Front Crossmember Damage from jacking!!
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 163
Likes: 0
From: Santa Barbara California
Front Crossmember Damage from jacking!!
I used a 3 ton floor jack underneath my crossmember to help support the front of my car. Jack stands were underneath frame rails. I guess I raised the front of the car up too much so very little weight was on the jack stands. When changing the oil yesterday, I noticed a good sized dent in the crossmember where the floor jack plate had been!! Any thoughts on what I should do? I feel sick about this!! Zip corvette parts sells a crossmember repair tool but I don't know how effective it would be and is pricey at 149. if it doesnt help. Thanks for any input!!
Le Mans Master
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 6,640
Likes: 287
From: Ann Arbor Michigan
Here's a link to a post by a Forum member who bought and used the tool (but it looks like he deleted the pictures). If you do a search of the Forum, you will find other posts as this is a common issue. It's no big deal structurally, but looks bad. The reviews I've read say the tool works well. I bought one but haven't used it yet.
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/show....php?t=1639857
Where are you located? (Fill out your profile)
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/show....php?t=1639857
Where are you located? (Fill out your profile)
Melting Slicks
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 3,428
Likes: 5
From: Japan
I would be willing to bet that more C3 owners have done this to their cars than would care to admit it. While fixing the damage can be a real chore, you can easily prevent making it any worse by putting a short length of 2x4 in there when you jack it. As a minor extra benefit, you also get a little more extension.
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 163
Likes: 0
From: Santa Barbara California
Here's a link to a post by a Forum member who bought and used the tool (but it looks like he deleted the pictures). If you do a search of the Forum, you will find other posts as this is a common issue. It's no big deal structurally, but looks bad. The reviews I've read say the tool works well. I bought one but haven't used it yet.
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/show....php?t=1639857
Where are you located? (Fill out your profile)
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/show....php?t=1639857
Where are you located? (Fill out your profile)
Just another Corvette guy
Joined: Feb 1999
Posts: 8,518
Likes: 3,865
From: Palm Springs, CA.
Hi Jay,
I have forwarded the dent removal tool to many members since I bought it. It was quite easy to use as I said in my other thread (sorry about the picture removal, my photo album was just getting too full).
Anyway the tool has been travelling the country helping a lot of forum members fix the same dent you have. If you'd like to use it just let me know and I'll have the next user forward it to you. You can PayPal me $20 (or check or money order if it's easier for you) when it's on its way to you. Then you can forward it on to the next member.
Let me know.
Best,
Greg
I have forwarded the dent removal tool to many members since I bought it. It was quite easy to use as I said in my other thread (sorry about the picture removal, my photo album was just getting too full).
Anyway the tool has been travelling the country helping a lot of forum members fix the same dent you have. If you'd like to use it just let me know and I'll have the next user forward it to you. You can PayPal me $20 (or check or money order if it's easier for you) when it's on its way to you. Then you can forward it on to the next member.
Let me know.
Best,
Greg
Instructor
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 112
Likes: 0
From: vt
i use a 2x4 on the jack every time on the front cross member. i also use 2x4 even when jacking from the frame, and i also always put a 2x4 between the jackstands and the frame. helps to spread out the force over a larger surface area.
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 163
Likes: 0
From: Santa Barbara California
Hi Jay,
I have forwarded the dent removal tool to many members since I bought it. It was quite easy to use as I said in my other thread (sorry about the picture removal, my photo album was just getting too full).
Anyway the tool has been travelling the country helping a lot of forum members fix the same dent you have. If you'd like to use it just let me know and I'll have the next user forward it to you. You can PayPal me $20 (or check or money order if it's easier for you) when it's on its way to you. Then you can forward it on to the next member.
Let me know.
Best,
Greg
I have forwarded the dent removal tool to many members since I bought it. It was quite easy to use as I said in my other thread (sorry about the picture removal, my photo album was just getting too full).
Anyway the tool has been travelling the country helping a lot of forum members fix the same dent you have. If you'd like to use it just let me know and I'll have the next user forward it to you. You can PayPal me $20 (or check or money order if it's easier for you) when it's on its way to you. Then you can forward it on to the next member.
Let me know.
Best,
Greg
Last edited by manzanman; Jul 9, 2007 at 03:18 PM. Reason: forgot to include my email address for Greg. manzanman@netscape.com
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Intermediate
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 41
Likes: 0
From: Hamilton Ontario
Guys, I'm not trying to be flippant about this, but mine had dents when I bought it and I didn't think anything of it.
I think it is more likely caused by the previous owner running into an obstacle on the road, than caused by jacking. You may have just noticed it because you were jacking at that spot.
Not a structural problem to be sure, specially a quarter inch depression
I think it is more likely caused by the previous owner running into an obstacle on the road, than caused by jacking. You may have just noticed it because you were jacking at that spot.
Not a structural problem to be sure, specially a quarter inch depression
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 830
Likes: 1
The frame on these Vettes is like a giant gummy worm. Seriously, I would never jack my car up on the cross-member (intentionally anyways) because even when I jack it up on the frame behind the front wheel (near the gill/vent) I can see the metal of the frame slightly bending.
The metal (especially on 80-82) is so thin & soft it's a bit frightening
AP
Race Director
Joined: Feb 1999
Posts: 19,659
Likes: 34
From: Lenoir City Tennessee
Ci 6, 8 & 10 Veteran
St. Jude Donor '05-'06-'07-'08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15
This is what I do when I jack mine up, this and I use 2 hockey pucks in the saddle of the lift. NHVette has a pretty unique fix that will never dent again. Maybe he will chime in and show a few pics of his fix.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 8,897
Likes: 1,357
From: Santa Ana CA
When we were doing restoration on our '70 roadster, my in-laws visted us from Denver. Of course he was a car nut and wanted to help out. So I come out in the garage and he has the floor jack under the crossmember!
Yeah, he dented it pretty good, but what could I do?
Certainly didn't make sense to get mad at him (though I did show him what he had done).
Yeah, he dented it pretty good, but what could I do?
Certainly didn't make sense to get mad at him (though I did show him what he had done).
Race Director
Joined: Jun 2000
Posts: 10,046
Likes: 675
From: FL
When we were doing restoration on our '70 roadster, my in-laws visted us from Denver. Of course he was a car nut and wanted to help out. So I come out in the garage and he has the floor jack under the crossmember!
Yeah, he dented it pretty good, but what could I do? Certainly didn't make sense to get mad at him (though I did show him what he had done).
Yeah, he dented it pretty good, but what could I do?
Certainly didn't make sense to get mad at him (though I did show him what he had done). 
Melting Slicks
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 2,084
Likes: 14
From: Airdrie Alberta
While I had my bare frame upside down in the garage I cut out the area in question and welded in some ribs and 10 gauge plate (1/8")
shouldn't be any more worries.
I got the idea from another restoration on the forum
http://www.corvette-restoration.com/frame_repair.htm
shouldn't be any more worries.
I got the idea from another restoration on the forum
http://www.corvette-restoration.com/frame_repair.htm
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 2,938
Likes: 2
From: Arkansas
Anyone still renting the tool? Or have a link to the eBay seller because it has to be cheaper there.
I have my frame flipped upside down and would like to fix the dents while it's out. But I can't see spending $149 for a one-time use tool either.
PS I know this thread is old
I have my frame flipped upside down and would like to fix the dents while it's out. But I can't see spending $149 for a one-time use tool either.
PS I know this thread is old