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How do you lift YOUR car?

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Old Sep 28, 2007 | 08:18 AM
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How do you lift YOUR car?

I always like to here new ways about how to lift and support my car. My jack will not fit under the front of the car so i usually have to come from the side with 2 jacks under each motor mount and it takes too long, or prejack. Neither of these ways or ramps get the car up as high as id like to have it. I dont want to spend 200$ on a jack either...


..what do you guys use when working on exhaust/transmission/etc???
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Old Sep 28, 2007 | 08:46 AM
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Walmart jack, and jackstands. Seriously, how high do you need it to be?
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Old Sep 28, 2007 | 09:12 AM
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Sorry but your telling us you don't have the car high enough but you wont spend money on a bigger jack and jackstands. As far as I know there is no 'special' way to lift the 7 higher then your jack goes. Except for maybe putting 2x4 pieces on the jack for extra height, though that does not seem very safe.
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Old Sep 28, 2007 | 09:17 AM
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im looking for inventive ways to lift. wood block, whatever.

ie "omg guys i use a bumper jack and it works great"

looking for ideas not "u have to spend money to get over 7 inches"
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Old Sep 28, 2007 | 09:20 AM
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Originally Posted by imloggedin
looking for ideas not "u have to spend money to get over 7 inches"
Sorry, but you do. If you wanna do it safe anyhow.

I suggest you take a look at ''We're all occasionaly stupid FC owners'' thread.

You might just change your mind on not spending money.

Cheap will bite you in the ***.
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Old Sep 28, 2007 | 09:21 AM
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Originally Posted by farberio
Sorry but your telling us you don't have the car high enough but you wont spend money on a bigger jack and jackstands. As far as I know there is no 'special' way to lift the 7 higher then your jack goes. Except for maybe putting 2x4 pieces on the jack for extra height, though that does not seem very safe.
No.

He said his car sits too low to get his floor jack under it.
Probably has a lip and lowering springs...
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Old Sep 28, 2007 | 09:22 AM
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ok then forget i said anything about money.. and continue with your experiences.
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Old Sep 28, 2007 | 09:31 AM
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Originally Posted by imloggedin
ok then forget i said anything about money.. and continue with your experiences.
Ooops. Then I made a mistake too.

Roll your car on 2x6's and then get the jack under it. No?
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Old Sep 28, 2007 | 09:32 AM
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craftsman floor jack and jack stands.... failing that my brute strength from my finely sculpted and toned body.... eh.. **** it, use the jack.
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Old Sep 28, 2007 | 09:34 AM
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I use a "super low" style jack I got from wal mart, and it works great. You can also lift your car from the tow hooks
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Old Sep 28, 2007 | 09:39 AM
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You can get some low-down ramps from TEIN or Takata or whatever, they're designed for cars that are too low to get jacks under.
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Old Sep 28, 2007 | 10:09 AM
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why not spend the little extra to make sure your car is safely lifted.
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Old Sep 28, 2007 | 10:15 AM
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I also have some low-profile ramps from Blitz (not the Japanese company blitz either, some plastics company). I think they came from auto-zone.
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Old Sep 28, 2007 | 10:28 AM
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my car is now lowered, but to get it on my standard jack I just have to lift the front end manually about 3/8"-1/2". honestly it's not hard at all. so unless you're talking you need an inch or more then you should be able to manage it. of course, I'm considering a lower and bigger jack because mine doesn't go as high as I'd like, either. I just got a creeper and I can't fit under the car very well with the car stood up as high as my jack will set it on stands.
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Old Sep 28, 2007 | 10:29 AM
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oh yeah, and ramps. I have some normal ramps and they have inserts for low lying cars. those work well, but still aren't real high and of course don't work for the times you need the wheels off.
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Old Sep 28, 2007 | 11:01 AM
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Like F.C.3S said put the car on 2x6 wood to make room for the jack.
After you do that and put the stands under the car, put some small peices of 2x4 under them for some more height.
Jack the car up from the front and back a few inches alternating front and back and slowly bring up the stands a 2 or 3 notches.

One more thing i did aswell since i did a drive train swap is cut a piece of 2x4 the length of the frame rail and put a stand at either end.
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Old Sep 28, 2007 | 01:19 PM
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is it any safe to lift on unleveled ground? my yard is kind of .. hill-ish and not flat, kind of gravely and what not.. theres a spot i park my car around that's kind of flat but still un-even, is it safe to jack my car up?
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Old Sep 28, 2007 | 01:22 PM
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Originally Posted by HeyITZthatFC
is it any safe to lift on unleveled ground? my yard is kind of .. hill-ish and not flat, kind of gravely and what not.. theres a spot i park my car around that's kind of flat but still un-even, is it safe to jack my car up?
I would say no... but, without seeing your yard, its hard to be sure. Just make sure to chock the wheels properly, set all of your brakes, and use the jack stands properly... A ramp might be a safer choice for you.
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Old Sep 28, 2007 | 01:26 PM
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I prefer ramps when possible, they seem safer to me, and you know the weight is supported properly.

When I have my 15" autocross wheels on (with low-profile Azenis), the towhooks are good jack spots for the front.
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Old Sep 28, 2007 | 01:49 PM
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Originally Posted by micaheli
I would say no... but, without seeing your yard, its hard to be sure. Just make sure to chock the wheels properly, set all of your brakes, and use the jack stands properly... A ramp might be a safer choice for you.
thanks, i have some ramps but it always seems to wreck shop on my bumper lol
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Old Sep 28, 2007 | 02:15 PM
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Here is what I do to get my lowered fc up to maximum height.
1) I drive or puch the front wheels onto 2 1.5 inch flag stones
2) jack one side up to the maximum height of the jack and place a jack stand under it, then repeat on the other side
3) I then return to the first side with one or 2 quality bricks(not cheap face bricks) and jack it up as gih as it will go, then raise the jack stand to the new height.
4) Repeat above till desied height is acheived.
5) do the reverse to lower

Its not fast but it definitely gets you alot of height to work with.
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Old Sep 28, 2007 | 02:34 PM
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ON a rotary lift at my friend's shop. There's 2 of them and 3 lifts. I get to work on my car anytime I want and I don't think I'll ever bother with jackstands or ramps. Once I buy a house I plan on investing on a lift of my own.
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Old Sep 28, 2007 | 02:49 PM
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Originally Posted by phoenix7
ON a rotary lift at my friend's shop. There's 2 of them and 3 lifts. I get to work on my car anytime I want and I don't think I'll ever bother with jackstands or ramps. Once I buy a house I plan on investing on a lift of my own.
where are you in norcal? i wanna use your friends lifts!! check your PM box also :P
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Old Sep 28, 2007 | 03:08 PM
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I'm in campbell. I think i'm the only one he lets use them like that due to the liability it brings to his shop. He's a family friend and he is helping me out by letting me do the work at his shop so I don't think he'll let you use his equipment bro, sorry.
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Old Sep 28, 2007 | 07:48 PM
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even at stock height i couldn't use a regular craftsman jack... justed used wood under the tires... then i slammed the car and my buddy loaned me a low pro aluminum jack from harbor freight... works like a charm ... only $80 and its super light.
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