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Topic: Jacking up front end or rear end only

in Forum: C3 General Discussion


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Jacking up front end or rear end only (1/7)
 2/22/23 8:48pm
Kenny78Gold Member
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Toms River, NJ - USA

Vette(s):
1978 Silver Anniversary Coupe Lt. Biege w/ Dark Brown Int. Happily owned since 1981.


Joined: 7/28/2004
Posts: 115

Hi all,

Still haven't decided on a lift for the garage yet so I wanted to throw out a question. