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I've used my floor jack on my split window about 4-5 times since I've owned it and jack the car up at the frame points described on the jack instruction card. I did that today while bleeding the brakes and when I jacked up the driver's side front wheel I heard a loud crack. I can't find a busted weld or cracked fiberglass anywhere.
Is there anything I should look for ?
Or am I being paranoid and the old gal was just complaining about getting lifted in the air (frame and birdcage are rock solid on this coupe) This'll drive me nuts until I'm sure I haven't damaged anything...
From: Middle TN by way of KY, OH, VA, IL, CA, FL, NY, SC, HI
Any chance that the frame just slipped off of a jacking pad "tooth". I've had that happen where I did not first ensure that the jack's lifting pad was not properly aligned, than had the frame slip off once I lifted it.
Any chance that the frame just slipped off of a jacking pad "tooth". I've had that happen where I did not first ensure that the jack's lifting pad was not properly aligned, than had the frame slip off once I lifted it.
Didn't sound like that at all and I always use a wooden block between the jack and the frame... It was a pretty sharp crack...my first reaction was frame weld breaking loose or fiberglass cracking.
I just don't know where to look for damage (if any). One Corvette buddy told me to just get over it...these cars make weird noises sometimes and convertibles are worse than coupes...
'IF' it's anything of consequence it will show up eventually; but if there is nothing obvious then i would simply drive it and keep an eye/ear out for something (creak/squeak/rattle,crack/etc) that wasn't there before
Bill
'IF' it's anything of consequence it will show up eventually; but if there is nothing obvious then i would simply drive it and keep an eye/ear out for something (creak/squeak/rattle,crack/etc) that wasn't there before
Bill
I guess I'll put it on the lift and give it a quick once over and then try to quit worrying about it. I did drive it after this episode and didn't notice/hear anything unusual...
I was just wondering if anybody had a similar experience or there were obvious stress points I should check out.
Going back to the back in the 80's. I guy I knew recommended to leave both doors open for "flexing". I always leave door open when I jack up car.. Maybe that's it?
Going back to the back in the 80's. I guy I knew recommended to leave both doors open for "flexing". I always leave door open when I jack up car.. Maybe that's it?
well, i know from experience that if i jack the 62 up with the doors open that they won't close til i set it back down... i guess this is 'reverse flexing'...
Bill
I've used my floor jack on my split window about 4-5 times since I've owned it and jack the car up at the frame points described on the jack instruction card. I did that today while bleeding the brakes and when I jacked up the driver's side front wheel I heard a loud crack. I can't find a busted weld or cracked fiberglass anywhere.
Is there anything I should look for ?
Or am I being paranoid and the old gal was just complaining about getting lifted in the air (frame and birdcage are rock solid on this coupe) This'll drive me nuts until I'm sure I haven't damaged anything...
Finkster; Although I am not close with anyone on the forum, on many occasions I enjoy what you have to say. Therefore I am a little surprised about your concern. I do the same, and put a small block of wood between
the jack and the frame, to cut down on scrapes. What you did was crack the wood, if you look closely you will see that I am correct. Your car is fine and you can get a piece of plywood next time. Best...
Finkster; Although I am not close with anyone on the forum, on many occasions I enjoy what you have to say. Therefore I am a little surprised about your concern. I do the same, and put a small block of wood between
the jack and the frame, to cut down on scrapes. What you did was crack the wood, if you look closely you will see that I am correct. Your car is fine and you can get a piece of plywood next time. Best...
That could very well be it. Had the same thing happen. Scared the crap outta me.
Not to scare you back out to the garage and tear your car apart.....Maybe your bumpers got tweaked a bit and cracked the area where the bolt passes through. Both front and rear bumpers bind against the fiberglass on their sides. Just the way it is...
On a midyear convertible, the gap at the top of the door can increase quite noticeably when raised on a 2-post lift.
Doubtful. Frame in good repair,not likely bumper ripping away from q panel unless shoddy workmanship and loose bolts that would allow spread when lifted. Best...
Frankie: Once you put it up on the lift, put a bottle jack in the same spot you had your floor jack. If something cracked, you stand a better chance of seeing any damage. As the frame relaxes off the jack, you may not see a broken weld etc. I hope all of this turns out to be a wild goose chase looking for something that is not there. Jerry
Frankie: Once you put it up on the lift, put a bottle jack in the same spot you had your floor jack. If something cracked, you stand a better chance of seeing any damage. As the frame relaxes off the jack, you may not see a broken weld etc. I hope all of this turns out to be a wild goose chase looking for something that is not there. Jerry
Me too Jerry.
The bottle jack is a great idea (if I don't do more mischief with it)...
It'll be a couple of days though. I have to work at my paying job for a while. I'll let folks know if I come across anything.
This split window has an amazingly pristine body and I want to make sure I'm not doing harm when I work on it
The bottle jack is a great idea (if I don't do more mischief with it)...
It'll be a couple of days though. I have to work at my paying job for a while. I'll let folks know if I come across anything.
This split window has an amazingly pristine body and I want to make sure I'm not doing harm when I work on it
Frank. You sure it wasn't one of your aging, brittle old bones you heard? seriously my 63 made odd noises when I lifted it on the jacking points too. Could be a body shim stack making noise. 63's were rigid mounted on the frame. When I would lift the front on the saddle, using a half inch thick piece of rubber conveyor belt material across the jack pad, front springs would make noise as they unloaded. I started always lifting the rear with a piece of wood under the spring perch.
Frankie - doesn't address your current question but this does relate to a practice I adopted years ago. I've gotten to where I always use two jacks to jack up any old car. If jacking a side up I put a jack front and rear on the frame. If jacking the front up, I place a jack on both sides behind the front tires or even on the lower a-arms. Jacking up the back, I place jacks in front of the rear tires on both sides. I just don't like to see the frame on my Corvette or the unitized body on my GTX twisting when I try to lift a corner with a single jack.
Then I usually leave the jacks in place if not in the way and slip a jackstand in alongside each jack for safety. It takes a little more time as I jack each side up and down incrementally also, but no more twisting, cracking and popping as I go.
Hope it was nothing more than something minor adjusting itself. As I get older I do a little more grunting and groaning when exerting myself.
Frankie - doesn't address your current question but this does relate to a practice I adopted years ago. I've gotten to where I always use two jacks to jack up any old car. If jacking a side up I put a jack front and rear on the frame. If jacking the front up, I place a jack on both sides behind the front tires or even on the lower a-arms. Jacking up the back, I place jacks in front of the rear tires on both sides. I just don't like to see the frame on my Corvette or the unitized body on my GTX twisting when I try to lift a corner with a single jack.
Then I usually leave the jacks in place if not in the way and slip a jackstand in alongside each jack for safety. It takes a little more time as I jack each side up and down incrementally also, but no more twisting, cracking and popping as I go.
Hope it was nothing more than something minor adjusting itself. As I get older I do a little more grunting and groaning when exerting myself.
Same here! Even with that, I never open or close the doors on my '67 when its jacked up. The frame is solid, but it still does flex! Well, it is a convertible after all.......
PS - in my case its usually my right knee that makes the popping noise..............
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Jacking up the SWC
This'll drive me nuts until I'm sure I haven't damaged anything...
Same here! Even with that, I never open or close the doors on my '67 when its jacked up. The frame is solid, but it still does flex! Well, it is a convertible after all....... 