4 post lift guys
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 382
Likes: 0
From: CT
4 post lift guys
absolute min ceiling height to store 2 c5's at stock height. we are 100% out of space. all the 4 post will be used for is storage as we have a 2 post for working...
may even need to get one of the c3's on the 4 post and then store car w/o wheels to gain a bit more clearance...
may even need to get one of the c3's on the 4 post and then store car w/o wheels to gain a bit more clearance...
CF Community Team
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 19,367
Likes: 5,244
From: Cape Cod, Mass.
2025 C6 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
2025 C8 Z06/7/E-Ray of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
2023 C3 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
2021 C8 of the Year Finalist Unmodified
2020 Corvette of the Year Finalist (performance mods)
2019 C1 of Year Winner (performance mods)
2017 Corvette of the Year Finalist
2016 C2 of Year
2015 C3 of Year Finalist
At least 9 feet. Mine are just under 11 feet and no problem storing one on top of the other. The earlier generations are much taller than the C5.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 382
Likes: 0
From: CT
agreed, but if i cut the centers out of some stamped steel wheels and make a a frame that bolts to the hub i can have a c3 sit on the lift ~ 6" lower than they typically sit.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 382
Likes: 0
From: CT
the c3 is actually lower than the z. i got 48" on that and 50" on the Z doing a quick measurement. i think i can get the c3 down to 42" if i build 'A's' to bolt on instead of the wheels. can crank the bolts on the Z and bring that to 48". what does the lift platform consume or add to the car? 3"?
Drifting
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 1,671
Likes: 4
From: MI
Agree. my ceilings are a little over 9' and have no problem storing C5 at about 47" and 81Z at 51". Also can get the C5 high enough, so that I can stand under it to work in itI can post a pic if you would like.
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 23,283
Likes: 906
From: Lake Elsinore, CA
I have a 10 ft. ceiling with my Bend Pak that I park 2 C5's on/under with no problem. I used to store my much-taller '03 Mustang GT under the vette. Both vettes are lowered a bit over 1" but the Stang was almost 6 inches taller than the vette and I still had some wiggle room.
Pro
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 551
Likes: 0
From: Florida, Sarasota Fl.
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
Top 10 Most Expensive Corvettes Ever Sold on Bring A Trailer
Brett Foote
10 Things Every Corvette Owner Needs (2026 Edition)
Michael S. Palmer
8 Most "Only Corvette Owners Understand" Quirks and Problems
Pouria Savadkouei
10 Reasons the C6 Z06 is Still A Performance Benchmark After 20 Years
Joe Kucinski
How Much Horsepower Every Corvette Engine "LOST" in 1972
Joe Kucinski
Top 10 DOs and DON'Ts for Protecting Your Convertible Top!
Michael S. Palmer
Top 10 Most Explosive Corvettes Ever Made: Power-to-Weight Ratio Ranked!
Joe Kucinski
150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter
Joe Kucinski
8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time
Verdad Gallardo
Race Director
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 12,899
Likes: 1
From: Denver Colorado
10' 3" ceiling here and i would guess i have about 12" to spare with two vettes. just take the height of the two vettes and add about 8-10" and that should be your min. height needed....
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 1,226
Likes: 45
From: Castleton VA
Cruise-In VIII Veteran
The real critical measurement is the height between the upper surface of the platform and the ceiling, when the platform is at the lowest stop you can use with a car below -- *minus* the height you need to raise the lift to release the safety stops before your can lower the platform.
For example, my C5 is 48" tall, but the lowest stop on the 4 posts leaves the bottom of the platform at 51" -- 3" of unused space. Given the ~5" depth of the lift platform, that puts the upper surface of the platform at 56".
With a ceiling height of 111" (9'3"), I therefore have 55" to play with -- *minus* the ~2-3" that the platform must be raised before the safety lock release handle can be moved to allow the platform to be lowered. So, I have ~52" of usable space above the platform, which suits my 49" tall C6 with a couple inches to spare.
Moral of the story: If it will be at tight fit, check with your prospective vendors to determine *exactly* what height the stop tabs are at, so you can accurately determine the height of the platform (and hence the available space above the platform) when a car is parked below.
