Car Jacking Height

[csc67]

I own a 1989 vette and just purchased a car jack and stands from Advanced Auto parts for about $31.00 - The lowest it will go is 4 inches, is this enough clearance ??

Thanks

Chris

 

[tomtom72]

Hi Chris, I think 4" will fit under the rockers at the jack triangles. I have a small 1/2 ton and I think it's about 4" & it fits under the rockers on my 90 ZR-1. However, I am a newbie C4 owner so I'm not to positive as I never measured the compressed height on my jack, I just rolled it up to the rockers & did an eye-ball on the fit. Sorry I can't be more specific but I'm sure someone will be along presently with more accurate info. I just checked the ground clearance measurement and a ZR-1 is 4.9". I hope the info helps. Tom

 

[MyOtherCar]

Not too sound too pompous, but why don't you just roll it out to the car and check????

 

[csc67]

I have it stored for the winter since it is snowing here (NY) - Thought some of you folks in the warmer parts of the US might be able to help out

 

[MyOtherCar]

ic..... jack should be just fine. I believe the Corvette has 6" ground clearance, You can verify that in your owner's manual. I have a couple of different floor jacks in my garage and each works w/o clearance problems. You'll see other posts in here where guys lift their car up using a floor jack w/2x4 on top to lift the whole side at once.

 

[Vettelt193]

I own a 1989 vette and just purchased a car jack and stands from Advanced Auto parts for about $31.00 - The lowest it will go is 4 inches, is this enough clearance ??

Thanks

Chris

If you haven't un-boxed it yet, I suggest taking it back. you will just wind up buying a better one later, after that one breaks. I know from experience, I bought the same jack you have.... it broke, and now I have a Craftsman car jack. Check out a comparable (as far as lifting weight is concerned) Craftsman jack, and you can see the how much beefier they are

 

[Dave L.]

After much research I recently purchased this jack from Sears
http://www.sears.com/sr/javasr/product.do?BV_UseBVCookie=Yes&vertical=SEARS&pid=00950239000
I am very pleased with it. Stay away from the Harbor Freight jacks. I'm told they are having problems with them.

 

[Vettefan87]

I bought my brother a Harbor Freight jack two years ago for Christmas and it is still working great. We also have a Craftsmon one. If the Jack doesn't fit, just drive the car up on 2*4's, that Is what I do when I change oil so I don't hit the spoiler with the jack.

 

[G Winter]

I agree with vettelt193 a cheap jack will end up costing you more in the long run.I bet the footprint isn't very wide on that jack,makes them tend to tip. I don't know what the footprint of the jack stands is but I bought a set from sears for about $20 and didn't like the width of the base and brought them back. I bought two sets from Sams for about $25 a pair much better stands .Sams club also sells a jack for about $60 have had mine for about 5 yrs . Sears does have some good jacks also. Think about it , do you want to lay under your vette with stands that might tip over if you pull on a wrench to hard ? Bite the bullet and get something good. 4 in is about standerd for floor jacks. My 90 vette is listed as having min. 4 3/4 ground clearence, that would be the lowest part of the car not the jacking points .

A side note on jacks.. my wife and kids gave me the sears aluminum jack for christmas. less than 50 lbs love that jack. list price is $199