Feb 20, 2015, 01:08 PM
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Jacking up a C4..
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 1,752
Likes: 62
From: New Madison Ohio
Jacking up a C4..
I have another question on jacking up our C4's. I have been using the jacking points to raise my car. I was changing the oil the other day and saw the cross member. Why can't this be used to jack up the front of the car with a low profile jack? Is this an area that would be strong enough to lift the car?
Last edited by DA1984VETTE; Sep 23, 2011 at 01:18 AM.
Race Director
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 17,551
Likes: 26
From: El Paso Texas
I often use the front crossmember to jack the car. I use a small cheapie Harbor Freight jack under the jacking points to get it high enough to center the big floor jack under the crossmember, and then up it goes....the whole front end at one time. You can then position your jack stands under the front factory jack points.
Then.....once the front is up, you can raise the rear by the shock mounts and put the car on 4 stands easily.
Then.....once the front is up, you can raise the rear by the shock mounts and put the car on 4 stands easily.
Drifting
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 1,908
Likes: 3
From: Supreme Soviet Peace-Loving Pipple's Kollektive of Seattle Wa
I often use the front crossmember to jack the car. I use a small cheapie Harbor Freight jack under the jacking points to get it high enough to center the big floor jack under the crossmember, and then up it goes....the whole front end at one time. You can then position your jack stands under the front factory jack points.
Then.....once the front is up, you can raise the rear by the shock mounts and put the car on 4 stands easily.
Then.....once the front is up, you can raise the rear by the shock mounts and put the car on 4 stands easily.
Burning Brakes
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 857
Likes: 1
From: Morrisonville Illinios
Watch some of your magazines they have a 20% off coupon for HARBOR FREIGHT and it can save you more $$$$. A lot of the time they will let you use it on sale items also.
Good SHOPPING
wro87
Good SHOPPING
wro87
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Race Director
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 17,551
Likes: 26
From: El Paso Texas
I just use their $20 trolley jack to get the nose up a bit, then use my big Craftsman floor jack to finish things off. The next time I see a coupon for their aluminum racing jack for $59, it's following me home though.
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 34,988
Likes: 515
From: Riverside County Southern California
Co-winner 2020 C4 of the Year - Modified
2018 Corvette of Year Finalist
2017 C4 of Year
2016 C7 of Year Finalist
St. Jude Donor '09 thru '20
This is something you guys can do. If you have a low profile jack and your Vette has
not been lower you can rise the Vette using the lower cross member.
If your Vette has been lowered the spoiler will not allow a low profile jack to go
under the Vette.
You can go to Home Depot, buy a plank of lumber and build a small ramp like this
one (photo below). It will rise your Vette high enough for any jack to fit and get
it on jack stands.
not been lower you can rise the Vette using the lower cross member.
If your Vette has been lowered the spoiler will not allow a low profile jack to go
under the Vette.
You can go to Home Depot, buy a plank of lumber and build a small ramp like this
one (photo below). It will rise your Vette high enough for any jack to fit and get
it on jack stands.
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 34,988
Likes: 515
From: Riverside County Southern California
Co-winner 2020 C4 of the Year - Modified
2018 Corvette of Year Finalist
2017 C4 of Year
2016 C7 of Year Finalist
St. Jude Donor '09 thru '20
Now, lets say you can not afford to buy planks there is another way I used to do before I bought mine. For this you need another jack, at least the cheap 2 1/2 tons.
On one side you lift enough for the jack to fit and raise at the cross member.
You place your 2nd jack here, raise it until the jack fits underneath. Don't worry, it will balance itself out as long you place the jack dead center on the cross member.
On one side you lift enough for the jack to fit and raise at the cross member.
You place your 2nd jack here, raise it until the jack fits underneath. Don't worry, it will balance itself out as long you place the jack dead center on the cross member.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 6,226
Likes: 697
From: Clifton Park, NY ............Clearwater, FL ... 85 Original Owner
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
This works for me. Rhino ramps and some 2 x 6 planks. I drive up onto them while looking at an old mirror that I have propped up so I can see where the left front wheel is. Then unlatch the ramp and pull it away. I then use a Jack a Vette on the rear pumpkin and set jack stands under the rear. Allows plenty of room to lay on a creeper and work on the car's underbelly.
I will probably sell this lash up some day when I can afford to buy a real lift.
I will probably sell this lash up some day when I can afford to buy a real lift.
