C3 on Jackstands
Thread Starter
Heel & Toe
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 17
Likes: 0
From: Bel Air Maryland
C3 on Jackstands
I just put my 68 on jackstands and they are in the right spots but the passanger door is hard to close, should I worry or just leave the door shut intil I get done with everything I have it in jacks for??? 
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 8,319
Likes: 7
From: Wilmington DE, Drive it like you stole it, 68 327 4 speed coupe
Actually you might want to consider leaving them open. same goes for when its on a lift. Dont want to see your windshield pop out or anything
tim
tim
Safety Car
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 4,876
Likes: 1
From: Jersey Shore Exit 98
there is a lot of flex in the vette body. I would leave the doors closed & windows down, can't hurt to take the t-tops off or drop the vert top. I would move the jack stands to center the car better & make sure they are all at the same height level.
Drifting
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 1,891
Likes: 2
From: Baltimore MD
Really now? I was reading a thread a while back on this - are we sure this is just not an urban legend? I think the frame under a C3 is pretty darn stiff if you ask me, does it really flex as much as has been mentioned here? Windows popping out, T-Tops cracking, doors not closing? I mean let's look as this logically, if in the course of history - from jacking the C3 up throughout its long reign that if what has been said happens really happens, i.e. windshields cracking, popping out, T-Tops cracking, doors - what - sticking or something (I haven't figured this one out yet). Do you really think that owners would not have been complaining to Chevrolet? "Hey I had to jack my car up because I got a flat and my windshield popped out, what gives?" I don't recall any warning other than using the jack points as explained in the owners manual. Does anybody have any real life experience with "Bad things happening" to your C3 when you jack it up as described in the owners manual?
Thread Starter
Heel & Toe
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 17
Likes: 0
From: Bel Air Maryland
All I can tell you is that my 68 is on jack stands right now The jack stands are at the same height, And I have them in the location as perscribed by the Factory workshop manual and my passenger door is sticking big time, I can get it open and closed but it's work. As far as someone complaining to Chevy I am sure they want to hear about a 39 year old car, maybe they did not twist when they are new, I know I can't do the same things I did 39 years ago. I can tell you my passenger door is stuck . I have the t-tops out and the window down. Thanks for the advice.
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter
Joe Kucinski
8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Corvette Engines RANKED by Peak Torque (70+ Years of Muscle!)
Joe Kucinski
Corvette ZR1X Will Be Pacing the Indy 500, And Could Probably Race, Too!
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Corvettes Coming to Mecum Indy 2026!
Brett Foote
Top 10 C9 Corvette MUST-HAVES to Fix These C8 Generation Flaws!
Michael S. Palmer
10 Revolutionary 'Corvette Firsts' Most People Don't Know
Joe Kucinski
5 Reasons to Upgrade to an LS6-Powered Corvette; 5 Reasons to Stay LT2
Michael S. Palmer
2027 Corvette vs The World: Every C8 vs Its Closest Competitor
Joe Kucinski
Drifting
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 1,891
Likes: 2
From: Baltimore MD
Originally Posted by Bald Head Fred
All I can tell you is that my 68 is on jack stands right now The jack stands are at the same height, And I have them in the location as perscribed by the Factory workshop manual and my passenger door is sticking big time, I can get it open and closed but it's work. As far as someone complaining to Chevy I am sure they want to hear about a 39 year old car, maybe they did not twist when they are new, I know I can't do the same things I did 39 years ago. I can tell you my passenger door is stuck . I have the t-tops out and the window down. Thanks for the advice.
Thread Starter
Heel & Toe
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 17
Likes: 0
From: Bel Air Maryland
Originally Posted by IrishJoker
Actually, I wasn't talking current time frame - but more around when your car was new - about complaints that chevy may or may not have gotten about body flexing.
Last edited by Bald Head Fred; Feb 20, 2006 at 09:24 PM.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 8,319
Likes: 7
From: Wilmington DE, Drive it like you stole it, 68 327 4 speed coupe
Originally Posted by IrishJoker
Really now? I was reading a thread a while back on this - are we sure this is just not an urban legend? I think the frame under a C3 is pretty darn stiff if you ask me, does it really flex as much as has been mentioned here? Windows popping out, T-Tops cracking, doors not closing? I mean let's look as this logically, if in the course of history - from jacking the C3 up throughout its long reign that if what has been said happens really happens, i.e. windshields cracking, popping out, T-Tops cracking, doors - what - sticking or something (I haven't figured this one out yet). Do you really think that owners would not have been complaining to Chevrolet? "Hey I had to jack my car up because I got a flat and my windshield popped out, what gives?" I don't recall any warning other than using the jack points as explained in the owners manual. Does anybody have any real life experience with "Bad things happening" to your C3 when you jack it up as described in the owners manual?
