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Seeking some direction from the experienced. I need to raise my 73 to get under it and do some maintenance. I don't have a shop and will need to do this at home. I'm budget conscious yet want to be safe. If I had the extra cash, I'd get a 4 post lift but... I'm thinking a quality trolley jack and good jack stands to get high enough to get under it. Any suggestions with these or alternatives? Thanks for your help - Joe Asselmeier
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Re: Trolley jack and jack stands for DIY
Joe, A good set (4) of Jacks Stands and a good low profile floor jack are usually enough to get most service done under your 73. All can be purchased at your local Walmart for less then $100. My advice is to spend a little more on the floor jack. You would be amazed how handy it will become. Walk over to the sports depatment and get a couple hockey pucks. They help get another inch of lift from your jack when needed. Check the earlier post on where to put jacks stands. I have my 89 up on 4 jack stand right now restoring the exhaust system. Eric #3,182 -
Re: Trolley jack and jack stands for DIY
Thanks Eric appreciate your information.
Regards, Joe 46306Comment
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Sorry Eric but Dont buy
jack stands from home depot type palaces Buy the best its your LIFE. The jack, you can shop around if you want to,because your not under the car when its on the floor jack. If you Dont have much experience with floor jacks and jack stands try to work with the car on two stands at at time, not with the car up on four stands at a time. If your worried about stratching the frame use some old pieces of carpeting, DONT USE ANYTHING between the jack stands and the car to get more height. Phil 8063Comment
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I agree...
Phil, You are right. I agree. safety is a major concern. I very rarely work under the car without every available precaution. Always keep your jack under the frame as well, at a height just below weight bearing. I am not sugesting that you use pucks on jack stands. I only use it on the jack.. and not when a tire is removed, or when someone is under the car. I will use them from time to time to lower a tranny etc when on stands. For the most part I leave wheels on the car while working under the car and sometime put a 5th or 6th stand when it will be up for a long period of time. But when that is the case I use my four post lift. Never work under your car when you are at the shop/home alone. Let someone know what you are doing so they can keep there eye on you. Make sure the ground is level. Keep you cell/cordless phone under the car with you and always wear eye protection.
I guess I need to rethink my answers. Common sense should always prevail. Please seek out multiple professional sources before folling any one persons advise. EricComment
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Re: Trolley jack and jack stands for DIY
On another forum (for Camaro) the participants roundly criticize jacks from Sears. The seem to fail just beyond the warrantee -- 1 year. FWIW they are made in China.
Northern Hydraulics seem to be a favorite over there. UMMVTerryComment
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Re: Trolley jack and jack stands for DIY
Terry
On the farm we had some tree logs say 14" diameter about 14" long and after the car was on jack stands dad would put the four heavy blocks under the frame standing on end. It allways made it look safer to me to crawl under.
LyleLyle
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Re: Trolley jack and jack stands for DIY
I use four 6 ton stands, they give more clearance for a creeper and at 24 tons of capacity, they won't even know there is a car on them (craftsman.com)
Just my 2 cents. JimComment
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Re: Trolley jack and jack stands for DIY
If I ever have to get under the car with the tires off, I toss the tires under the car. This way, if the jackstands would fail, there is a fat tire under there to keep it from crushing me. It might pin me, but not crush me.
BTW, do not buy the stamped steel stands. Buy only the heavy duty stands and pay the extra money for the best. It is all that is holding 3500 pounds over your head literally. It only takes one to fail for it to fall on you.
I used to use concrete blocks because we had them around. However, there are rules about concrete if you don't want a disaster.
1) Always place them holes up. They are worthless sideways.
2) Always isolate with wood, never metal on concrete. Use a 2x6 or a 6x6 to isolate the metal frame from the concrete to spread the load, or a point load from the steel will break the concrete.
3) Only use new blocks. Old weathered blocks that have sat outside for years can crumble.
4) It is good to remember the tire thing above just in case.
At the price os good steel stands, you probably don't need to fool with concrete.Comment
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Re: I agree... Right On Eric *NM*
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Re: Trolley jack and jack stands for DIY
Thanks guys for all your good information. Regards, Joe - 46306Comment
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