I'm sure they are, but for actual work on the car, where someone is under it, I would weld a perpendicular reinforcement plate from as close to the hub center as possible to the bottom on each leg. I would also use an "outrigger" both inside and outside to prevent tipping.

The problem is not at rest, because at that time, they are extremely strong. The problem is if they were to ever tip (too many leaning on the car, trying to remove a part, changing engines, not being level, etc.), the force that causes the stand to bend INCREASES as it bends. That is, when it first starts, the force bending may only be a hundred pounds. Halfway, it may be 300 pounds. But as it gets most of the way, it is closer to 900 lbs. So the danger is, once they start bending, your only hope is to get out of the way FAST!

Many garage floors are not really level. They often have a slope to drain water. It may not be noticable, but rather than have the 900 lbs (3600 lb car/4 wheels) of force in line with the support, it is slightly offset, so there is a bending moment on the support arm. This puts the support in a moment (stress) the entire time until you remove it. Repeated use can then set up fractures (bend, unbend, bend, unbend) and they could fail without you ever knowing they were about to.

Your thin jackstands may look weaker, but by having three dimensions and fair sized ones, they can prevent the bending moments and thus serve a long time without setting up for failure. Also, by not being rigidly attached to the car, the car cannot create a bending moment on the jack stand.

The jack stand problems usually come from overloading the stands or having them on unlevel ground.

 

Thanks for the update. I probably should have noticed the wheels in the picture as a dead giveaway that it was not a Z/28.

Those display stands look like a crafty solution for shows and the car looks amazing too.

-Mark.

 

Mark,

Easy thing to miss... The hubcap doesn't really show much detail in the photo. I was impressed with your ability to come up with the rear axle ratio. Obviously a real Camaro guy!

The stands are strictly for shows and not for actual service work... Just a way to show off the chassis without unloading the suspension.

This Camaro car is absolutely gorgeous (as are all the cars that come out of this shop) and photos really don't do it justice. They deal mostly with Camaros, but have also done a fair share of Novas and Chevelles... They have even restored a FoMoCo product every now and then. They always have something cool in the shop and I try to stop in any time I get the chance.

Regards,

Stan Falenski

 

Don't you guys know sarcasm when you hear it? I was implying that those would be as dangerous as cinder blocks if you climbed under the car and started wrenching on something

 

who said you have to cut out the centers? more strength

 

I think cinder blocks should only be used in the front driveway, or on the lawn...

 

great idea for show car only.