two post lift
Thread Starter
7th Gear
Joined: Feb 2013
Posts: 7
Likes: 0
From: clewiston florida
two post lift
Hello, I plan on buying a lift for my new garage. I've used a two post lift all my life but, I've been thinking about body flex on these c3's.Any opinions on a 4 post vs a 2 post?
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 2,520
Likes: 11
From: Hinckley OH
Four post is better for storage. The ramps get in the way when you are working on some things. There's a lot more room for working on things with a two post. About the only things you can't do with a two post are torquing the control arms with the weight on them, supporting the trailing arms with a jack stand, and sanding/painting the frame where the arms contact it.
Personally, I don't like working on a car that's balanced on two posts but I'm sure it's safe if installed and used properly.
Personally, I don't like working on a car that's balanced on two posts but I'm sure it's safe if installed and used properly.
Pro
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 721
Likes: 105
From: hernando fl
i have used 2 post, 4 post ,single post in ground,2 post in ground,2 post for and aft in ground and in my opinion the most user friendly is the 4 post. there are some down sides but overall the best bang for the buck,especially these newer ones you can roll around.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Apr 2013
Posts: 926
Likes: 2
From: Castle Rock CO
If using a 2 post lift to really tug on a C3 it can be supported under the engine frame with a large jack stand or high lift jack to stabilize the car and keep it from becoming unbalanced since most of the weight on a C3 is above the front axle and not near the frame where you support it behind the front tires. Most people will not hang on the front end to get stuff loose unless it is close to the ground.
The C3s have a full frame under them and they do not flex like a unibody would if body flex is a worry.
For winter storage the Radial tires will flat spot but if you pump them up to 40 PSI during storage they will round out again after the first 100 miles then lower the tire pressure again to normal PSI suggested by the manufacture. I do this every year on my cars that I store. I also change the oil and run it for a few hundred miles so the engine has fresh oil in it before I put mine to bed for the months I am not driving.
The C3s have a full frame under them and they do not flex like a unibody would if body flex is a worry.
For winter storage the Radial tires will flat spot but if you pump them up to 40 PSI during storage they will round out again after the first 100 miles then lower the tire pressure again to normal PSI suggested by the manufacture. I do this every year on my cars that I store. I also change the oil and run it for a few hundred miles so the engine has fresh oil in it before I put mine to bed for the months I am not driving.
Last edited by MakoJoe; May 9, 2013 at 11:51 PM.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Apr 2013
Posts: 926
Likes: 2
From: Castle Rock CO
Heck I was only going to suggest removing some of the weight off the suspension without lifting the car completely off the ground. With this option you can park a car underneath it if the garage is tall enough. Looks viable
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
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
10 Most Common Corvette Problems of the Last 20 Years!
Joe Kucinski
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 840
Likes: 4
From: Syracuse IN
Pro
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 545
Likes: 0
From: Jacksonville Fl
Melting Slicks
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 3,303
Likes: 14
From: Lynn MA
my friends dad has a single post lift, he has a nasty 63 road race car, corvette...he stores it all winter up on it and parks a car below it, me, I would like a 4 post if I was going to store a car or even just work on it, maybe I am parnoid, but I like all the safety I can get
Pro
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 545
Likes: 0
From: Jacksonville Fl
Le Mans Master
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 6,397
Likes: 649
From: Saskatoon Saskatchewan
Wow. Hubby and I are on the paranoid side, we don't leave a car on the lift if we're not in the garage - not overnight, not even to go for coffee. I'd be terrified of leaving one on there over the winter.
Instructor
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 216
Likes: 0
From: Eugene OR
I'm not absolutely sure on this, but I believe that a two-post lift requires thicker concrete underneath and won't work in common residential garages. A four-post does not have this limitation. You also don't have to install bolts to secure a four-post to the floor.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 8,897
Likes: 1,353
From: Santa Ana CA
My 2-post AutoLifter specifies a minimum of a 6" pour using 3,000 psi concrete with wire reinforcement.
My fear about leaving a car on the lift is from an earthquake as I live in So Cal.
My fear about leaving a car on the lift is from an earthquake as I live in So Cal.
Last edited by toddalin; May 15, 2013 at 04:55 PM.
Tech Contributor
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 20,847
Likes: 959
From: I tend to be leery of any guy who doesn't own a chainsaw or a handgun.
I have a 4 post lift. I've used it for hundreds of modifications on my car, from lifting off the body and engine removal, to lesser mods such as exhaust system changes and suspension upgrades.
I can't think of anything doable on a 2 post lift that I can't do (or haven't already done) on my 4 poster. But I can think of things that I've done that can't be replicated on a 2 post lift.