bobs77vet

I have that same one......It was birthday gift 40 years ago.....

that's why I bought the smaller 1.5 ton one its so light its amazing

unlvrebel

1.5 ton works just fine. You aren't lifting the entire curb weight.

knewblewkorvette

Since my C5s are lowered so I too purchased the HF low profile jack years ago. It fits, barely, but does the job.

mark4cam

My old Craftsman jack finally wore out, and it was too tall anyway. I used to have a HF aluminum low profile jack until a neighbor tried to lift an Explorer with it and bent the frame. So I needed something quickly. Believe it or not, I went down to Walmart and picked up a decent low profile jack that works well enough for 50 bucks. One of these days I'll make the longer trip to HF and pick up a better jack, good to know it works well.

smagray04

How did you make your jig? I want to do that too. I have seen a 2x10 with flat 1/8" steel plate glued to it, the width of the subframe.

FrankLP

I've have one of HF's aluminium 1.5 ton jacks for several years now... still working great! And... I just noticed that the same jack is on sale right now at HF for $59!

Looks like it's time to pick up another one!

tred99

Are the 2 harbor freight Jack's that are being discussed the same size? I want one that will jack up the front without having to drive up ramps or pieces of wood. I am getting to old to move around a heavy jack.

Velocity_Vette

I don't have the exact dimension of what I did on hand but I want to say it's a 2x6 thickness at yeah around 10" or so, with a 2x4 piece up front to act as an L notch against the subframe when lifting. It doesn't have to be anything super fancy you just need something that doesn't apply all the pressure (ideally...) of the jack directly into one point of the subframe.

There are two styles that you will find at HF; a "normal" style floor jack that still have a relatively speaking low profile head and then an actual "low-profile" (sometimes called "race") jack. They will sell both types with the low-profile model typically being either comparable to slightly more expensive.

I've found even with the lower-profile model I still have difficulty raising just the front of the car with it; I normally have to raise the rear and then each side up front. I am lowered slightly however so on a stock ride height car that may not be the case.

Even if you're wanting it to say do oil changes and such you shouldn't be jacking up just the front anyways. Oil changes should be performed with either the car fully level or the rear slightly higher in the air (so all the oil travels through the shallow sump to the front-positioned drain bolt).

bc6152

I have a question about using this racing jack. Although I do all my oil changes on other cars I own I've only had my '98 since last July. So if I jack the car to do a change, is it from the rear so the oil runs to the front? If so, where do you place the jack? On the side with a puck or somewhere under the rear? Then is the car supported with jack stands?
Seems very difficult to get under the car to spin off the filter and release the oil...
I'll admit it: I'm a novice with the Corvette so please explain clearly... I'd like to order this jack while it's on sale...

mark4cam

I jacked the front using pucks (wood actually), one side then the other, getting the front wheels off the ground. Jackstands under the front crossmember. Then jacked the rear using a piece of wood, centered under the rear crossmember until the rear was slightly higher than the front. Jackstands under the rear crossmember. Then clear to change the oil and whatever else you want to do.

bc6152

Very clear and informative answers. Thanks 8Vette and Mark...

mrmagloo

I've got the 67" 2 piece race ramps (10" Lift) with the 12" cribs for the rear. I bought an Arcan 3 ton floor jack from Costco and crossbeam from HF to lift the car onto the cribs, and the setup works out great.

bc6152

Is there a specific height of jack stands that will fit under the car or are most stands a standard size?

msandym

I have the 1.5 and it works fine .

drivejumpfly

Yep, that's what I do. Use both of the jacks in my video and rhino ramps under the front tires so I can slide underneath it. Then go and jack the back up with a piece of wood on the jack.

laurent_zo6

At 24lbs, you could take the HF 1.5 ton low jack with you on trips.

Spaceme1117

I have both the 1.5 ton and 3 ton aluminum Harbor Freight jacks. If I am just lifting one corner of my 02 Z06, the 1.5 ton jack is fine and is very easy to move around.

If I am lifting either the entire front or rear by jacking on the frame, I use the 3 ton jack. I tried using the 1.5 ton jack and it just felt like I was on the edge of it failing. Better safe than sorry.

mrmagloo

If you catch a sale on the RaceRamps, it definitely helps. 15% to 20% isn't all that hard to get, if you shop and wait. I'll tell you what, I have a heck of a lot more piece of mind getting under the car sitting on solid ramps/cribs than jack stands. Plus, its' a whole lot faster to run up the ramps and just crossbeam up the rear.

mrmagloo

FWIW, I got my 67" 2 piece ramps for $293 shipped. But I get it, they certainly aren't in the Rhino price range.

tmirisola

I have the Harbor Freight Aluminum Jack and it works great on my C5. Keep an eye out for it to be on sale for an excellent deal.