does anybody know where to get a small jack that will fit a c5, one that would not take up to much truck space? I carry a plug kit and small air compressor as I sometimes take trips that leave me a long ways from a repair shop. I have looked serveral places but no luck. Thanks, Harold

 

Just to pass on something...

I've heard if you ever do jack up one side of your Vette, open the doors, or they'll pop off.

Food for thought

 

Harold, a forum member from Germany (C5 Fredrick) was selling a Mercedes jack that was perfect for taking on the road. You could get it from a stateside dealer (I think it was from the E-class cars), but he was able to sell it to us at a lower price. I'd say literally hundreds of us bought one from him. You can try and shoot him an e-mail to see if he's still doing this.
And BuckyBoy, maybe what you're saying was true 30+ years ago when Corvette frames were as stiff as spaghetti, but it's not the case anymore, so jack away without worrying about this.

 

C5 myth that has been discussed here a number of times in the past. Here's one of the more recent threads:

Don't Lift your Vette...it will crack?

 

Here's a pic of the MBZ jack that many of us have gotten from C5Fredrick for $50.00. Works well and is very compact. I have jacked my car many times from one side with the doors closed without any problems. The frame is so stiff that the both the front and rear wheel are raised off the ground when jacking. The C4's used to flex and you supposedly couldn't open the doors when jacked up (but I never had that problem with my C4).

 

Thanks for the info... all I know is I got new shoes for my C5 last week and it was written on the work order at the tire store and all the tech's told me they always open the doors on Vette's. I'm pretty sure they didn't charge me any extra to put a crack in the doors so why not do it? When you jack up one corner of the rear high enough to lift a tire off the ground... it's pretty far up there? I would think that what ever Tony Soprano is driving these days would flex in those conditions.

Maybe it is a throw back to olden days when everything was fiberglass and frames weren't as rigid, maybe it's just a myth. I'm sure the frame in today's cars is stiff, but Corvette is a small & short frame with a lot of trim like bumpers and fenders hung all around it.

Guess at this point it's an individual thing. Sure not a big deal to do it even if it may not be necessary.

Just my $ .02

Interesting thread you sent me to... sure wouldn't want to be under the suicide jacks that one fella was so proud of! I guess he was trying to show he jacks the car from the middle rather than one corner at a time. After reading all the comments, I'm still sticking to my story... don't cost nuttin, doesn't take any extra time... why not be safe rather than sorry? I will admit when the mechanic said the door could "pop off", I though that was a little extreme but when I saw it's butt three feet in the air being held by one corner... I wouldn't rule out some flexing somewhere.

 

I once had a service writer at Goodyear Store tell they open the doors, the hood and the truck when jacking up a vette. I just smiled and let him go on. Of course I was making sure they knew where to jack it at to fix my flat without breaking fiberglass.
Thanks for the location to get a jack, Harold

 

Here is the correct username for the forum member who is able to get the little MBZ jack is C5 Frederik (in case you had trouble finding him). Below is the info he provided on the jack including the part number.

"Here is a lift that is perfect for the C5. Made of aluminum it weighs a bit more than 2 lbs (1100 grams), fits under the lowered vette, doesn´t need extra pucks because it has a plastic top. It can lift one ton, folded it fits into the rear right hole in the rear compartment.
It is OEM Mercedes lift out of the new C-Class, Part Number is A 203 583 03 15"

 

BTW that is a great pic of the Jack. Not to mention your car. Harold

 

The MB jack and the car look great and obviously there are alot of happy owners out there who have these jacks.

While I am going to look into the MB jack, will a standard scissor jack, that are supplied with many Ford vehicles do the job with or without pucks?

 

Wish I had a pic to show it (car put away for winter), however; look in Auto Zone or a Walmart and try one of the "12 volt" jacks they have. Head of it fits easily within the "jacking space" and it works off the battery. Comes in a case, and it all fits next to the CD storage.

 

I don't like the looks of that at all! It doesn't even look physically possible to raise the car! As a structural engineer, I'll need more info on how that works.

My best suggestion is to get a AAA membership

 

:

I do have a tow in service with Good Sams RV, they will tow me as far as needed for no extra charge. Unlimited distance. But I am a person who hates to wait, I would fix it if I could, rather than wait out in the no where close to anywhere for someone to come to me.

 

Thanks, I have been to Wal_Mart but I will check them again and Auto Zone.

 

 

I have a sissor jack that would store easily, and works well jacking even a lowered C5.

 

These are fairly standard on European cars. I have one that came with my BMW - No problem. I have it up with the jack several times.

 

Does anyone know how high this jack is when collapsed on the ground? If i'm not mistaken, I need something just under 3.75 inches....

 

You can buy a sissor jack at auto zone or most parts stores,I use the one outof my suburban and it works great . they are around $20.00 I think.