Jacking or lifting instructions!

[handstjg]

After reviewing the owner’s manual and shop manual I have only one question. Do you honestly lift this 1986 corvette by means of the sheet metal that hangs down vertically behind the fiberglass rocker panel, oh I amost forgot “between the triangles”. I know it sounds like a ? my wife would ask, but trust me, if I screw up the rocker panel the boss lady will have more than my pride to kick around.

 

[paintdaddy]

I know that area doesnt look that sturdy but its not really sheet metal.Its actually the pinch weld that is part of the frame.Its safe and you wont hurt anything,trust me.Oh wait,dont forget to take out the roof before you jack it up.

 

[WradDad]

Paintdaddy,

New guy here, so forgive me if I'm asking a dumb question, but why remove the roof?

Thanks,
Barry

 

[paintdaddy]

No problem.Thec4s have so much flex in the frame and body that it will crack the top if you dont remove it.Im not for sure but I think it also says this in the owners manual.Ive seen it happen to others,ecspecially on the glass top.

 

[hapafcop]

Another new guy here and I'm glad I saw this because I was planning on changing my oil today for the 1st time since I got the car a week ago.

Does this also include using ramps?

 

[Tuna]

Also, don't slide the jack (assuming floor jack) too far under the car. You want the jack pad to be on the frame flange and not on the fiberglass lower body panel.

BTW, I don't remove my roof when I jack and I never have had a problem with it. Then again my roof is the solid one - this must be a glass roof related comment as I've been jacking the car for 12 years with the roof in.

 

[Moonunit 451]

I don't generally remove my solid roof panel either, just put it up on four jack stands yesterday. It's a little un nerving getting this car up in the air each time. I have done it with the roof panel out and then it really flexes and creeks. It twists around so much with the roof out I don't even like to drive it that way. I won't have to worry about that for a while anyway since the motor went away:cry

 

[handstjg]

Thanks for all of the help. This is one of the best uses of the Internet to date. hands

 

[Ken]

I have never removed my roof panel either, whether I lifted it at all four corners or just one corner at a time. I'd hesitate more at removing the top either before I lift it, or once I have it lifted on stands. I just feel it's a little more secure with the top in place.

 

[handstjg]

It is finally up in the air and if FedEx doesn't screw up the aux fan kit should be here tomorrow.
I took the easy way out and put my small 1.5 ton floor jack on the C channel just in front of the catalytic converter. Lifted the corvette until the real floor jack would fit under the front end. Put a 2x4 across the cross member lifted it until the jack stands would fit at the same spot the small floor jack was located. Life is good. I will remove the handle of the large floor jack and be on my way to a cooler running corvette. The temp is still 100 degrees and it is almost 9:30 pm.
Thanks again, hands.

 

[Ken]

An easier way to get the front high enough to squeeze a floor jack under there is to drive up on a couple of pieces of 3/4" or 1" plywood. That's what I do if I don't use the ramps.

_ken

By the way, I don't know why you don't rust the factory lift points; you're taking more of a chance by not using them. They are very secure, I guarantee it, unless your car happens to be very, very rusty in its steel structure. That would be kinda hard to do though; I don't know who would do that to their Corvette. :L

 

[Dave C. '04 Z06]

I don't know why you'd remove the roof panel either. It's part of the structure. I would worry more about jacking it when it's out, because then the car CAN flex.

If you think about it, jacking up the car is like turning into a parking lot with an embankment. Would Chevrolet sell a car that has the potential to crack apart if someone turned up an embankment? I doubt it. I've never heard of a Corvette disentigrading while making a turn up a hill (unless it got hit).

-Dave C.

 

[paintdaddy]

Ive seen it alot.Yes you would think it acts as part of the structure but if you look at it like that ,thats where the weekest part of the structure is and it will crack.I dont know for sure but I would bet places like astro top stay in business due to someone jacking the car up with the roof in.Ive seen it happen to many people so Iv always did it to be on the safe side.