Jack IT UP!
Thread Starter
2nd Gear
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 2
Likes: 0
Jack IT UP!
I am new here, but not a new owner. Since this is my first car with a removable roof, I was wondering if anyone could set me straight on lifting the car both on hydraulic lifts and floor jacks. I always heard you should pop open a door to prevent the frame from bending/contorting, but never understood this. Also, can you jack up only one wheel at a time (just enough to remove the wheel) or will this damage the car?
Thanks and look forward to many more posts and threads!
Thanks and look forward to many more posts and threads!
Race Director
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 18,307
Likes: 21
From: Marlton. Increasing performance one speeding ticket at a time! NJ
You don't need to open a door or do anything super-special to jack the C5 vette.
The car was designed from the beginning as a convertible, so it doesn't suffer from any of the issues associated with other "we're just going to cut the roof off to make a convertible" cars. The hydro-formed rails helped make this the stiffest frame every made at the time.
However, there are several things to note. The bottom of the car is actually made from a sandwich of fiberglass and balsa wood. Putting a jack under this will crack it. You should only lift it at the designated jacking points. You'll see these under the car right by each wheel. Some sell jacking pucks, or you can just use a hockey puck to protect the area as you jack. Even better place to jack is the front and rear cross-members. Slide a jack under the cross-member and lift the whole front or rear of the car.
The only issue with jacking is you need a low profile jack, or you have to drive the car up boards to get it high enough to get a standard jack under it.
Welcome to C5
The car was designed from the beginning as a convertible, so it doesn't suffer from any of the issues associated with other "we're just going to cut the roof off to make a convertible" cars. The hydro-formed rails helped make this the stiffest frame every made at the time.
However, there are several things to note. The bottom of the car is actually made from a sandwich of fiberglass and balsa wood. Putting a jack under this will crack it. You should only lift it at the designated jacking points. You'll see these under the car right by each wheel. Some sell jacking pucks, or you can just use a hockey puck to protect the area as you jack. Even better place to jack is the front and rear cross-members. Slide a jack under the cross-member and lift the whole front or rear of the car.
The only issue with jacking is you need a low profile jack, or you have to drive the car up boards to get it high enough to get a standard jack under it.
Welcome to C5
Last edited by nj02vette; Mar 8, 2008 at 12:12 PM.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 968
Likes: 12
From: Regina Sask
This is the safe & right way to lift a Corvette. I use the floor jack insert if I just need to lift up the car to remove a wheel. Using a hockey puck can/will slip out of place causing damage to the rocker panel, or personal injury. The lift pads are used when I raise the car on a hoist.
Jack insert - http://www.mamotorworks.com/corvette-2-66-174.html
Lift pads - http://www.mamotorworks.com/corvette-2-66-3064.html
Russ Kemp
Jack insert - http://www.mamotorworks.com/corvette-2-66-174.html
Lift pads - http://www.mamotorworks.com/corvette-2-66-3064.html
Russ Kemp
Le Mans Master
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 8,466
Likes: 51
St. Jude Donor '17
bmw jackpucks are cheaper
http://www.bavauto.com/fland.asp?par...1+71+1+960+752
http://www.bavauto.com/fland.asp?par...1+71+1+960+752
http://www.bavauto.com/fland.asp?par...1+71+1+960+752
http://www.bavauto.com/fland.asp?par...1+71+1+960+752
