gbarmore

Looking for an easier way to get my car jacked up for the frequent under-car needs, tire swaps, etc. I usually back the car up on steel ramps, but the other day when I was pulling forward off of them, they slipped and went shooting out causing my car to crash down which compressed the suspension and the left rear fender crushed down on the ramp causing damage to the fiberglass / paint. Awesome.....

Anyway, is there any risk using the bottom center of the 'batwing' on my 80 as a jacking point? It would seem to me that is the area that carries the entire load of the rear end via the spring anyway. Once jacked up I would use blocks under the wheels and remove the jack.

Thanks

BlackC3vette

The first problem I have with lifting mine up that way is, it's aluminum. The wing is also the cover that bolts on and from a design concern, I think it needed a couple more.. I just use the frame rails, either one at a time or I roll out a second jack.

SH-60B

I built some wooden ramps years ago for a camaro that are 5' long with a 10" rise. Something like them would be very stable, I use them for the Vette now. When I remove wheels I always jack on the frame as mentioned.

'75

The bottom of the batwing is where the spring is mounted, it holds the car up all day every day, I can't see how it would hurt it to put a jack under it to lift the car.

BlackC3vette

True, the spring mounts to the bracket on the diff. and is designed, cast, machined to be the anchor point. When it's all bolted together, it is a system (aluminum)that supports the weight of the vehicle. You can jack up your 80 wherever you want, my comfort zone uses the frame rails.

mikem350

Yes I do it all the time! The jack cup is tight fit over the exhaust, have to shove it in

'75

My thoughts, the recommended jacking points are just that, recommended for using the original jack to change a tire by the side of the road. Using a floor jack to lift the entire rear of the car at the point that the car normally sits on,(rear spring mount at the diff) is safer than lifting from points on the side frame. It lifts the rear evenly so two stands can be set, no frame twisting for those with frame issues and no setting one jack stand at a time and then lifting the other side to set another one. Mostly, I just use my 2 post lift.

DUB

...AND the 'bat wing' is NOT taking all the weight also...because there is a FRONT mount also.

30+ years of jacking it that way and NEVER ONE PROBLEM...do as always....DO AS YOU WISH.

DUB

gbarmore

Thanks everyone! Glad to hear others have been jacking from the spring mount without issue. I may build some ramps eventually but I have enough projects for now.

Appreciate the input.

jim-81

On mine, I can't get to the diff because of the exhaust right under it, and yeah I'm not sure I'd want to lift it from the aluminum diff. I recently used the cross member right before it: https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...nder-diff.html