Jacking up a C4
Instructor
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 148
Likes: 0
From: Lakwood N.J.
I jack mine up just like a Nascar racer. I put the floor jack in the middle between the front and rear wheels, and lift the whole side of the car at once. Then place the jack stands behind the front wheel, and in front of the rear wheel. The under body in marked where to put them. I have an 89 coupe.
Instructor
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 174
Likes: 3
From: Yorba Linda CA
This is the best article I have found on jacking up a C-4 - even though it's for a ZR-1. I especially found the hockey puck idea worked great.
http://zr1netregistry.com/jackupzr1.htm
http://zr1netregistry.com/jackupzr1.htm
Last edited by Daddy J; Nov 13, 2005 at 12:28 AM.
Team Owner
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 81,241
Likes: 3,063
From: altered state
St. Jude Donor '05
Originally Posted by Bvette
I jack mine up just like a Nascar racer. I put the floor jack in the middle between the front and rear wheels, and lift the whole side of the car at once. Then place the jack stands behind the front wheel, and in front of the rear wheel. The under body in marked where to put them. I have an 89 coupe.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 5,874
Likes: 0
From: Littleton CO
The first time I did it, I jacked one corner at a time. I puckered up big time after I did the third one and saw the car rocking back and forth on the front left and right rear stands. Don't do it that way.
Now I do both rear corners first, one at a time, using the marked jacking points. As luck would have it, my jack is low enough to do the front all at once after the rear is jacked, and I put the jack under the front frame crossmember.
Just in front of the rear wheels and just behind the fronts, there are pockets in the frame at the point where it turns inboard. These pockets are just the right size to sit over the jackstands.
Now I do both rear corners first, one at a time, using the marked jacking points. As luck would have it, my jack is low enough to do the front all at once after the rear is jacked, and I put the jack under the front frame crossmember.
Just in front of the rear wheels and just behind the fronts, there are pockets in the frame at the point where it turns inboard. These pockets are just the right size to sit over the jackstands.
Elite Torch Red Member
Joined: Sep 1999
Posts: 57,805
Likes: 23
From: Exit 89 GSP,Lakewood,NJ The Land Of Mojo
Cental/South NJ Events Coordinator
CI 1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8-9-10-11-12 Vet
CI-II Burnout & Drag Champ
St. Jude Donor '03-'04-'05-'06-'07
I use a Jack-A-Vette for the rear and for the front, 2 x 8"s work just fine to drive up on to give clearance for the floor jack.
Though not all four wheels are in the air, this will give you an idea:
Though not all four wheels are in the air, this will give you an idea:
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 7,706
Likes: 485
From: Everett WA
C4 of Year Finalist (appearance mods) 2019
Originally Posted by cuisinartvette
Someone tried that with mine once and jacked right through the floor into the interior
Just get one side up enough to get the jack stands underneath and then do the other. Once safely on all 4 stands you resume doing one side then the other, 2 jackstand clicks at a time untill you're at the height you need.
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Race Director
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 16,475
Likes: 270
From: Kingman AZ
Cruise-In VII Veteran
Cruise-In VIII
St. Jude Donor '06-'07-'08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15-'16
I used to put a board on the jack, now I use a hockey puck.
Pic makes it look like the car is leaking. It is just the meltd ice from my truck last winter.
Pic makes it look like the car is leaking. It is just the meltd ice from my truck last winter.
Race Director
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 17,551
Likes: 26
From: El Paso Texas
Originally Posted by Bvette
I jack mine up just like a Nascar racer. I put the floor jack in the middle between the front and rear wheels, and lift the whole side of the car at once. Then place the jack stands behind the front wheel, and in front of the rear wheel. The under body in marked where to put them. I have an 89 coupe.
Same here. Works just fine. Make sure the jack head isn't pinching off fuel lines, etc. Center the jack, life one complete side.
And yes, the car will "balance" on three jack stands. That's how rigid a C4 chassis is.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 861
Likes: 1
From: Hyde Park NY
St. Jude Donor '05
Originally Posted by Bvette
I jack mine up just like a Nascar racer. I put the floor jack in the middle between the front and rear wheels, and lift the whole side of the car at once. Then place the jack stands behind the front wheel, and in front of the rear wheel. The under body in marked where to put them. I have an 89 coupe.
me too
