I know this has been discussed numerous times on this forum, but it seems there are different ways people go about jacking up their car.

First, If I were to Jack up the Car (FRONT) with a floor jack using the center jack point between the front wheels (you know that raised circlular piece of steel mid-way between both front wheels), How in the hell do I move the Jack handle up and down. Even when I drive up on a 2x8, the car is still soo low, I can't get the jack handle to really have the full range of motion.

And, I can't jack up each side of the car with a floor jack, cause it has a circular head, and the side of the car has the notched steel around the edge.

secondly, I have these 2 ton jack stands, and I could put these at the side jack mounting points (where the stock jack that comes with the car goes), but the jack stand head is shaped like a "U" and I think its gonna leave indentations on the underbody of the frame.


I guess I'm looking for recommendations on how you guys do it.

And, I don't want to go out and buy some $130.00 low profile jack. I wanna stick with the $30-$50 floor jack...

 

purchase a couple of the trolley blocks on the attached link and you can use a standard jack or jackstand at the designated jackpoints for the car. I bought 4 and they work like a charm.

http://www.jcwhitney.com/webapp/wcs/...&storeId=10101

 

speaking of jack stands and lifting up the Z for support what is the best method of getting the car up for support..does that mean having ramps then lift the car and add the support stands afterwards..and is there a center jack location for the lift? I was wondering if someone has a good thread handy on this is its been discussed im curious because the car sits pretty low and whats the best and safest route to take when using jack stands.

 

I sure as hell am NOT going to spend the extra money on ramps when I have a floor jack. You can lift the entire front or rear of the car with the floor jack at the factory mounting points.

There is a good thread in the modification section of this website (thread started yesterday). The title of the thread is "underbody pic of car" or something like that. I highlighted with circles where the mounting points are.

 

CluelessZ: I tried getting by without the ramps. bought a lightweight low clearance jack from Harbor Bay tools, bought the trolley blocks from JC Whitney.....still was difficult to raise car.

So I made two ramps using two 2 x 10 boards stacked on top of each other--screwed them together and then cut one end of each on an angle. I now drive the front wheels on the ramp (4" high) and can easily use the low-clearance floor jack and 4 jack stands. For changing oil I don't even need the jack.

At autocross events, I notice that most people have the low-clearance floor jack and homemade wooden ramps.

 

jackwhale,

I hear what your saying. I did some experimenting last night (changing oil tonight) and although I could get the floor jack under the car, it was worthless, since I couldn't get the full range of the "pumping" action from the arm of the jack.

So I put some 2x8's under the wheels. That seemed to help. I think tomorrow I'm going to home depot and will get a 2x10, and stack 2 on top of each other (and screw together). That should work great.


my Jack is one of those 2 1/2 ton aluminum racing jacks...Only 4 inches min height, but doesn't mean shi$ if you can't swing the jack handle.