Mystery item in an engine bay

[casm]

Submitted for your consideration: two photographs of the engine bay of a Talbot Rancho.

Picture #1. Note the location of the jackhandle against the inner fender, visible past the airbox:

Picture #2. Now note that between the airbox and where the jackhandle was in the previous photograph, there's... Something. It's big, round, and silver, and has a bunch of hoses and fittings coming off of it.

I'm trying to figure out what the round silver thing is; my first thought was that it's an air compressor, but doesn't look like any I'm familiar with. An A/C compressor came to mind after that (some model years did get A/C as an option), but again it's not a type that I recognise. Anyone have any ideas?

FWIW, this was the only picture I could find of one with that installed, but there's no accompanying explanation to go with the photo.

 

[bmyohn]

It kind of looks like an on-board air setup to me.

 

[casm]

Yeah, I'm kind of leaning towards that as well. Just can't figure out what type of compressor that would be, or who made it. I am failing at Google on this one.

 

[kastein]

Maybe a turbocharger or some sort of silly HHO/whatever snake oil injector system? A/C compressor? Probably not that.

 

[casm]

Maybe a turbocharger

I thought about that, but can't see anything else that would indicate forced induction. The shape of the thing definitely suggests it, but that pressure fitting & lever valve towards the front of the car makes me lean towards 'probably not' on it.

or some sort of silly HHO/whatever snake oil injector system?

Yeah... I just can't see where the Brown's Gas would be sucked back in to the carb. Same for an LPG conversion. Really wish there was a detail of this from the other side of the vehicle.

A/C compressor? Probably not that.

That's where I keep getting stuck between A/C and air compressor - the pressure fitting. Problem is, there isn't enough detail to see where an A/C compressor would be driven from.

Annoyingly, it was important enough for someone to take a photo of, but not explain why it was significant. Guess it makes sense if you're familiar with these vehicles, but doesn't really help if you're not.

 

[hubs97xj]

That looks like an LPG conversion- with that being the vaporizer (not sure of the exact terminology). It appears as though there are two braided lines, similar to the larger line, and some sort of manifold/splitter, partially obscured by the filter assembly. Regulator and gas shut off valve at the driver's front, one line plumbed into that.

Different parts, but similar design. A "reducer"
http://images.fuzing.com/members/1/67/00154167/213291.300x300.jpg

http://product-image.tradeindia.com/00324472/s/0/CNG-Reducer.jpg

 

[ehall]

vacuum pump?

 

[redneck]

That looks like an LPG conversion- with that being the vaporizer (not sure of the exact terminology). It appears as though there are two braided lines, similar to the larger line, and some sort of manifold/splitter, partially obscured by the filter assembly. Regulator and gas shut off valve at the driver's front, one line plumbed into that.

Different parts, but similar design. A "reducer"
http://images.fuzing.com/members/1/67/00154167/213291.300x300.jpg

http://product-image.tradeindia.com/00324472/s/0/CNG-Reducer.jpg

Thats what it looks like to me. Notice the silver pipe with red stripes coming off the top of it going into the carb.

 

[casm]

LPG conversion it is, and I can once again sleep at night. Thanks guys

 

[crimsondragon]

Is that red valve connected to the setup?

 

[hubs97xj]

Looks like a gas shutoff valve and reg- I'd imagine that's the supply line, and that it's plumbed into the vaporizer. That's not a great shot to show what's going on, but I don't think they're terribly complex systems- but my experience with LPG is restricted to forklifts.

 

[casm]

Is that red valve connected to the setup?

No idea. The photo really isn't great, and that's the only I could find detailing what's going on in there.

Looks like a gas shutoff valve and reg- I'd imagine that's the supply line, and that it's plumbed into the vaporizer. That's not a great shot to show what's going on, but I don't think they're terribly complex systems- but my experience with LPG is restricted to forklifts.

Makes perfect sense. It's been years since I've been even this close to an LPG setup, but this is ringing bells.