Front lifting
Team Owner
Joined: Jun 2000
Posts: 38,923
Likes: 1,481
From: Southbound
Cruise-In II Veteran
Use the frame jacking points. You can raise the car by jacking under the front crossmember, but you can also dent the crossmember that way. It is not meant to be a jacking point.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 6,842
Likes: 285
From: Palmdale CA
Raise it from the sides of the front frame, using the floor jack in an area roughly under the front part of each door, but leaving space to put a stand on the level part of the frame, right behind each front wheel, but before the frame arcs up and into the engine compartment.
I raise mine in increments too, from side-to-side. I go with the lowest position of the first jack and then, if it has to go higher, I'll make the second jack the higher jack and then go back to the first side and raise that up to match. I don't like to just lift up the one corner of the frame to the maximum height of a jack. I'd rather minimize that kind of unnatural twisting of the frame if at all possible.
I raise mine in increments too, from side-to-side. I go with the lowest position of the first jack and then, if it has to go higher, I'll make the second jack the higher jack and then go back to the first side and raise that up to match. I don't like to just lift up the one corner of the frame to the maximum height of a jack. I'd rather minimize that kind of unnatural twisting of the frame if at all possible.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 471
Likes: 3
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 6,842
Likes: 285
From: Palmdale CA
It's not meant to be a jacking point! I can't say, I've never done it that way, but I used a piece of wood across the top of the jack. I don't do that anymore, I get it from the sides. Not as easy or convenient, but it's the right way to do it.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 2,136
Likes: 62
From: West Kingston RI
Why not drive it up on ramps? Unless I need to take the wheels off I always use ramps and if I need to get at the front and back I drive it up on ramps and then jack the back and put ramps under the rear wheels as well.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 2,207
Likes: 26
From: Ocean County NJ
Not to hijack from the OP, but curious to know what ramps you use - Race Ramps?
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
2027 Corvette vs The World: Every Model vs Closest Competitor
Joe Kucinski
10 Most Common Corvette Problems of the Last 20 Years!
Joe Kucinski
5 MOST and 5 LEAST Popular Corvette Model Years in History!
Joe Kucinski
2027 Corvette Buyer's Guide: Everything You Need to Know!
Joe Kucinski
10 Things C8 Corvette Owners Hate (But Won't Tell You)
Joe Kucinski
10 Best Corvettes Coming to Barrett-Jackson Palm Beach 2026!
Brett Foote
Every Corvette Grand Sport Explained! (C2, C4, C6, C7, & C8)
Joe Kucinski
Grand Sport & Grand Sport X Launch Alongside All-New 535hp LS6 V8!
Michael S. Palmer
5 Reasons Bad Drivers Crash & 5 Ways to Avoid a Costly Mistake!
Joe Kucinski
Burning Brakes
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 1,018
Likes: 9
From: Winston Ga.
I use a set of ramps I caught on sale at autozone for $30. they are plenty sturdy for a vette, have a rubber tip to prevent sliding and fit quite nicely under a C3. they wont squash due to ribs in the underside.
who wants to pay $200 for ramps?
http://www.autozone.com/autozone/acc...ier=89618_0_0_
Last edited by jnealg; Sep 5, 2013 at 09:42 PM.
Instructor
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 230
Likes: 4
From: Woodbridge VA
I have the Rhino Ramps as well, a nice cheap and strong solution. The rubber insert did not stop the ramps from sliding however; Corvette Forum taught me to put a bath mat (rubber bottom) under the ramps and now they stay put.
Always great tips here on the forum...
Always great tips here on the forum...
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 2,071
Likes: 147
From: S Nevada
A couple of places NOT to place your jack. Front crossmember. It will dent/ cave in. Trans crossmember, it too will dent.
I have jacked my 72 on the side frame rails almost anywhere without any detrimental effects. I try and place my jacks just fwd of the rear wheels and just aft of the front wheels, but depending on exactly what I am attempting to work on, have used stands positioned way fwd and just aft of the enginine mounts. May have to disconnect tie rods to fit in there.
The point is the frame side rails are extremely tolerant of jacking/stand placement. The crossmembers, forgetaboutit.
Yeah most stock ride height C3's can be driven up onto almost any type of automotive ramp. Start lowering the cars ride ht. maybe not.
I have jacked my 72 on the side frame rails almost anywhere without any detrimental effects. I try and place my jacks just fwd of the rear wheels and just aft of the front wheels, but depending on exactly what I am attempting to work on, have used stands positioned way fwd and just aft of the enginine mounts. May have to disconnect tie rods to fit in there.
The point is the frame side rails are extremely tolerant of jacking/stand placement. The crossmembers, forgetaboutit.
Yeah most stock ride height C3's can be driven up onto almost any type of automotive ramp. Start lowering the cars ride ht. maybe not.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 471
Likes: 3
Looking for RR 10" ramps...
Last edited by Iron_dog; Sep 6, 2013 at 07:09 AM.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 2,136
Likes: 62
From: West Kingston RI
http://www.autozone.com/autozone/acc...ier=89618_0_0_
This link was posted by Jnealg and they are thee newer version of what I have been using for some 10 to 15 years now. Race Ramps are nice but to rich for my blood rather spend the money on the car.