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Hi all - sorry for what is probably a basic question. But I am working on getting my engine and tranny pulled and I need to get the car up on jack stands (or Rhino ramps and jack stands). I feel VERY nervous about lifting in the wrong places and getting under a car that is up in the air for safety reasons. So, can someone direct me to a good guide of how to lift the car and where to put the jack stands? Do you lift one side first, then the other....or do you do front and then rear? I would actually feel safer with the front on my Rhino ramps and then the rear on jack stands. Anyway - all advice would be appreciated! The car is a 1970 manual transmission small block.
I built a set of wood stands that are very safe and gives lots of room to work under the car. Shown here is just the front lifted up. I have the car up on 4 stands most of the time to do work underneath.
Do all lifting in small increments. One side, then another, and so on. Take your time to avoid twisting the frame. Avoid letting the trailing arms hang if you can.
Using two floor jacks for balance is a Godsend but not always feasible.
Problems arise when the jack location is exactly where the jackstand has to go. So do some careful planning.
Ditto here, where I lift. I also put 2 jack stands on each corner (double jacked) and another jack under the front cross member, so a total of 2 times 4 plus one so, 9 total. My view is to take your time and make sure you are well supported before working underneath. Double jacking gives you worthwhile insurance. And make sure all of the jacks are holding some weight and can not be easily bumped out of place. Lots of stories of cars falling off jacks so being very careful is warranted.
Thanks all - I chickened out a little today. I put a jack under the center of the front cross-member and lifted the front end up. Then I slid Rhino ramps under the front tires and set it down on that. The rear wheels are chocked. This allowed me to get some work done. I do think I need to get the rear in the air as well. I'm tempted to get another set of Rhino ramps and do a similar thing and lift the rear and put ramps under the rear wheels....or build a wood assy like teamo...wow. Is that all one assembly? Screwed together? It looks really high...did your jack lift that high?
Be careful lifting the front by the cross member...That metal is thin and easy to dent. It's much easier to do with 2 floor jacks...I lift the front first putting the jacks as far forward on the frame as I can right before it turns up. Some where under the vents. I then put a set of 6 ton jack stands under the frame where the sway bar attaches. I then move to the rear putting the jacks far enough forward to still be able to get another set of 6 tons stands at the back of the frame where the kick-ups are located. When jacking up the car I bring each side up together slowly by rotating between the 2 floor jacks. I then add a set of 3 tons stands at the points where I jacked the front up. I'm getting ready to do some more frame cleaning and painting and if I can find my camera I will make a short video and post it. Here are a photos of my 72 up on stands.
I'm with "Wee" on this one. You should never use the front crossmember as a lifting point. They have superior lateral strength but are weak on the vertical strength.
There have been many distorted, bent, dimpled and punched through using a floorjack. If all else, put a piece of 4 X 6 timber over the jack cradle.
Last edited by HeadsU.P.; Jan 6, 2020 at 01:05 PM.
I have extra long truck style jackstands for the front and I put them right under the sway bar pivot mounts.......no issues and keeps the stands out of the way.
I am on the verge of throwing in the towel and getting a lift after 30 years of getting off the floor.
I have extra long truck style jackstands for the front and I put them right under the sway bar pivot mounts.......no issues and keeps the stands out of the way.
I am on the verge of throwing in the towel and getting a lift after 30 years of getting off the floor.
Do you jack up the drivers side first and place the jack stands in the approved places, then do the same on the passenger side?
Or, do you jack up the front and place the jack stands at the approved places, then jack up the rear placing the jack stands at the approved places?
Video please!
Last edited by OldCarBum; Jan 6, 2020 at 07:08 PM.
I thought I had one but sadly I do not......
But I can tell you I use two floor jacks.....I have a monoleaf front so jacking on the crossmember is not an options.
Two jacks from the sides....
I jack the front 1st then the rear....2 floor jacks and try to bring them up about the same time....Takes a lot of going back and forth unless you have two people.
I'll try to do a video this weekend.
Here is a better shoot where the front and rear jack stands go....
I forgot the most important part.....Make sure there is weight on all 4 jack stands.....If your floor is out of level even a little bit you can wind up with the car sitting on just 3 stands....Not good, I keep thin plastic mylar sheets as shims and use as needed.
I use 3/4" plywood cut into 12" squares under the jack stands.
The legs of the jack stands dig into the wood and gives a large flat base to distribute the weight better on the concrete and will keep the jack stand from shifting or sliding as the weight is placed on it.
How to put on jack stands
