Jacking a 1989 Corvette
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Mar 2012
Posts: 768
Likes: 22
From: California
FL Events Coordinator
St. Jude Donor'13
Jacking a 1989 Corvette
I was wondering what height jack I could use to jack up my 1989 corvette. Would a jack that is 5 inches tall like most common jacks work? I don't have a lot of money and can't afford any expensive "low profile" floor jacks.
Any help is appreciated.
Thanks, Stephen
Any help is appreciated.
Thanks, Stephen
Drifting
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 1,363
Likes: 7
From: 1994 LT1 Coupe 6-speed with FX3 & 2000 LS1 Vert 6-Speed with F45 Hunterdon County, NJ
no special hydraulic jack needed
Veryevilkitten2,
No special jack is needed, as I use my regular floor jacks (unlike for the C5 which needs a special low jack).
However, there have been reports of cracking the targa top (clear or blue acrylic) if jacking the car up unevenly.
So, I ALWAYS jack up the front with TWO hydraulic jacks, place shorty jack stands, then the back.
No special jack is needed, as I use my regular floor jacks (unlike for the C5 which needs a special low jack).
However, there have been reports of cracking the targa top (clear or blue acrylic) if jacking the car up unevenly.
So, I ALWAYS jack up the front with TWO hydraulic jacks, place shorty jack stands, then the back.
Pro
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 741
Likes: 37
From: Athens, GA
I generally jack from the mid point between the jack points, but I've also jacked at the rear jack point as well as the front jack point.
And I've jacked with the targa top installed under those conditions, and never worried that I would damage the car.
Those legendary "I broke my C4 because I jacked up one corner" discussions always appear heavy on legend, and very light on facts. Given that Chevrolet put ONE jack in each car, and provided NO instructions cautioning the owner to exercise caution (in the form of loosening the top, or popping the hood, or the hatch, or the doors, ... etc) leads me to believe that there is no problem.
In fact, several years ago, I was at an NCM function, and I had the pleasure of meeting Dave McLellan. I asked him about this myth, and he was astonished that anyone would believe that the car would be damaged by jacking it up. He then recounted that during development and testing, they were always jacking up one corner or another - with NO issues.
Time to kill the myth!
Steven
And I've jacked with the targa top installed under those conditions, and never worried that I would damage the car.
Those legendary "I broke my C4 because I jacked up one corner" discussions always appear heavy on legend, and very light on facts. Given that Chevrolet put ONE jack in each car, and provided NO instructions cautioning the owner to exercise caution (in the form of loosening the top, or popping the hood, or the hatch, or the doors, ... etc) leads me to believe that there is no problem.
In fact, several years ago, I was at an NCM function, and I had the pleasure of meeting Dave McLellan. I asked him about this myth, and he was astonished that anyone would believe that the car would be damaged by jacking it up. He then recounted that during development and testing, they were always jacking up one corner or another - with NO issues.
Time to kill the myth!
Steven
Race Director
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 11,769
Likes: 175
From: Rolla Missouri
2021 C4 of the Year - Unmodified Finalist
St. Jude Donor '10 thru '25
I generally jack from the mid point between the jack points, but I've also jacked at the rear jack point as well as the front jack point.
And I've jacked with the targa top installed under those conditions, and never worried that I would damage the car.
Those legendary "I broke my C4 because I jacked up one corner" discussions always appear heavy on legend, and very light on facts. Given that Chevrolet put ONE jack in each car, and provided NO instructions cautioning the owner to exercise caution (in the form of loosening the top, or popping the hood, or the hatch, or the doors, ... etc) leads me to believe that there is no problem.
In fact, several years ago, I was at an NCM function, and I had the pleasure of meeting Dave McLellan. I asked him about this myth, and he was astonished that anyone would believe that the car would be damaged by jacking it up. He then recounted that during development and testing, they were always jacking up one corner or another - with NO issues.
Time to kill the myth!
Steven
And I've jacked with the targa top installed under those conditions, and never worried that I would damage the car.
Those legendary "I broke my C4 because I jacked up one corner" discussions always appear heavy on legend, and very light on facts. Given that Chevrolet put ONE jack in each car, and provided NO instructions cautioning the owner to exercise caution (in the form of loosening the top, or popping the hood, or the hatch, or the doors, ... etc) leads me to believe that there is no problem.
