OLE442

Had an Atlas PV10P two post lift installed in my new garage. It took me a while moving my 2001 Impala around to be able to lift it so I want to get experiences with lifting C3's before I put my 1976 Corvette on the lift. I have always heard that when you lift them you need to take out the T-tops, open the hood and open the doors. Is this true?

Also, since the engine seems to be mostly behind the front suspension, where would be the center of the weight on a C3 small block and where are the best lift points on the frame. Photos and comments would help.

Once I get a car on the lift, I'm taking photos and making notes and will have a book for all 5 of my vehicles as a quick reference. May also put multicolored tape makings down for wheel placement and height indicators for each vehicle.

Thanks in advance!
OLE442

Cool95vette

I don't take the tops out of my cars when putting them on my lift but I know some people do. I put the rear arms under the rear cross member and the front under the front of the frame rail.

'75

I don't pop doors or tops either. I put the rear supports at the frame near the kick up and the front on the frame just before it starts to turn up, usually sits that way all winter.

BarretHC1

I never pop the doors or hood. Thats a wives tale. Through them under the front of the frame rail.... Hell, I have even jacked up the left front and right front at different times without opening stuff. That's all poppycock. The frames are steel, and not meant to bend or give. Just my opinion.

Rodnok1

Oh they'll bend alright, especially if a Vert...
For putting on a 2 post what the others have said.

Nowhere Man

I would suggest getting a GM service manual it will have all the lift points

croaker

theandies

I'm not saying they won't bend but the coupe and the convertible have the same frame. The body birdcages are different but not the frames. These are not unibody cars, they are body on frame.
I've never had any problems opening and closing my doors on my '71 convertible while on jack stands (I wish I had a two post lift).

Tiger Joe

Some cars will flex- I have seen a 69 put on 4 jack stands and you could not close the passenger door after it was up.

MBrianB

More so with a early '68 vert without the diagonal braces in the back to the kickup.

ignatz

They do bend a little, even with the T-tops on. What you want to watch out for, in my experience, is door interference. My driver's door just chipped the pointy part of the b-pillar while on a lift at the local garage. Just be careful the first time you open a door while on the lift.

bashcraft

They may flex, but they aren't going to bend, unless the frame is a rusted piece of ****.

I have a '69 convertible that has spent a lot of time on a lift.

DUB

Knowing that steel has elastic properties to it. It can bend and be stretched, And it is not as rigid as many may think. The frame can get tweaked if it is in bad enough condition or allowed to stay in a position where the weight of the engine or rear suspension pulls down on the frame. This problem can really be seen on a convertible if the contact point for the lift is at the #3 body mount area.

If you put the contact point of the lift at the #1 body mount area...the added weight that is out past it can cause for issues in your cowl. It may not do it right away...but I can say that a problem can develop due to the stress that is being put on the three rivets that hold a fiberglass bonding gusset for the end of the top hood surround.

I have a two post lift and when I am raising a Corvette on it I watch what the body is doing when I begin to get it to come up off the ground. Some cars just can not be put on the lift due to what I am seeing.

If I can get a Corvette up on my lift..I put a safety stand under the front cradle and one under the rear differential; and get it to pick up slightly on teh car and take some of the weight off of it so the body can not just sit there and hang and possible sag.

I know I never leave the car up on the lift over night if at all possible. If there is a possibility that I can set it back on the ground due to the tires are still on it.I sent it back down.

DUB