This board and aircraft hydraulics

[Admin]

Of the many valves and pumps shown, all (in my opinion) can in some way be used in Lowriders. I will try to list as many manufactures with history as possible.

Most valves are rated at 3,000 PSI, most pumps are rated at 1,200 PSI

You will see valves rated at 1,500 and some pumps rated as little as 800 PSI.

Most aircraft pumps used in Lowriders are medium pressure pumps, rated at 1,200 to 1,500 PSI. There are a few high pressure pumps rated at approx. 3,000 PSI.

Most Lowrider pumps (lifegate type), sold to Lowriders are approx. 3,000 to 5,000 PSI range.

When using medium pressure aircraft pumps, attention must be given to the overall design of the system. Cylinders, and weight of the vehicle all play a part, as well as the use of the set up. Hopping on medium pressure aircraft pumps is not advised, but for show, they will work.

You can use a 1,000 PSI pump, 1,500 PSI valve and large diameter cylinders on the rear of a car. It will work. Slow but sure. A 1 1/2 inch diameter cylinder at 1000 PSI can lift (in theory) 4,719 pounds. The average car weights about that, unless you add the batteries and passengers.

The key to the system is the weigh of the car and cylinder diameter. If you are looking for speed, then a 3,000 PSI pump at 2.0 HP and 2.0 GPM just might be more desirable.

REGARDING CYLINDERS:
Please see this article: http://squaredump.com/smf/index.php?topic=279.0

What I will try to list is pumps and valves that will work for show. There are the old favorites 280 and 777.  The reasoning behind this may be that:
1) they work
2) they are/where plentiful
3) they were some of the first pumps used in cars years ago.

One of the many reasons there are favorite or more popular pumps and valves in demand today is that they have withstood the test of time. Years ago, we used anything we could get our hands on. Price and abundance played a large part in our first setups. After a while we learned what worked and what didn't.  

One example is the Republic slow down (shut off), (sometimes called a ZigZag, I will post pic of the different manufactures). They seem to be a popular and high priced valve today. Years ago they were dirt cheap and plentiful. Yet I prefer other types of aircraft shut off valves. It appears that those just entering the aircraft hydraulic passion would prefer the Republic valve over a no name, because that is what was made popular from years past. (remembering cheap and plentiful). The valve adjustment is too sensitive for my personal preference and I would not use the valve, unless I could tighten up on the adjustment. Yet, there are those that would prefer these valves, just because they would believe it is a popular valve meaning a good/better valve than others.

This is why this site will list all aircraft valves and pumps that can be used in cars. Not just the popular (or hyped-up) equipment. There are many beautiful aircraft valves and pumps out there, from the 40's to the 80's. If it can and will work, you will learn about them.

[Admin]

As a collector of aircraft hydraulics, I can't collect everything, I prefer certain parts with basic specifications .  In theory if I feel the parts will work on a car, then I'll collect.

There are dozens and dozens of parts that will work and it's hard to keep track of them all, basically this site is like my own personal data base, that I am willing to share with those that also share.

Also, if you find a part without the data tag, hopefully you can match it up with a picture from this site to help get an ID of what it is and if it might work. At times, some parts will work or hold-up better than others under extreme conditions, hopefully you can find out on this site.  If someone is trying to sell you a part and you need to verify if the parts will work, hopefully this site will help too.  I have seen sellers on eBay list dumps valves as something other than what they really are. The novice have no idea they are about to get ripped off, unless they can compare what a part really is or is not. This site will help.

[Admin]

There are two thoughts of using aircraft hydraulics:

One school of thought is that you should only use aircraft parts that were first used in Lowriders before the use of the liftgate type pumps. That you should only use Pescos, Adel, Eemco/Stratopowers power packs.  And that you must use only Adel or Hydro-aire dump valves. (There were many many other aircraft valves used at that time). You could call this the OG (or classical) look.

The other school of thought is that some riders want something different than industrial type hydraulics made only for Lowriders. And that using aircraft hydraulics is an option if you want something different and unique.

This is another reason for creating this site, to allow you to see the many different types of pumps and valves that will work. To allow you to understand that aircraft hydraulics parts need not all look the same. Many countries around the world have produced aircraft hydraulic parts, that you and I have never seen.

You may come across some people that don't understand or agree with using anything other than the named aircraft parts I have listed above. Yes those parts named above have proven though time to work and last, (unless you were a hopper).  As I stated before, the parts that Lowriders used in the early days were parts that were easy and cheap to get. As time went on we learned what parts performed better or lasted longer.

Using Aircraft hydraulic pumps pretty much faded out once the liftgate type became popular. We still used any valve we could get our hands on. Unless you were a hopper, pretty much any valve rated at 3,000 PSI would work. About the only aircraft part that I know of that is suitable for hoppers is the Adel 3-port square dump. The most recognized aircraft hydraulic part used in Lowriders and hoppers. I myself used to use the Hydro-aire #16 two port N.C. valve (AKA Monster Green).

Now lets fast-forward about 20 years. More aircraft surplus parts are coming to market and these don't cost hundreds of dollars. Surplus pumps no one wants. Why? Because riders don't know about them or for some reason they are hesitant to use them.  Some of these newer pumps can cost about $50.00 new! Yet I have never seen these pumps mounted in a trunk.

Once riders get over this type of thinking, three things will happen,

1) The so-called fellow Lowrider that sells over priced parts to fellow Lowriders will need to reduce their prices,

2) These unknown aircraft hydraulic parts will gain in value,

3) Riders will learn that it's cool to be different when you use hydraulic parts not seen before.


All in all, install what you like, not what you are told to like.

[Admin]

For those newcomers to www.squaredump .com, there are actually two different aircraft forums. The forum for aircraft part numbers and images is on this forum.  This site is the database (www.squaredump .com/data) of aircraft parts and those part numbers and NSN numbers that take time to acquire. At times, the type of aircraft these parts come from is also listed. This database is closed to new members, with exceptions.  

The other; (www.squaredump .com/smf) is the main forum relating to Lowriding and hydraulics on or before 1990. It also has a lot of images of aircraft hydraulic parts and some numbers. That site is more or less current news and stories of aircraft hydraulics and of the people that have had or now make it happen. Also it's about the past history of Lowriding, pictures of complete setups, "how to", builds in progress and personal stories of the old (Golden) days of Lowriding.

The image below is just something different. (The complete mockup is not shown at this time).
There are three things not commonly seen with this setup:
1) the Vickers power pack
2) the pressurized tank
3) the use of a single port at the tank for return and fluid supply.