In fact, several years ago, I was at an NCM function, and I had the pleasure of meeting Dave McLellan. I asked him about this myth, and he was astonished that anyone would believe that the car would be damaged by jacking it up. He then recounted that during development and testing, they were always jacking up one corner or another - with NO issues.
Time to kill the myth!
Steven
But you know what happens once it gets on the internet.
This myth (and many others) will never die.
Instructor
Joined: May 2012
Posts: 201
Likes: 0
From: co
noticed when raising to put jack stands under, when jack one corner, the other wheel would come up to.just moved jack to center and raise a side a a time. works well for me
Instructor
Joined: Sep 2012
Posts: 204
Likes: 3
From: Bristol Rhode Island
And lift the car from the thin ridge right at the jacking point nomenclature.I used advice here to position the jack under this thin ridge directly in line/w the rear view mirror.That lifts the whole side of the car.Just obtained my SECOND C4 and found YET AGAIN where some PO had tried lifting the car from beneath the floorPAN!! I see more RTV and cracks.NEVER lift from the floorPAN,use the THIN ridge where the wording ">>jacking point<<" is.
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Instructor
Joined: May 2012
Posts: 201
Likes: 0
From: co
And lift the car from the thin ridge right at the jacking point nomenclature.I used advice here to position the jack under this thin ridge directly in line/w the rear view mirror.That lifts the whole side of the car.Just obtained my SECOND C4 and found YET AGAIN where some PO had tried lifting the car from beneath the floorPAN!! I see more RTV and cracks.NEVER lift from the floorPAN,use the THIN ridge where the wording ">>jacking point<<" is.
but as you stated--I ALWAY MAKE SURE I HAVE THE JACK ON THE MEAT OF THAT THIN RAIL.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 1,057
Likes: 39
From: Walton KY
I jack my '84 up by the front cradle/frame as an entire section instead of on one side only and then place a jack stand underneath each A-arm. I admit I bought into the myth and have just chosen to play it safe. Read (and have seen) too many C3s all screwed up due to mis-jacking the car up.
That is great info about Dave McLellan and his thoughts/reaction to this myth.
Later,
Lee
That is great info about Dave McLellan and his thoughts/reaction to this myth.
Later,
Lee
Team Owner
Joined: Dec 1999
Posts: 34,873
Likes: 487
From: Lacey WA RVN 68-69
NCM Sinkhole Donor
I generally jack from the mid point between the jack points, but I've also jacked at the rear jack point as well as the front jack point.
And I've jacked with the targa top installed under those conditions, and never worried that I would damage the car.
Those legendary "I broke my C4 because I jacked up one corner" discussions always appear heavy on legend, and very light on facts. Given that Chevrolet put ONE jack in each car, and provided NO instructions cautioning the owner to exercise caution (in the form of loosening the top, or popping the hood, or the hatch, or the doors, ... etc) leads me to believe that there is no problem.
In fact, several years ago, I was at an NCM function, and I had the pleasure of meeting Dave McLellan. I asked him about this myth, and he was astonished that anyone would believe that the car would be damaged by jacking it up. He then recounted that during development and testing, they were always jacking up one corner or another - with NO issues.
Time to kill the myth!
Steven
And I've jacked with the targa top installed under those conditions, and never worried that I would damage the car.
Those legendary "I broke my C4 because I jacked up one corner" discussions always appear heavy on legend, and very light on facts. Given that Chevrolet put ONE jack in each car, and provided NO instructions cautioning the owner to exercise caution (in the form of loosening the top, or popping the hood, or the hatch, or the doors, ... etc) leads me to believe that there is no problem.
In fact, several years ago, I was at an NCM function, and I had the pleasure of meeting Dave McLellan. I asked him about this myth, and he was astonished that anyone would believe that the car would be damaged by jacking it up. He then recounted that during development and testing, they were always jacking up one corner or another - with NO issues.
Time to kill the myth!
Steven
I also jack up my C4 from the side, mid-way between the embossed jacking points. Doesn't hurt anything and I don't open doors, wind down windows, or release the hood.
What you do need to watch when jacking at the mid-point is making sure you don't place the jack pad directly under the small stud that holds the fuel lines (passenger side) and brake lines (driver's side). Also don't place the jack pad so far under the car that it contacts the floor pan.
For the OP, look at the aluminum jacks from Harbor Freight. They aren't expensive and even the so-called compact versions will easily lift one side of a C4 or any other Corvette. You do need to get some good jack stands to hold the car.