Notices
C5 General General C5 Corvette and C5 Z06 Discussion not covered in Tech

useing a floor jack

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Oct 31, 2018 | 02:58 PM
  #1  
rayz1951's Avatar
rayz1951
Thread Starter
Racer
10 Year Member
Conversation Starter
All Eyes On Me
 
Joined: Feb 2012
Posts: 269
Likes: 9
From: Romeo MI
Default useing a floor jack

I noticed anytime I bring in my car in for service, before they hoist it up they open the doors and hood. Is that so the body doesn't form any cracks or spyder cracks? should I do that if I use a floor jack to lift it?
Thanks
Ray Z
Reply
Old Oct 31, 2018 | 03:34 PM
  #2  
Evil-Twin's Avatar
Evil-Twin
Team Owner
 
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 21,325
Likes: 3,841
From: small town in S.E Pa. PA
St. Jude Donor '03-'04
Default

No need to do that. Since the Frame of a C5 is 4 time stronger than its predecessor the C4 ( 400% stronger ). The Hydroformed frame design was revolutionary. That practice was common at one time but this isn't the 80's.
Bill

Last edited by Vetteman Jack; Oct 31, 2018 at 11:09 PM.
Reply
Old Oct 31, 2018 | 03:50 PM
  #3  
Velocity_Vette's Avatar
Velocity_Vette
Drifting
 
Joined: Mar 2013
Posts: 1,496
Likes: 353
From: Little Rock Arkansas
Default

This is an old thing that was done on older vehicles like the Corvette that would potentially sag on a lift and prevent the doors from opening or closing. Uni-body convertibles are typically the most at risk because of how heavy they can be. Uni-body cars themselves are cars that have some part of the body that is structural. Typically this is the rear quarter and rocker assemblies which account for major structural rigidity at the rear of the car.

While the C5 Corvette's chassis is effectively a convertible -style chassis (all C5s are built this way) the C5 is not uni-body construction. It's more of a body-on-frame type construction but it's not close enough to warrant being called a "space frame" like say a Pontiac Fiero. When a C5 is on a lift the panels are not being stressed because none of them are structural. It's chassis is extremely rigid and even very high mileage C5s do not see flex.

I do not see a reason to open any panels when lifting the car, even with a floor jack, and I personally just leave everything closed.
Reply
Old Oct 31, 2018 | 05:20 PM
  #4  
CQRT's Avatar
CQRT
Team Owner
Supporting Lifetime
20 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
 
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 24,485
Likes: 311
From: Scottsdale AZ
Default

Originally Posted by Velocity_Vette
This is an old thing that was done on older vehicles like the Corvette that would potentially sag on a lift and prevent the doors from opening or closing. Uni-body convertibles are typically the most at risk because of how heavy they can be. Uni-body cars themselves are cars that have some part of the body that is structural. Typically this is the rear quarter and rocker assemblies which account for major structural rigidity at the rear of the car.

While the C5 Corvette's chassis is effectively a convertible -style chassis (all C5s are built this way) the C5 is not uni-body construction. It's more of a body-on-frame type construction but it's not close enough to warrant being called a "space frame" like say a Pontiac Fiero. When a C5 is on a lift the panels are not being stressed because none of them are structural. It's chassis is extremely rigid and even very high mileage C5s do not see flex.

I do not see a reason to open any panels when lifting the car, even with a floor jack, and I personally just leave everything closed.


Earlier Corvettes- like C3s- had a fair amount of frame/body flex but that's no longer the case- accordingly, no reason to open the doors. Some shops will do it because customers who think they know Corvettes will expect it.
Reply
Old Oct 31, 2018 | 11:11 PM
  #5  
Vetteman Jack's Avatar
Vetteman Jack
Administrator
Supporting Lifetime
Veteran: Navy
St. Jude 20 Year Donor
25 Year Member
Veteran: Reserves
 
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 367,989
Likes: 24,719
From: In a parallel universe. Currently own 2014 Stingray Coupe.
C7 of the Year - Modified Finalist 2021
MO Events Coordinator
St. Jude Co-Organizer
St. Jude Donor '03 thru '25
NCM Sinkhole Donor
CI 5, 8 & 11 Veteran
Default

I agree - no need to worry about opening doors, hoods or hatches on the C5 when lifting the car.
Reply

Get notified of new replies

To useing a floor jack





All times are GMT -4. The time now is 10:25 PM.

story-0
Top 10 DOs and DON'Ts for Protecting Your Convertible Top!

Slideshow: How to Protect A Convertible Top: 10 DOs & DON'Ts

By Michael S. Palmer | 2026-04-03 00:00:00


VIEW MORE
story-1
Top 10 Most Explosive Corvettes Ever Made: Power-to-Weight Ratio Ranked!

Slideshow: The 10 most explosive Corvettes ever built based on power-to-weight ratio.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-20 07:23:03


VIEW MORE
story-2
150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter

Slideshow: From C1 to C8 we compare every Corvette generation by the numbers.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-12 16:54:12


VIEW MORE
story-3
8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time

Slideshow: Some Corvette pace cars became collectible legends, while others perfectly captured the look and attitude of their era.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-11 09:50:51


VIEW MORE
story-4
Top 10 Corvette Engines RANKED by Peak Torque (70+ Years of Muscle!)

Slideshow: Ranking the top 10 Corvette engines by torque output.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-05 11:58:09


VIEW MORE
story-5
Corvette ZR1X Will Be Pacing the Indy 500, And Could Probably Race, Too!

Slideshow: A Corvette pace car nearly matching IndyCar speeds sounds exaggerated, until you look at the numbers.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-04 20:03:36


VIEW MORE
story-6
Top 10 Corvettes Coming to Mecum Indy 2026!

Among a rather large group of them.

By Brett Foote | 2026-05-04 13:56:44


VIEW MORE
story-7
Top 10 C9 Corvette MUST-HAVES to Fix These C8 Generation Flaws!

Slideshow: the top 10 things Corvette owners want in the C9 Corvette

By Michael S. Palmer | 2026-04-30 12:41:15


VIEW MORE
story-8
10 Revolutionary 'Corvette Firsts' Most People Don't Know

Slideshow: 10 Important Corvette 'firsts' that every fan should know.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-04-29 17:02:16


VIEW MORE
story-9
5 Reasons to Upgrade to an LS6-Powered Corvette; 5 Reasons to Stay LT2

Slideshow: Should you buy a 2020-2026 Corvette or wait for 2027?

By Michael S. Palmer | 2026-04-22 10:08:58


VIEW MORE