembled at the moment.

1st - what is the torque for the conn rod bolts? I measured it when loosened the rods in the new compressor but the bolts had something looking as a thread lock on the threads so unscrew could be harder than the specs. And should I use any Locktight or other thread lock compound there? I know that wouldn't hurt the deal but better to learn what is prescribed by the manufacturer.

And the 2nd. I probably have count the matter but still have a little bit of doubts. I tied to figure out the way the connecting rods oriented. Sure marked all the parts and the old compressor had the rods with the markings (part#) to the drive end (up front). But that NOS one had one rod to the front and another to the rear. And I'm sure nobody opened it before me and the parts were std which meant factory assembly. Also pistons had no arrows pointing any direction for the fittment. So overall it looked like Bendix saw no matter on which way to install pistons and rods. I put them as they were in my original compressor - same way up front. But if anybody may confirm or argue my guess I would like to hear the suggestions.