Introducing: Gen III Sanden retrofit bracket
 

This is the third rendition of the Sanden retrofit bracket. I have incorporated several changes/additions to make it stronger. The main plate is 3/8 instead of 5/16. The compressor tabs are 3/8 as well. I also added another adjustment bar at the rear of the compressor. More material has been added to the plate around the forward compressor tab. The compressor will now be mounted with 10mm bolts, instead of 3/8. An additional hole has been added to the rear of the plate for a future rear brace, should one be produced. The Gen III kit will come with a Dayco belt. I will also be offering as an upgrade to the Gen II kit, a Dayco belt for an additional $10. The Gen III kit should be available before next summer. Until then, I have about eleven Gen II kits left. I will post a photo with a compressor mounted on the plate soon......Rich

Subscribed. My 82 CD currently has no charge in it, so it would be prudent to take advantage if it is ready in time...

I still have plenty of the Gen II kits available.

Yeah but I want the latest/greatest if it meets my schedule. Is Chris making hoses for you still?

I have been making my own hoses for years.

One thought, from using the Gen II kit, is perhaps the 4 compressor mounting holes could be tapped. It was quite clumsy trying to get a wrench in the gap to hold a nut on the inside. I replaced one problematic hex bolt on the bottom front w/ an allen bolt since it was easier to get an allen socket on it. Indeed, allen bolts you access from the outside would be easiest, at all locations.

I have been providing Allen bolts for mounting the compressor for quite some time now. I have found it to be no problem at all getting a box wrench between the compressor and plate. I use an air ratchet with an 8mm Allen socket. The new compressor bolts being M10, I doubt it will be as easy to get a 17mm wrench up in there for a standard nut. I found some 14mm hex lock nuts for the M10 bolts. I would have a problem with tapping the tab for two reasons. It is one more machining step that I can avoid, and I would still need to put a nut on the tab side. The all metal lock nuts seem to have solved the problem of those bolts getting loose, and a nut and bolt is easier and less expensive than tapping a hole that needs a nut anyway.

First one mocked up
 

I got a compressor mounted to the plate. I have a few more changes to be made, but for the most part it is ready to produce. I am waiting on a price quote from the fab shop for the laser cutting.

UPDATE:
 

I finally got the first one welded up with all the changes, and installed on my '82 300TD http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/diesel-discussion/390911-long-awaited-project-1982-300td-restoration.html

I hope to have the first 25 kits laser cut this coming week. I still need to find a local machine shop that can machine the sleeves for me. I have a few leads. I also have a rear brace in the works, and it will be part of the kit. The completed kits will not be available for at least another month, as I still have to get parts plated after they are cut and machined. Stay tuned- Rich
EDIT: sorry for the bad photos, I will try to get better ones.

Sounds great Rich .

One of these dayze I'll get SWMBO's '84 Graymarket 300TD going with one of these kits....

Well, it's taking longer than I thought to get the processes done. They are behind at the fab shop, so the laser cutting is going slow. They have some of the pieces done. I got the machine work done, and am waiting for my friend to finish the TIG welding on the adjustment sleeves. Then I need to have all the parts plated. That will take at least a week. That all means that I may have kits ready to go by the end of the month. I still have about five Gen II kits left. I may just save them for the N/A engines.



On another note: I wanted to modify my welding fixture (bare turbo engine block) so I would not have to use an entire engine block on a stand (I have other plans for the block that I am using). I decided to cut through the No.1 cylinder of a bare block (just enough of the block that has the mounting for the compressor bracket). I went to my stash and got the only bare block I had, and used my 14" metal cutting saw. It actually worked pretty good. I was able to cut the portion I needed without any issues. I started to make a holder out of scrap steel so I could bolt that section of block to my engine stand. I got all the fabricating done, and started to bolt on the section of oil pan that I had cut off earlier. I went to bolt it on, only to find out that it didn't fit! I am bummed now, because I cut up my ONLY N/A block! I really need a turbo block, as the compressor bracket is set up for the turbo engine (much more common). I can use the turbo block (fixture) to make plates for N/A engines with a properly placed spacer. Now I have to go out to my stash and strip another short block! Oh well, all is not lost. I will use the N/A block section for welding the plates for N/A engines. That way I don't have to use the spacer.......Rich

Holding on and looking forward. Is there a reason why the gen II kits would be better suited for NA engines?

The Gen III will have a rear brace. The N/A pan is different, so the rear brace from the turbo will not work. I also have a hole in the Gen III plate for the brace. The Gen II does not have this hole. I am sure a hole can be drilled in the few plates I have, but making a special rear brace for the N/A is not worth it for the few that are out there.......Rich

How Things Are Done
 

THANK YOU for sharing the behind the scenes details Rich ! .

That cylinder looks less than optimal .

I had no idea NA engines were useful, I passed on a fully dressed one for free a little while ago .

PROGRESS!
 

I stopped by the fab shop Friday, and they are almost done with the laser cutting. I should be able to pick everything up tomorrow afternoon (Monday). The next step is plating. I might be able to weld up a couple plates in the meantime, so I will have a few kits ready to go as soon as the plating is done. Whoo-hoo!