HTH,
Mark
For example, my C5 is 48" tall, but the lowest stop on the 4 posts leaves the bottom of the platform at 51" -- 3" of unused space. Given the ~5" depth of the lift platform, that puts the upper surface of the platform at 56".
With a ceiling height of 111" (9'3"), I therefore have 55" to play with -- *minus* the ~2-3" that the platform must be raised before the safety lock release handle can be moved to allow the platform to be lowered. So, I have ~52" of usable space above the platform, which suits my 49" tall C6 with a couple inches to spare.
Moral of the story: If it will be at tight fit, check with your prospective vendors to determine *exactly* what height the stop tabs are at, so you can accurately determine the height of the platform (and hence the available space above the platform) when a car is parked below.
HTH,
Mark
Drifting
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 1,360
Likes: 1
From: West Grove Pa
My ceiling height is 9'7" The Cobra is almost the same height as the C5. With either the C5 or C3 under, there isn't much room for error. As mneblett mentioned the lift must be raised before it's lowered and that makes things close.
Racer
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 372
Likes: 2
From: Ft. Lauderdale FL
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 23,283
Likes: 906
From: Lake Elsinore, CA
You can replace the opener with a side-lift unit like e6bailey posted a pic of. That eliminates the opener being over the lift. Plus, you can add extensions to the door tracks to raise the door as close as possible to the ceiling in the open position.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 1,226
Likes: 45
From: Castleton VA
Cruise-In VIII Veteran
My overhead garage door and opener were too low to use the lift. I raised the overhead rails and added vertical extensions so that the door would go horizontal just below the garage ceiling, remounted the torsion spring tube higher on the header above the door, and removed the overhead opener and installed a Chamberlain LiftMaster side-mounted opener (same as in post #8).
Gained a couple feet by the time I was done -- keep in mind that you don't necessarily need to get the entire car below the garage door; my door only travels horizontally far enough back to stop over the car trunk. The roof can be higher than the open door because it never goes far enough back to run into the roof.
Where there's a will, there's a way.
Mark
Melting Slicks
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 2,123
Likes: 2
From: Humble TX
St. Jude Donor '09-'10-'11-'12
Instructor
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 166
Likes: 10
From: Greenville Ohio
Store a C5 and a C2, have 9' ceilings. Moved the Sears opener from the center position to the side of a single 8' wide door. Would not be able to move the opener with a double wide door. Have had no problems.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 382
Likes: 0
From: CT
i have 113" in the one garage and just under 9' in the basement. i am tempted to install a 4 post in the basement and put a c3 on it and the replace the wheels and tires w modified wheels centers just a bit larger in diameter than the rotor. should bring overall height of c3 to just over 40"...
could probably stuff a c2 w/ 14" steelies without rubber under it.
i'll have to look at the lock mechanism. maybe i'll have to add my own lock a bit lower on the posts...
Racer
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 372
Likes: 2
From: Ft. Lauderdale FL
That may not be a problem, if you have the room and are willing to investing a bit of labor (or a contractor).
My overhead garage door and opener were too low to use the lift. I raised the overhead rails and added vertical extensions so that the door would go horizontal just below the garage ceiling, remounted the torsion spring tube higher on the header above the door, and removed the overhead opener and installed a Chamberlain LiftMaster side-mounted opener (same as in post #8).
Gained a couple feet by the time I was done -- keep in mind that you don't necessarily need to get the entire car below the garage door; my door only travels horizontally far enough back to stop over the car trunk. The roof can be higher than the open door because it never goes far enough back to run into the roof.
Where there's a will, there's a way.
Mark
My overhead garage door and opener were too low to use the lift. I raised the overhead rails and added vertical extensions so that the door would go horizontal just below the garage ceiling, remounted the torsion spring tube higher on the header above the door, and removed the overhead opener and installed a Chamberlain LiftMaster side-mounted opener (same as in post #8).
Gained a couple feet by the time I was done -- keep in mind that you don't necessarily need to get the entire car below the garage door; my door only travels horizontally far enough back to stop over the car trunk. The roof can be higher than the open door because it never goes far enough back to run into the roof.
Where there's a will, there's a way.
Mark
It never hurts to plan ahead. Thanks for the info!