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Old Dec 27, 2010 | 01:26 PM
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Default Starting on jack stands

I have my C5 up on 4 jack stands to check for a persistant oil drip.

I've used jack pads under the cross members and it seems pretty solid.

Will it be ok or safe to start it while up on the stands?

I'm just a little nervous about the "torque rock" when it starts.
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Old Dec 27, 2010 | 01:28 PM
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No problem-do it all the time.
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Old Dec 27, 2010 | 01:31 PM
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Originally Posted by dougbfresh
No problem-do it all the time.
So long as it's sitting on the frame, you should be fine. But I wouldn't put it in gear as the back wheels are hanging pretty low and something could get bent or twisted turning with such a angle.
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Old Dec 27, 2010 | 01:32 PM
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I've started mine on jack stands a few times and haven't had any problems
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Old Dec 27, 2010 | 01:33 PM
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Originally Posted by JCENZ06
I've started mine on jack stands a few times and haven't had any problems
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Old Dec 27, 2010 | 01:38 PM
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Originally Posted by killain
So long as it's sitting on the frame, you should be fine. But I wouldn't put it in gear as the back wheels are hanging pretty low and something could get bent or twisted turning with such a angle.
It does ok, I call it the "jackstand dyno". I did add a ziptie to keep the ebrake line tight with the swaybar, or it wanted to rub the wheel.

Good luck with the pesky leak! I just finished doing a rear main seal.
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Old Dec 27, 2010 | 01:51 PM
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Originally Posted by killain
So long as it's sitting on the frame, you should be fine. But I wouldn't put it in gear as the back wheels are hanging pretty low and something could get bent or twisted turning with such a angle.
It's not sitting on the frame. it's on the cross members using jack pads. I posted a pic of how it's sitting in my photos.

http://forums.corvetteforum.com/phot...9/ppuser/52552

it's on the "optional" crossmember jacking location in the front and on the rear crossmember per the manual.
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Old Dec 27, 2010 | 09:21 PM
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Even on the crossmembers the torque of the engine is not enough to cause your car to fall off the stands. If you can't make it fall off the stands by pushing on the side of the car the engine isn't going to do it. But I'm not talking about intentionally rocking it back and forth with all your mite. Almost anything is possible if you try hard enough.
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Old Dec 27, 2010 | 09:32 PM
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Originally Posted by stl1
It's not sitting on the frame. it's on the cross members using jack pads. I posted a pic of how it's sitting in my photos.

http://forums.corvetteforum.com/phot...9/ppuser/52552

it's on the "optional" crossmember jacking location in the front and on the rear crossmember per the manual.



Thats pretty high up...scares the crap out of me thinking that it could fall foward or rearward because its just on the skinny cross rail(or whatever you call it)
I would put my jack in the middle of the rear crossbar ..touching with light pressure under the wood.. just for a little extra insuranc(like you have done in the front)..yea I know...paranoid me

it's on the "optional" crossmember jacking location in the front and on the rear crossmember per the manual
btw...does the manual tell you what to do if it falls and crushes you to death?

Last edited by Yello95; Dec 27, 2010 at 09:40 PM.
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Old Dec 27, 2010 | 10:45 PM
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I've started the car up before while it was on jack stands. No problems at all.
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Old Dec 27, 2010 | 11:39 PM
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I've done it a number of times.
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Old Dec 27, 2010 | 11:44 PM
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I have many a time and you should be fine!

If you have reasonably set it up and it is solid you'll be good

Thanks,Matt
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Old Dec 27, 2010 | 11:56 PM
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That's how I exercise the ABS pump on mine

Up on stands,start it up,put it in second and let the clutch out-anything over about 12mph on the speedo kicks the TC on,and off,and on,and off,etc.--gives the ABS pump a nice little workout.
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Old Dec 28, 2010 | 03:41 PM
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My car has been up on 4 jackstands for 3 months now. I start it up every week to keep everything working well. I generally let the oil temp get up to 150 degrees before I shut it down.
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Old Dec 28, 2010 | 04:52 PM
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Originally Posted by Yello95



Thats pretty high up...scares the crap out of me thinking that it could fall foward or rearward because its just on the skinny cross rail(or whatever you call it)
I would put my jack in the middle of the rear crossbar ..touching with light pressure under the wood.. just for a little extra insuranc(like you have done in the front)..yea I know...paranoid me
Better to be paranoid than to be dead. Honestly I never support the car via the crossmembers, I put the jackstands on the framerails (right where the factory slots are). If I do have to support via the crossmembers, I use wood to span the 2 crossrails for a little extra support. Those crossrails are just cast aluminum, always makes me nervous. Though it's probably fine - like you said it's just paranoia

I like that wooden brace thing, I need to make up something like that someday. I usually at least jack the car on the crossmember to get it in the air and I just use scrap wood.

Dope
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Old Dec 28, 2010 | 07:54 PM
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Originally Posted by Dope
Better to be paranoid than to be dead. Honestly I never support the car via the crossmembers, I put the jackstands on the framerails (right where the factory slots are). If I do have to support via the crossmembers, I use wood to span the 2 crossrails for a little extra support. Those crossrails are just cast aluminum, always makes me nervous. Though it's probably fine - like you said it's just paranoia

I like that wooden brace thing, I need to make up something like that someday. I usually at least jack the car on the crossmember to get it in the air and I just use scrap wood.

Dope
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Old Dec 28, 2010 | 08:02 PM
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That looks fine.

I had mine up higher than that during my suspension upgrade and I was yanking/swearing etc during the process.

I just use a single 2x6 across the cradles though.

If you can sneak 5 ton jack stands under the front and back, its a lot more stable than 2 ton jack stands once you get up a ways.

I use 5 ton in the front and 2 ton in the back.
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Old Dec 28, 2010 | 08:59 PM
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I have been under mine with the car running, on good solid stands.
If you ever do an A4 trans fluid change with out a lift, it's the only way. The car has to be running to put in the final few quarts of fluid.

Last edited by dw99vette; Dec 28, 2010 at 09:03 PM.
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Old Dec 28, 2010 | 09:36 PM
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I jack my car up all the time like the pics with 2 x 8 and then support the car with 3 ton jack stands, no problems with starting or running the car. Had the car up for over a week while installing LT Headers and SS Exhaust.
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Old Dec 29, 2010 | 11:25 AM
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Wow, thanks for all the replies guys.

Got another question. Once I start it, will the A4 tranny warm up enough to check the fluid if I put it in gear and simply hold the brake to keep the wheels from spinning? That should put a small load on the tranny and maybe warm the tranny enough?????

OK, 2 more questions. If I need to add fluid, How in the heck do you do it?

Do you rig up something with some sort of hose attached to a qt bottle and squeeze the bottle to force it in?
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