What's this on my '75?

[ghhatley]

I'm new to these cars and have noticed this piece of machinery; what is it? It doesn't even appear to be hooked up to the rubber lines coming out of.
Thanks for the advice

[Smedly]

I think you are missing a picture or 2.

[ghhatley]

Here's a picture, it's the large metal thing with the yellow plug on it.

[Gary McKinney]

That's the air compressor for the auto-level system.  The yellow cap is on the pressure regulator.

[ghhatley]

My lines seem to not be hooked up, I believe this car is on conventional springs. Is this machine  necessary? I had a '58 cadillac on air ride ( even restored it was problematic), is this system similar?

[Eric DeVirgilis CLC# 8621]

Level Ride and Air Suspension are two completely different systems.

Level ride uses 2 rear air shocks with conventional passive springing whereas on air suspension, (4) air springs are used which must be inflated to a certain pressure in order for the car to sit correctly. If not, the car can sit so low that it cannot even be driven.

This is not the case with Level Ride because only the shocks are pressurized to regulate height at the rear.  Otherwise a car with Level Ride is no different than any other car without any special leveling system. 

I would just leave it in the car as it is. It will not affect anything whether its working or not.

[ghhatley]

I simply moved it to the side and will keep it.

[bill06447]

One of the lines plugs into the underside of the air cleaner housing the other connects to a "T" near the PCV valve (vacuum source) the compressor output connects to a 1/8 plastic line that runs along the RH frame rail to the valve above the rear axle. Just make sure the vacuum source at the PCV hose is plugged to avoid a large air leak into the engine.

Bill

[Glen]

Check to see if the rear shocks are inflated.  If they are not then you run the risk of destroying the bags in normal driving of the car.  Also the rear end of the car will be sitting low and that has a large effect on the handling of the car especially on Eldorados. 

[TJ Hopland]

Unless someone has swapped the rear springs with ones from a non air ride Toronado they will sit pretty low with no air.   Air ride was standard on the Eldo's but apparently not on the Toros. 

[ghhatley]

Interesting. After having completely restored air ride on my '58 and remembering all the problems that thing had any form of air ride or air leveling  worries me. But according to what you folks are telling and showing me sounds like this system is much better and is useful.