Logic or no when having an old C3 up off the wheels either on jack stands or lift bad things can happen. only heard of the window popping out, but have seen one damaged, and depending on where it is lifted the door will acutally get stuck till back on the wheels. never done it with a ragtop though and i imagine the dynamica are a bit different.
Its a matter of physics and dynamics.
tim
Last edited by sweethence; Feb 21, 2006 at 08:37 AM.
Burning Brakes
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 826
Likes: 0
From: Pearl MS
I had mine on stands for 6 months and noticed it "sagging: a little bit. I put my jack (with a block of wood) under the front cross member and just gave it a little support under the nose. This also helped the doors out tremendously. I did however have the tops out, hood popped and doors ajar. just my.02
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 3,472
Likes: 18
From: Lake Ozark, MO
Hate to say it, but I have had mine jacked up with one jack....two jacks tipping it on it side and numerous other unorthodox ways...before I read stuff like this on the forum. I didn't take the tops out and I opened and closed the door(s) as I worked on the cars. It may not be the best way to do business, but I have had no problems with anything cracking or popping out because of the way I did it. It does have a steel frame...........I will pay more attention to having the jacks equal if it is stored up in the air for a period of time (didn't do that last time it was in the air for 2 months).
Burning Brakes
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 826
Likes: 0
From: Pearl MS
I have lifted it on one side only, front or rear only and have had no problems doing it that way. I only noticed the doors getting slightly difficult to open and close after a few months of beiing in the air. I saw a thread similar to this one back then and decided to take all of the suggested precautions so I would not have any additional problems.
I will now do this only when it is out of comission for a while.
I will now do this only when it is out of comission for a while.
Drifting
Joined: Mar 1999
Posts: 1,432
Likes: 22
From: Oxford CT
I think it makes a big difference on weather it's a coupe or convertable. I can jack up the wife's 82 with no apparent flexing at all. Everything opens, closes, etc as normal.
My 71 vert on the otherhand flexes when jacked up. You can't open or close the doors.
My 71 vert on the otherhand flexes when jacked up. You can't open or close the doors.
Instructor
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 199
Likes: 0
From: Fountain Co
It Happens
Well I guess what happen to my 78 SA may fit with this topic. While up on a lift getting the oil changed (doors open). The so called knuckel head slams 
my drivers side door (trying to close it) and caused a serious paint and fiberglass chip. Only the size of a silver dollar. 
Lesson learned for me, know who is working on your vette but trust not many....
my drivers side door (trying to close it) and caused a serious paint and fiberglass chip. Only the size of a silver dollar. Lesson learned for me, know who is working on your vette but trust not many....
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 8,339
Likes: 24
From: I can walk to MA
If you jack your C3 up and the door hits/rubs/sticks
when opened and closed, you have some sort of frame and/or
body rot. Mine was exactly as you describe, and after doing
a body-off, I realized how unsafe it was.
My newly restored (solid) frame does not have these problems.
Should you open the door before jacking ? Yes, if you don't know
the condition of the frame and birdcage.
Should you have your vette looked at if it does this ? Yes.
Here are a few pics of the frame/BC that did "flex":
rocker channels:
http://webpages.charter.net/davekimt...r_channels.JPG
frame ... look at the rotted corner behind the cat converter.
When I leaned on the rear bumper (170lbs), the frame would
flex at the rear kickup area.
http://web.archive.org/web/200304190...es/chassis.JPG
when opened and closed, you have some sort of frame and/or
body rot. Mine was exactly as you describe, and after doing
a body-off, I realized how unsafe it was.
My newly restored (solid) frame does not have these problems.
Should you open the door before jacking ? Yes, if you don't know
the condition of the frame and birdcage.
Should you have your vette looked at if it does this ? Yes.
Here are a few pics of the frame/BC that did "flex":
rocker channels:
http://webpages.charter.net/davekimt...r_channels.JPG
frame ... look at the rotted corner behind the cat converter.
When I leaned on the rear bumper (170lbs), the frame would
flex at the rear kickup area.
http://web.archive.org/web/200304190...es/chassis.JPG
Drifting
Joined: Mar 1999
Posts: 1,432
Likes: 22
From: Oxford CT
The convertables by their design are not as stiff as a coupe. Having a roof even if its a t-top stiffens up the box.
If you were to look at the door jams on a convertable you would see a extra piece of harware not found on coupes. It's a round tapered receptacle that a pin on the door fits into to stiffen up the body when the doors are closed.
One of the things to look for when buying a vert is if any of these pins are missing or broken from excessive flexing if the car was hit hard.
If you were to look at the door jams on a convertable you would see a extra piece of harware not found on coupes. It's a round tapered receptacle that a pin on the door fits into to stiffen up the body when the doors are closed.
One of the things to look for when buying a vert is if any of these pins are missing or broken from excessive flexing if the car was hit hard.
