<VV> Elevating your Corvair

[BBRT]

FOR LM's:  I use a 2" x 3" about 6-8" long on the jack pad, placing the jack 
just far enough forward of the triangular  pinch welds in front of the rear 
wheels, to clear a jack stand. Jack stand pad goes up between pinch welds. 
The floor jack w/ 2 x 3 fits against the rocker pinch weld outboard, in the 
depression of the lower side of the rocker panel. One side comes up at a 
time. You do have to be careful to have the 2 x 3 on the inner part of the 
floor jack pad  because as it comes up high, the angle of the car will want 
to push it outward. I use a piece of 15" x 2' steel tread plate with smooth 
side up on dirt, to place the floor jack on. I use this on fresh asphalt, 
hot asphalt, dirt, grass, etc.

For jack stands at the track, where almost always we are on dirt or grass, 
and if on asphalt must use something under the jack stand, I use 2' lengths 
of 6 x 6 for "jack stands".. As Frank mentioned, they distribute the forces 
well, and don't sink into the ground.  I seldom use the jack stands at the 
track. I always put a removed tire/wheel under the rocker and/or engine.

Chuck S

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Chris Mann" <cfmann at yahoo.com>

> Although someday I would like to get a professional hoist; right now, I 
> thought I would ask all of you how to elevate or jack up your cars with 
> you run-of-the mill floor jacks, and feel safe about it.
>
> I seem to scratch my head a bit when I jack up the car at the proper 
> points and then attempt to switch to a tripod jack so that I may move on 
> to the next corner. The clearance between the floor jack at tripod jack is 
> always so tight, especially when working in the rear of the car at aiming 
> for that "right spot".
> The front is easier to deal with because you can jack on the crossmember 
> and land to jacks on either side. Then again, maybe I shouldn't jack 
> there?
>
> And to add to all of this, what about the road racers, and more mobile 
> (emergency) jacking situations, how to you handle 'on-the-spot' or 'in-the 
> field' jacking?
>