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Old Jan 23, 2006 | 02:01 PM
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What is the best way to jack up a Corvette? I'v seen several methods, which one is correct? I will also be using jack stands.


I plan on rebuilding all 4 brake callipers and rotors w/new pad and bleeding.
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Old Jan 23, 2006 | 02:06 PM
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On the frame just behind the front wheel and just ahead of the back. Jack one side and stand then the other. This is how I have done my brake jobs. BE AWARE.......C3 Vettes do not bleed like normal cars. the sequence is LR, RR, LF, RF. If you do it by the traditional farthese to closest method, you will not get a hard pedal.
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Old Jan 23, 2006 | 02:10 PM
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Originally Posted by gliot1
On the frame just behind the front wheel and just ahead of the back. Jack one side and stand then the other. This is how I have done my brake jobs. BE AWARE.......C3 Vettes do not bleed like normal cars. the sequence is LR, RR, LF, RF. If you do it by the traditional farthese to closest method, you will not get a hard pedal.
Is it OK to jack up one corner at a time and place the jack stands under it...or should I get a new jack so that I can jack the whole front of the car up and then the whole back up?
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Old Jan 23, 2006 | 02:11 PM
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Don't forget to open the doors and T- tops glass does flex alot
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Old Jan 23, 2006 | 02:15 PM
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ive jacked my vette up on many diffrent angles and cant say ive ever notice the glass flex like some people say.

ive had both the complete passenger side up in the air, then complete driverse side, the front end up on ramps for a couple of months. ive open and closed the doors on it countless times like that and never came across that problem.
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Old Jan 23, 2006 | 02:28 PM
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Were is the best place to put the jack?
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Old Jan 23, 2006 | 03:04 PM
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See gliot1's post above, he tells you where to jack it up.
I have also placed the jack on the frame just under the center of the door (by the crossmember) and jacked the entire side at once which allows me to place jack stands just in front of the rear wheel and just behind the front wheel as gliot1 suggested.
I have also read many posts on this forum that claim that opening doors and removing t-tops is not necessary. I think this may be one of those urban legends that gets repeated and takes on validity as a result. If your frame flexes that much you have big problems. I have been jacking my 68 coupe from the front, side, back, you name it for the last 33 years and never opened doors or removed t-tops before jacking. No flexing, no cracked glass or paint.
Just my 2 cents,
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Old Jan 23, 2006 | 03:19 PM
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No problems here either
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Old Jan 23, 2006 | 03:19 PM
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Originally Posted by gliot1
On the frame just behind the front wheel and just ahead of the back. Jack one side and stand then the other. This is how I have done my brake jobs. BE AWARE.......C3 Vettes do not bleed like normal cars. the sequence is LR, RR, LF, RF. If you do it by the traditional farthese to closest method, you will not get a hard pedal.
LR being drivers side rear? I've been bleeding my brakes as you call conventional on my C3. Never heard of this sequence your describing.
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Old Jan 23, 2006 | 04:04 PM
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Thanks Everyone
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Old Jan 23, 2006 | 04:56 PM
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I have found the best way to jack a C3 without any worry about flexing, is to jack up the front under the front crossmember (us a 2x4 between the jack pad and crossmember) and place jackstands under the lower shock mount. Then jack up the back under the strut rod support (again using a 2x4 between the jack pad and car). Place the rear jack stands on the frame rails aft the door and forward of the rear kick-up.
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Old Jan 23, 2006 | 06:39 PM
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No problems here either. I think if these cars flexed as much as we worry about them flexing, they'd be made of rubber.

The frame is beefier than probably most cars of that era!
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Old Jan 23, 2006 | 07:13 PM
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Originally Posted by 70vert
I have found the best way to jack a C3 without any worry about flexing, is to jack up the front under the front crossmember (us a 2x4 between the jack pad and crossmember) and place jackstands under the lower shock mount. Then jack up the back under the strut rod support (again using a 2x4 between the jack pad and car). Place the rear jack stands on the frame rails aft the door and forward of the rear kick-up.
The problem with this method is when you have single exhaust and a rear y-pipe you can't get a jack under the strut rod support, the pipes are in the way. I lift mine one side at a time with a jack under the center cross member. I am installing dual exhaust now, so maybe that won't be an issue in the near future.
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Old Jan 23, 2006 | 09:41 PM
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Default Oh no...............

Originally Posted by blue by you
Don't forget to open the doors and T- tops glass does flex alot
Not the "Amazing flexible Corvette" post again

YOUR frame must be pretty rotten if it flexes that much.

Personally my 78 is pretty solid.

Incidently the FRAME is made of STEEL and the BODY is made of FIBERGLASSS.
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Old Feb 5, 2006 | 07:28 PM
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What the heck. It only takes a sec to loosen the glass tops. I never noticed any flex, but why take a chance - especially if it's going to be up and uneven for a while. I imagine some of the hills and turns I've taken at speed flexed things a lot more than jacking up one side or the other would have. My frame is so stiff that the front tire almost comes off the ground when I jack from the frame in front of the rear tire.

I managed to find a couple of small hydraulic floor jacks that I can slip behind the rear tires and place on the shock absorber mounts. It's tight but allows me to get the tires off the ground without raising the body so high. I go back and forth and do a little on each side if I go higher before putting jackstands under the normal frame lift points. I've never read about anyone using the rear shock mounts, so I hope that's not abusing anything.
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