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Topic: putting car on lift

in Forum: C3 Electrical


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putting car on lift (1/13)
 7/25/12 12:02pm
sparkypsr1
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Lakeland, FL - USA

Vette(s):
1981 T-top Coupe Silver L81-350ci-190hp


Joined: 7/24/2012
Posts: 23

is there a reasion for opening the doors and the t-tops before raising the car? i am new at this, need help!!!!

|UPDATED|7/25/2012 9:02:17 AM (AZT)|/UPDATED|


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Re: putting car on lift (2/13)
 7/25/12 12:54pm
Adams' AppleLifetime Member
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Duncanville, TX - USA

Vette(s):
#1-1974 L-48 4spd Cp Med Red Metallic/Black deluxe int w/AC/tilt/tele./p/w-p/b/ Am-Fm/map light National/Regional/Chapter NCRS "Top Flight" #2-1985 Bright Red/Carmine Cp.L-98/auto Member: NCRS, NCRS Texas, Corvette Legends of Texas


Joined: 11/8/2003
Posts: 20126

The general idea was to keep from damaging the t-tops....especially the glass tops. Personally, I have never opened the doors, or taken the tops off of one while on a four point lift, and have never seen any damage to the doors, or the tops.
Now...if you have a car with a marginal frame, bad body mounts, or an incorrectly mounted body, you might have a problem. GM published lift points for the cars...if you lift them where they are supposed to be lifted, there should not be any problems. Others have other opinions...this one is mine.Big smile

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Re: putting car on lift (3/13)
 7/25/12 4:33pm
Jaws79Lifetime Member
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Sykesville, MD - USA

Vette(s):
1979 Corvette Coupe Corvette Light Blue Midnight Blue interior Mirrored Glass T-tops


Joined: 4/27/2008
Posts: 4238

I have owned mine since Feb. '08 and have NEVER had the doors open or the T-tops off while on a lift (and believe me, it's been on the lift A LOT!!!!!!!!!) and as yet no cracks in the glass T-Tops and the doors open and close just fine! I had heard that, too, but it seems to me the body would be more rigid with all parts in place.
 
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Re: putting car on lift (4/13)
 7/25/12 8:48pm
DaveMLifetime Member
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Flanders, NJ - USA

Vette(s):
1982 Black, ZZ4, Hooker Side Pipes, 3.55 Rear, Rebuilt & upgraded 700R4, All new suspension, brakes, & new Charcoal interior.


Joined: 1/27/2004
Posts: 2552

The body & frame sees more stess on the road than it would see on a lift, I would not worry about it.
Dave


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Re: putting car on lift (5/13)
 7/25/12 9:02pm
scf100
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Athens, GA - USA

Vette(s):
1974 Corvette 454 convertible......auto loaded


Joined: 5/14/2012
Posts: 2

on any convertible car......my shop always unlatches the top as a convertible body will flex......t-top car still have a sturdy cage holding car together...

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Re: putting car on lift (6/13)
 7/27/12 5:14pm
OH6ALifetime Member
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Cadiz, KY - USA

Vette(s):
74 Convertible


Joined: 8/26/2002
Posts: 249

I once had a two post lift and, yes, the body will flex.  I never had a problem until I left a car on the lift for the winter.  The gaps at the rear of the doors widened a bit but went back to the proper place after a few months.  Therefore, I would not worry about the flex and don't leave it up and on the rack for an extended period.

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Re: putting car on lift (7/13)
 7/27/12 11:52pm
rod7515Lifetime Member
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Red Lion, PA - USA

Vette(s):
1974 White 350 Corvette, TH400 Automatic 1972 Tangerine /Go Mango Convertible 383 Stroker, 2004r Automatic


Joined: 10/27/2006
Posts: 1182

I use a 2 post lift for both my 74 t top and the 72 convertible. I cant say I see any movement with the doors either open or closed. I didnt have the lift while we were doing the body work. We put the car up on stands under each wheel so it simulated it sitting. I do remember when he used the Jack stands a few times he always opened the doors first. Since that time I have had it in the air on my lift with the doors opened and closed. But never more then a couple hours at a time. So far I dont notice any difference in the door gaps that he put in when aligning them. Of course you never know what the next time will bring!
Rodney


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Re: putting car on lift (8/13)
 7/28/12 6:00pm
fp_vetter72Lifetime Member
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COPPERAS COVE, TX - USA

Vette(s):
1972 corvette stingray convertible 2007 coupe


Joined: 7/6/2002
Posts: 417

Never open my doors on a lift, if you think about it the doors are part of the support for the side of the car. If you have the doors open it should be less body support. Converts have more support than the coups thats why they weigh more to stop body flex.Thumbs Up

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Re: putting car on lift (9/13)
 10/14/22 12:00pm
mikey8
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Vette(s):
1973 red Convertible/ white top with dark red interior 454 with 4 speed


Joined: 12/1/2021
Posts: 5

Where are the GM designated lift positions?



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Re: putting car on lift (10/13)
 10/14/22 1:49pm
Adams' AppleLifetime Member
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Duncanville, TX - USA

Vette(s):
#1-1974 L-48 4spd Cp Med Red Metallic/Black deluxe int w/AC/tilt/tele./p/w-p/b/ Am-Fm/map light National/Regional/Chapter NCRS "Top Flight" #2-1985 Bright Red/Carmine Cp.L-98/auto Member: NCRS, NCRS Texas, Corvette Legends of Texas


Joined: 11/8/2003
Posts: 20126

 



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Joel Adams
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Re: putting car on lift (11/13)
 10/14/22 2:20pm
mikey8
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Vette(s):
1973 red Convertible/ white top with dark red interior 454 with 4 speed


Joined: 12/1/2021
Posts: 5

Wow, thank you  if I lift in the front, should I support midway or rear?



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Re: putting car on lift (12/13)
 10/14/22 10:43pm
Adams' AppleLifetime Member
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Duncanville, TX - USA

Vette(s):
#1-1974 L-48 4spd Cp Med Red Metallic/Black deluxe int w/AC/tilt/tele./p/w-p/b/ Am-Fm/map light National/Regional/Chapter NCRS "Top Flight" #2-1985 Bright Red/Carmine Cp.L-98/auto Member: NCRS, NCRS Texas, Corvette Legends of Texas


Joined: 11/8/2003
Posts: 20126

How you jack it up and support it depends on what you are going to be doing. If you are only working on the front end(suspension, tires/wheels, etc), put jack stands under the frame just behind the front wheels, where the diagram shows. If working on just the rear, jack from the SIDES at the rear positions on the diagram, and put jack stands in the same area. If raising the entire vehicle, what I do is put the jack almost center of the side(on the frame), about where the trans crossmember is, and jack the entire side up, and put jack stands where it shows on the diagram. Then, jack the other side up the same way, and insert the jack stands. You can jack one side of the car up completely with a jack(a good jack, that is) from the sides....done it hundreds of times with no issues at all.



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Joel Adams
C3VR Lifetime Member #56    

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             NCRS

"Money can't buy happiness -- but somehow it's more comforting to cry in a CORVETTE than in a Kia"

Re: putting car on lift (13/13)
 10/15/22 11:10am
mikey8
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Vette(s):
1973 red Convertible/ white top with dark red interior 454 with 4 speed


Joined: 12/1/2021
Posts: 5

All of this is really helpful for me!  Thank you guys!  I really appreciate it.

 

mike



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