Lift damage after all!
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 134
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From: Langhorne PA
Lift damage after all!
Yup, upon further inspection I see that his lift pad prongs contacted the inner rail that runs parallel to the lifting rail. The prongs left indents in that light gauge steel. The dealer said he will take a look at it tomorrow morning and discuss remedies with me. Question, what are the remedies? I'm not going to have them tear those out. I'm sure there would be more damage done trying to fix them than just living with it. Other than cosmetic was any other damage done here based on my description? I think their purpose is to hold in the floor pan? BTW, GM did a lousy job with all that glue they slopped around to glue in the floor. You have that mess under there too from GM? There are globs hanging down that I need to cut off with a side cutter.
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 134
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From: Langhorne PA
Re: Lift damage after all! (Buckmaster)
Buck,
Its the thin rail under the car runs parallel with where the hockey puck would go. A few inches beyond the body panel. The hockey puck area not affected. Thanks, one for the live with it as the body wasn't damaged. I feel reasonably better that they didn't crack a panel. What bugs the heck out of me is that I was reasonably informed by all you guys here at CF, thought I asked the right question. What else could I do if the guy tells me he doesn't need rubber spacers as it was a special lift just for vettes?
Its the thin rail under the car runs parallel with where the hockey puck would go. A few inches beyond the body panel. The hockey puck area not affected. Thanks, one for the live with it as the body wasn't damaged. I feel reasonably better that they didn't crack a panel. What bugs the heck out of me is that I was reasonably informed by all you guys here at CF, thought I asked the right question. What else could I do if the guy tells me he doesn't need rubber spacers as it was a special lift just for vettes?
Intermediate
Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 33
Likes: 0
From: Elgin IL
Re: Lift damage after all! (MelloYellow)
I bought those permanent lift pads from Ecklers. Snap them in and they are in 'till you take them out. But I am as confuesed As you.
I had the vettewrench install sway bars on my vehicle, and he didn't use lift pads either. He had a lift with very large circular rubber disks.
I didn't see any damage when he was done either?
I had the vettewrench install sway bars on my vehicle, and he didn't use lift pads either. He had a lift with very large circular rubber disks.
I didn't see any damage when he was done either?
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 134
Likes: 0
From: Langhorne PA
Re: Lift damage after all! (WAF)
WAF,
His lift saddles had no rubber disks or pads. Sorta looked like a rectangular claw. Had I seen that before he got it up, I might have stopped and questioned him more. He went in a side door that I didn't know about and when I didn't see the vehicle, I went deeper into the shop and saw it already up. Then, I asked if he was using rubber spacers and I got the story about it being a special lift for vettes.
His lift saddles had no rubber disks or pads. Sorta looked like a rectangular claw. Had I seen that before he got it up, I might have stopped and questioned him more. He went in a side door that I didn't know about and when I didn't see the vehicle, I went deeper into the shop and saw it already up. Then, I asked if he was using rubber spacers and I got the story about it being a special lift for vettes.
Drifting
Joined: Jun 2000
Posts: 1,338
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From: Fontana CA
Re: Lift damage after all! (BobbyD)
It is not clear from your description just what part of the car you are talking about. The Rails that run the length of the car just inside of the lower edge of the rocker panels are the frame rails. But, I would not consider the frame to be thin gage. If it is the large galvanized floor panel that sits just inside the frame near the front lift puck hole that was damaged they are replaceable. There is a lot of glue used in there installation though so you are probably right that more damage will be done by replacing them has been already. If it is the gas tank shields (near the rear lift puck locations) that were damaged then those are easy to replace. The only other parts that come to mind that might be considered thin gage are the cross supports under the floor. These are hat section members that run from one side to the other to help support the floor. These also have a great deal of glue involved and would best be left alone.
Race Director
Joined: Apr 1999
Posts: 12,735
Likes: 28
From: Kayenta Utah
Re: Lift damage after all! (SoCal C5)
I must have missed the original thread, but are you talking about a Chevy dealer? Page 0-30 of the Service Manual clearly states that J 43625 lift pads MUST be used when raising a C5 on a frame contact hoist. If the rocker panels are cracked, the freakin' fenders have to come off for the repair to be done.
Buy the recommended GM lift pads, keep them in your car, and threaten death to any mechanic who aloofly states he doesn't need to use them. Don't trust anyone, and don't Mickey Mouse some homemade pads, either. Jesus, it's a Corvette...show it some respect! Sorry to hear about your damage, but I'm glad the rockers are okay.
Buy the recommended GM lift pads, keep them in your car, and threaten death to any mechanic who aloofly states he doesn't need to use them. Don't trust anyone, and don't Mickey Mouse some homemade pads, either. Jesus, it's a Corvette...show it some respect! Sorry to hear about your damage, but I'm glad the rockers are okay.
Team Owner
Joined: Mar 1999
Posts: 22,025
Likes: 192
From: At the beach in little Rhody
Re: Lift damage after all! (Paul Scarpelli)
The rails that you are describing sound like the piece that attaches the floor pan. Inside the frame, there is a thinner metal strip that runs around the floor pan area. I bought my car from Kerbeck, in their showroom they have a C5 rolling chassis with no body on it. These metal strips are very evident when you look at the rolling chassis. If they only slightly bent it, I would leave it alone. Make sure to check the floor board for cracks or other damage that might let in moisture as it is balsa core construction.
I have made the hockey pucks for home use, but where does one get the GM pads referenced above and how much are they? Does anyone discount them?
[Modified by vettenuts, 6:05 AM 1/4/2002]
Page 0-30 of the Service Manual clearly states that J 43625 lift pads MUST be used when raising a C5 on a frame contact hoist.
Buy the recommended GM lift pads, .....
Buy the recommended GM lift pads, .....
I have made the hockey pucks for home use, but where does one get the GM pads referenced above and how much are they? Does anyone discount them?
[Modified by vettenuts, 6:05 AM 1/4/2002]
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Melting Slicks
Joined: Dec 2000
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From: Bethlehem PA
St. Jude Donor '03-'05-'06-'08-'10
Re: Lift damage after all! (vettenuts)
Bought the pucks and never leave home without them. Never allow my ride to go up on a lift, of any kind, without my being there.
Joe
Joe
Burning Brakes
Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 1,127
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From: somewhere il
Re: Lift damage after all! (WAF)
Hey guys,
WAF, Is right on one of my lifts I have large rubber pads, so its just like having the pucks, but the other one I use the pucks. even before i had the pucks all I did was cut a piece of 2x4 to fit in that area and put a rag between that and the frame. and never had a problem.
The Vette Wrench
WAF, Is right on one of my lifts I have large rubber pads, so its just like having the pucks, but the other one I use the pucks. even before i had the pucks all I did was cut a piece of 2x4 to fit in that area and put a rag between that and the frame. and never had a problem.
The Vette Wrench
Le Mans Master
Joined: May 1999
Posts: 6,841
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From: Laurel MT
Cruise-in I Veteran
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Re: Lift damage after all! (vettewrench)
Check out my parts newsletter under the forum "Ken's Newsletters". We stock and sell the Kent Moore Lift Pads. I personally would never lift my car or a customer's car without them!
Ken Fichtner
Ken Fichtner
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 787
Likes: 2
From: Seattle/Tacoma WA
Re: Lift damage after all! (BobbyD)
Lifting pads are standard equipment with my car; they are in the trunk all the time. The few times I've taken my car in, "I" install them before I hand over the keys, and "I" remove them when I get it back. That way there is no mistakes!
andy t.
andy t.
