Jacking up the Vette

[Stallion]

What do you guys use to jack up your Corvette? I need to invest in the necessary "tools" to get her off the ground. Thanks!!

TR

 

[matchframe]

I use a floor jack, and jack stands. If you have a Sams Club near you, they have the best prices I have found, unless you find something on e-bay.

I put the floor jack right under the trans crossmember to lift the whole side, and put the stands right behind the front wheel under the frame, and just in front of the rear wheel where the frame kicks up. Then lift the opposite side the same way.

Bill

 

[billybob]

I welded together a poor mans lift that I slide in just behind the front wheels and just befor the rear, I built on a front and rear rachet system that uses center mount legs to prevent forward and rear movement. Then using the industrial floor jack I lift the whole car at one time and place the jacks under the car.

Its a two person job and though trial and error I know have it marked for dead center weight wise so the car doesn't get away while lifting

Bill

 

[FERL 73]

I'm using a sears 3 ton floor jack for SUV's. My problem is placement. If you use the jacking points it leaves little to no room to place the jackstands when the floor jack is in place. They have them on sale now for $45 and you get 2 free 3ton jackstands.

 

[Mike Carter]

I use a floor jack and jack stands, remember to loosen the ttops and crack the doors.

Mike

 

[Stallion]

So I can pretty much be safe with going with any generic jacks and jack stands? And the service manual gives a diagram on where to jack the Vette.

"remember to loosen the ttops and crack the doors."

Really!? Why? I never heard this before. :confused

 

[Mike Carter]

I guess it always been something I'm careful of, the bodies flex and you don't want to stress it abnormally. Problably happens seldom but there is chance you can crack vette, my 2 cents just loosen your ttops and crack your doors.

Mike

 

[mapman]

Be sure to jack the car, and place the jack stands at the locations specified in the Shop Manual or Owners Manual.

Even after the car is on jack stands I have a large wooden support that I also place under the frame "just to be sure".

 

[Stallion]

I guess it always been something I'm careful of, the bodies flex and you don't want to stress it abnormally. Problably happens seldom but there is chance you can crack vette, my 2 cents just loosen your ttops and crack your doors.

Mike

Okay, I will do that, Mike. Thanks for the tips.

Hmmm..now to go find these jacks and jack stands. Let's see, I have a Home Depot around here, Lowe's, something like this place would have them you think? Eh, maybe not Home Depot. That's more of house maintainance/repair I guess.

 

[tonyk72]

I got my 3 1/2 floor jack at Sams Club too..

Sams Club offers a different style jack now, looks smaller...I like the rubber piece you can place in the cup...

http://www.samsclub.com/eclub/main_...BV_EngineID=cccgadcihhiihghcfkfcfkjdgoodflh.0

TR, you do need a membership to get in this place and buy stuff...like $20 a year I think...

Got extra tall 3 1/2 ton SUV jack stands from Sears, good for the Explorer, not so good for the 'vette...
Sears is probably your best bet though...
They usually put their 3 1/2 ton jack & stands combo set on sale for like $100...with dads day coming up, it might go on sale...

 

[Stallion]

Okay, I'll go check out Sears then. Thanks!

 

[Doug'sL81]

I have a 3 1/2 ton floor jack from sears, I had the SUV jack before but it failed on me. I also use 6 ton jack stands on all four corners from NAPA (has a wider base), I feel more comfortable crawling under the car with those babies in place.

 

[Stallion]

Hmm...6 tons does sound pretty safe. Like I said, I'll go to sears and check out what they got. Hopefully I'll come home with nice and safe jacks and stands.

 

[VRGSVET]

For what it's worth; I bought a small two-ton floor jack that came with two jack stands from WalMart CHEAP. It's not the best stuff, but it gets the job done. The jack is nice and small so I can lift the car and fit the stands in place no problem. My car only weighs about 3500 lbs. total, so lifting one side with a 2-ton jack is fine. Just NEVER work under the car with just the jack to support it. If you're willing to spend a little extra, Sears stuff is much better.

 

[born2saw]

Stallion,

I have a Sears 3 ton floor jack and four 3 ton jack stands. works great, the car is solid up on all four jack stands. You can get them on sale for about $70 for all if you watch the ads ($50 for the floor jack with 2 stands, another $20 for two more stands).

A friend of mine with a body shop & my mechanic have advised me to always open the doors and the hood part way when jacking the car. Mine is a convetible & they flex a little more than a coupe, but I would do it with a coupe if I had one.

P.S. I need a new signature pic as I just got her off the jack stands after sandblasting & repainting the wheels & 4 new BFG's (235/70/15's no rubbing & they look great!). I also used a wire wheel & brush & used POR 15 on every part of the frame I could reach-a real bear of a job but the underside looks great too!