since the company went outta business you can find them here and there on Craigslist, just keep checking. My brother drove outta state over 900mi round trip just to get one. Also check the CF for sale for one, see here. http://forums.corvetteforum.com/tags/kwiklift.html
I got mine for $650 but it lived outside for a couple yrs and my brother got his for $900 in Brand new condition as most are due to living the garage life.
Race Ramps has a "lift" system. It seems expensive, $2700 WOW. But then again, light weight, removable middle section, and easy to store. Just a thought.

http://www.raceramps.com/vehicle-lift-ramps.aspx

 

Holy Crap, checkout post #36 and 51, just Awesome!
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c5-g...welcome-2.html

 

Me too! I'd like to know this. And how much does it cost/how long does it take?

Thanks.

 

Hi m-yf,
It's good to bear in mind that while 'steam cleaning' removes the grease and road grime it also exposes a fresh surface on almost EVERYTHING, so RUST becomes a concern the very next day.
I think steam cleaning is really useful only as a first step in a restoration.
Yes, it blows the crud away but it's generally only the beginning of a process.
Regards,
Alan

 

If you ever want to sell your lift or know of one for sale, I'm interested in one. Thanks

 

My Vette and the Kwiklift will be with me till the day that i die, 2 peas of a Pod lol. Cannot part with either one!

 

I could use the extra space. I have a 10' ceiling in my garage. I may just have to save up.

http://www.northerntool.com/shop/too...0577_200320577

 

If you've got the space and the money then thats the ticket!

 

KwikLifts went out of business last year. There are some used one here and there if you look around.

 

I'm suprised...they seem pretty popular. Wonder why nobody bought them up and continued building their product???

 

My garage is a decent size at 24'x24', and it would be great it I could put my vette up and get another car under it. Money is tight now, but definitely going on the wishlist

 

Alan,

Your insights are much appreciated. As a kid, I worked repainting heavy equipment, and it was 1) Steamclean, 2) Sandblast, 3) Repair, 4) Prep/mask, and, well, you know the rest. We didn't let anything sit around after steam cleaning, for the reasons you said.

How do you feel about it, as an effort to preserve a DD? Like, if one got steam cleaned on Friday, and was up on the lift sanding, priming and painting any rust exposed by the steam cleaning, on Saturday?

If you think this has value, even when NOT doing a restoration, then I'm still hopeful someone will chime in with info on who does under-car steam cleaning, and how much it costs?

Thanks again. I hear ya...rust NEVER sleeps (to borrow from the great Neil Young).

Peter

 

Now that were back on track...
The rust that appears the next day is superficial and will wipe off with most solvents, what really is important is what you do about it. I f you ignore it you will have a problem " down the road". I use a rust inhibitor or reformer, it transforms rust into a anticorrosive agent that will prevent the metal from futher damage.
I was skeptical at first but I made some iron hand rales and used it on the welds and let it "cure" before painting, 2 years ago, and no rust has poped out. I live near the beach so rust here is an issue.
So when I wash my vettes undercarigge, between piña coladas and the beach, I always have some handy just in case I spot something.
Also I use high gloss paint it's easier to wash
Joey

 

I used Rustoleum satin black paint for under the body, aluminum paint for the aluminum drivetrain, and POR15 with gloss black topcoat for some of the metal pieces like the halfshafts, etc. But, most of the suspension, crossmemebers, and chassis were powdercoated during my frame off. Try to get to as much of your birdcage as you can (body mount areas, windshield frame, etc.) and make sure that there is not rot going on, and clean up and paint what you can get to. I also did POR15 and gloss black on the birdcage.

 

Alan71 is generally correct in his post about steam cleaning. It IS only the first step in the restoration process. But, not doing it leaves that part about digging out the 40 years of collected grease, dirt, and ??? which is imbedded in every nook and cranny of the underbody. The heat and steam pressure just melt that stuff off and you are left with relatively clean surfaces.

Will they rust right away? Very light surface rust will form on steel within a few days...or even faster if it is raining/moist/humid. But, your intent was to "get after it!", so just plan to start the restoration job as soon as you get it back from that part of the process.

To find "steam cleaning", just look it up in the Yellow Pages [paper or internet] for your locality. Larger towns are more likely to have them; but for doing something once, you can afford to drive a bit to get it done. A couple of hours...or a morning, if they make you wait at all...and your 'bottom' will be clean and fresh --just not painted. Then, it's time for you to get to work.

Oh, as to the price-- Well, what's it worth for you to NOT to have to spend 2-3 full days digging crud off the bottom of your car? I tried it. I didn't like it and called to get it steam cleaned the next day. Some of the best money I ever spent. When you get it back, some Super Clean & water or some lacquer thinner (and fume mask) and rags will do the rest with relative ease and have it ready for paint.

But, to each his/her own!

P.S. I used the semi-gloss Rustoleum/brush method and it works and lasts quite well. The surfaces that you paint need to be at least 'Spring' warm for the paint to flow well and be smooth when dry.