Pneumatic Jack System

[Bill D]

I was watching a documentary on the Corvette C6R last night and noticed they use a pneumatic jack system when the car goes to the pits. It's really cool!! They stick an air hose onto a fitting in the side of the car and 4 jacks integral with the chassis raises the car.

I would love to install that system in my 40. Does anyone have any info on the systems?

Thanks
Bill D

 

[Doug S.]

Bill, you may want to PM David Morton. There was some discussion regarding hydraulic jacks and pneumatic jacks in another thread (this old mind doesn't remember which thread, alas) and he mentioned that he uses this system on one of his cars. If I find the thread in time I'll try to edit this post to include the link.

[Edit] Check page 7, post #133 in this thread:

http://www.gt40s.com/forum/superformance-gt40s/21164-spf-mkii-ownership-7.html

Hope this helps.

Doug

 

[Sandy]

BillD -

They are really cool, but somewhat pricey. I think to do a car was around 2k, plus the work to install. Would solve the problem of where to put the jack under our nice chassis. For our cars (RCR) would be easy to do, back battery box areas and front foot wells...

Sandy

[Edit] Bill - Check HRPWorld.com Race Car Parts and Supplies they have them and the install bits.

 

[Bill D]

They make mention of an internal jacking system but nothing specific.

I will continue to search the Internet. If I find something, I'll post it for everyone.

Sandy-
Do you have any information? $2K is not that bad considering what I have invested to date!!!

 

[Ron Earp]

Check pressure/volume requirements on those. Seems I remember looking into that for the Lola and as I recall I came away with the impression that it would be higher than any compressor I'd likely have available in the pits for the 13 hour enduro, where it'd actually come in handy. Hope I'm wrong, but that is what I recall.

 

[Sandy]

Here is the link to HRP's site

Genesis Technologies Race Car Air Jack System Components

Don't know the air requirements, but I would expect a small tank of Nitrogen would do the trick a few time at least. But don't really know the pressure requirements, but likely give HRP a call and find out.

Sandy

 

[Bill D]

Thanks Sandy
The complete system is $3,011, which is beyond what I'm willing to pay. Maybe if I didn't have to fork out $4K to repair my "recently rebuilt" ZF I could indulge.

I have bookmarked the site so maybe someday in the future I can incorporate the system

Bill

 

[Bill D]

I called them and it requires 100PSI or more to lift a 2200# car. I asked if my compressor at 120 PSI would suffice and they said it would. Each cylinder will lift 1,061#

 

[Paul Thompson 'Hooligan']

Bjorn Arnils has these on his Viper Competition Coupe, and they sure make changing wheels quick and easy.

He runs them off off a nitrogen bottle, regulated down to about 20BAR (approx 300psi) and they lift the car very quickly indeed.

Keith Baker might want to pipe up here as he has fitted them (3) to his latest GTD40 he is building and also has them on another of his cars - a CanAm Ultima.... Very nice indeed!

If you figure each cylinder 'looks' approx 1.0L capacity, then I would think a full lift with 4 cylinders at 20 bar would consume 4x1.0x20 = 80 litres of air. So a 12 litre diving bottle charged to 232 bar would contain enough air (12*232=4640L) for 50 lifts. In fact it would be less as the lines will use capacity too and once the bottle pressure drops too low the lift would not function.. However, I guess it would be good for at least 20-25 lifts per bottle charge, so good enough for a days track fun I'd have thought...

Go-on Keith - post some piccy's....

 

[Sandy]

That's good news, nothing a Nitrogen tank and a good regulator would do just fine! Just need the extra cash as you mention.

Sandy

 

[Fran Hall RCR]

I have one of those set ups for the Superlight Coupe...once we get back from Carlilse.

 

[Scott Calabro]

Bill,

You could build one that is hydraulically actuated, powered from a steering pump, or maybe a convertible top motor/pump, with pieces from Northern Tool (used to be Northern Hydraulics) for probably $500.

The Left coast has all those low rider dudes. Maybe you could check out one of their cars at one of your local cruise nights. They would have parts sources for you too.

Best,
S

 

[Ron Earp]

If it came from Northern tool then it'd weigh a ton!

I didn't know they used ~100psi or so. Then I am remembering wrong or got wrong info. Might check into that. For the most part it is not needed, IMHO, but would be cool!

R

 

[Malcolm]

We used these on the Porsche last year. We ran alot of bottles for air to drive the jacks and we had a compressor out back to refill the bottles. Great for pit stop users. Also we had special stands that we put in when the car was up, put a pin in and you could jack it up again! Gave about 18inch clearance under the car for dropping gearboxes and engines, something we did all too often that day!

We only had three on the car, a central one at the front. Will use less air but clearly if jumping in and out the car some care was needed so that the car didn't tip over! Otherwise quite stable. Tripod is quite firm on uneven ground where four jacks would rock the car a bit.

Quite a feeling when you were in the car and you got dropped off the jacks!

 

[David Morton]

Set of 4 jacks for sale on racecardirect.com for £820 or €1,200
Seller:Tor Joki City:GothenburgCountry:Sweden
racecarsdirect.com (Race Cars For Sale) : Air jacks

Seller:torjokiCountry:SwedenPhone:031-223055Currency:EUR €
Price:1,200.00Date Added:November 21, 2006Views:762

They were listed last November so they may already be sold but it's an illustration that they don't have to cost THAT much........
Dave M

 

[David Morton]

Malcolm, A bit like these ?
Air Jack Safety Props

These one piece cast aluminium safety devices have been designed to be clipped around the ram of the air jack when fully extended to prevent accidental withdrawal of the ram. The air jack safety prop has an integral cast handle and an epoxy coating finish for durability.
CP2985-14 has been designed to suit single stage air jacks with a 230mm stroke, and CP2985-17 prop has been designed to suit air jacks with a 310mm

or these:AP Air jack Elephant Leg 230mm stroke

 

[John W]

Anyone considered using an air pupm already used for cars with air suspension ?

The Range Rover P38 for example has air suspension, and the pumps for these come up on ebay once in a while.
That coupled with a cut down valve block should work fine,

FYI the Range Rovers use a sodding great (technical term ) air receiver under the drivers seat. I have no idea how many litres it is.
If the pump can lift a 2 ton range rover, it should do just fine for a GT40.

 

[Malcolm]

David, we used the elephant leg style, ie the lower picture.

 

[David Morton]

Malcolm,
Yes, they are the style of the ones I've seen in use in Audi Joest and they looked quite stable to me, more so than the 'canister' style in the upper picture.
Dave M