Aircraft Parts For Automotive Use?

I've been able to look at a large stash of vintage aircraft parts. I'm not intimately familiar in that area but there seems to be some stuff that would work on a rod or custom. Does anyone here have examples of their own or photos of other cars to share? There is lots of neat aluminum brackets and such, fittings, hardware, handles etc. There are also some wheels that I have only had a glance at. Has anyone used aircraft wheels on a rod? I'm sure they have shown up at Bonneville on something.

 

The fuel systems of early rodders were mostly made of WWII aircraft bits, and early EELCo and Moon offerings were a mix of actual surplus fittings and valves and new-made parts like tanks done from aircraft materials and standards. Any serious racer in early fifties HRM will show old tanks of all sorts, shutoff valves, big filters, and so on. And don't forget the prime example--the belly tank lakester.

 

I would like to see some stuff also! This could be a good thread!

 

Ive used some aircraft parts on cars in the past. Ive purchased most new from www.aircraftspruce.com/. They have a good selection of spherical rod ends.

 

...first and foremost should be WWII Aircraft seats. The green one is Army Air Corps and is aluminum. The shiney one is Navy and is stainless steel(saltwater corrosion). The green one weighs in at 4lbs, and the stainless one weighs in at 7lbs. We've got one of these in our HAMBster. I have a pair of stainless ones at the polisher right now gettin' all purdied up. ...and don't forget to use 3" wide aircraft seatbelts...

 

I don't have pics yet, but I'm using the rear view mirror from a P 51 Mustang in my '33. Bought here from our very own Bluto.

Doc.

 

I used to have a bunch of aircraft and helicopter parts on my Model A, a lot of them have been changed since the last rebuild. Lot's of fittings, bolts and joints.
My grandpa was an airplane mechanic so he would get all the old parts and use them on cars.

 

I need two aircraft hydraulic pumps.

I would like to find (2) Pesco 280's to be specific...
if anyone can help let me know, I would love to find out where I can get these surplus...

Tuck

 

I work at the Murfreesboro airport and am getting my A&P in the next few months when I graduate from MTSU. I have used aircraft connecting rods as headlight brackets, seatbelts, rod ends, oil coolers, aircraft tubing to make windshield frame. Try to get steering yokes, seats, seat belts, air scoops, door latches, etc. Aircraft stuff is very hot rod oriented because of its simplicity, performance, and durability. Good luck to ya

 

Here's an aircraft fuel cap adapted to my 32 roadster.

The aluminum trim ring is home-made.

The filler pipe is 2 1/2", but a slightly larger size for the first couple of inches would be better.
That due to you have to shorten the cap locking tabs just a bit if you use 2 1/2" filler pipe . . . which is the common size for aftermarket fuel cells and gas tanks.

Available from Spruce Specialties Experimental Aircraft Supply.

A lot of the Ninja style road racer type street bikes have a similar cap.

It opens by lifting the handle and turning it approx 90 degrees.
Then lift straight up.

The tank seal is accomplished by an O-ring.
Use Buna-N so the gas doesn't eat the O-ring.

 

Tuck, take a look at the Northern site.
They handle hydraulic pumps etc.

You may want to drop in on your local hydraulic supply store.
Most towns have one.

Gennie airplane parts are beaucoup expensive.

As an example, a couple of years ago, Autopulse Electric Fuel Pumps which cost about $25. - $30. at the parts house were about $150. & up at the airplane supply store.
Only difference, far as I could tell, is, the airplane pump had an FAA Approved sticker.
An expensive piece of gummed paper for sure, but if your plane takes that pump that's all you can do....

 

Just tonight I was looking at a couple of Grimes nav lights I have laying around and wondering how they'd look as tail lights.

 

I'm using the "Oil Drain" access door from a P-51 as the brake master cylinder access door in my roadster. Also built my master cylinder and fuel pump heat shrouds from Mustang inner exhaust shrouding. Works great...

 

I am going to run C-130 wing tip lights as bumperguard tail lights. No pics yet.

 

I ran a set of wings from an old Piper Cub on a 54 Borgward at one time. Damn thing was pretty steady at speed, but a real bitch to park. Two bladed prop, run off the crank pulley slices ham and cheese pretty thin. Little breezy, but popular at shows where vendor food is too high priced.

 

My boss has 3 hangers full of old airplane parts stashed up in north dakota. We are going to fly up there next month and see what we can use for automotive use, and sell the rest. He says he has parts from WW2 trainers up to current stuff.... we'll see what all he has. David

 

hotrodchassis is building a Model A coupe with some B-25 gauges.

 

This was brought up in a lobster net in Labrador some 25 years ago. It sat in a guys yard since then. I found it on E-bay Canada and paid 50 bucks Canadian for it. The guy thought I was nuts.

 

those are really neat. what are you thinking about mounting them on?

 

I was thinking of using them on my 31 roadster when I pull the fenders.

 

The bushings between the garnish moldings and the windshield pivot brackets on my car are made out of a torpedo rocket guidance system inner sleeve, does that count?

I'd rather not say where they come from!

Who said hot rods aren't rock science?

 

hmmmmm I think I know where they came from, the corner of 16th and Main st.

 

I am using an access door prop of some kind to hold the trunk of my roadster up when it is open. Nice anodized green color. I tried to polish it but that anodize is really hard.

And a friend has a couple of blisters off some kind of airplane on his 32 five window's hood sides.

 

I have these wheels, I have no idea of the origin but they look pretty cool. I hope they can be fixed for usable condition.

 

There's a salvage yard here in Ft Worth that gets all the Lockheed Martin salvage hardware. I buy it for 1.50 a pound. All my stuff is built with cool bolts and screws. It's got great cad plating and is good quality. Safety wire is cool looking too.

Back when I was working on airplanes full time as an A&P, I did "source" many buckets full of specialty hardware too.

 

They would look good on the right car.

Looking from here, one of them would make a terrific third stoplight.

I know, some people are really against a third stoplight - and I aint' overly fond of the billet wonder I'm using - but it helps a lot in traffic.
Even with halogen bulbs and white or silver painted taillight buckets for extra reflectivity, it's difficult for the general public to see the small taillights on our hot rods.

My third stoplight - imo - has prevented two rear enders so far.

I don't want to highjack this post into a third stoplight debate, it just struck me that the aircraft light would make a good one.

 

The AN fittings and hose system was developed for military and aircraft use.

 

I've got various aircraft odds and ends on both my '54 Pontiac and '65 Chevy truck. Part of my exhaust on the truck is made up of wing de-ice ducting and clamps. Yesterday I brought home a couple of ejection handles "PULL TO EJECT SEAT". Gonna see if I can put those somewhere.
-David

 

I agree 100%. I live in "retirement village" florida, and the 80-on-up crowd has totalled two of my stock drivers by rear-ending me at a dead stop. And thats with full size taillights on a late model car

I'm trying to figure out a passable 3rd brake light for my a sedan since the tails are small & low

Oh yeah and if someone happens to find two of those undesirable original bomber seats I could use those for my sedan too

 

the urithane material i had made my shackle bushings are accually from a air craft supply place out in PA. Thats gotta count right?

Oh my fathers last drag car use rod ends from a fighter jet. along with other nasa quality parts. Cant get into details from lack of memory.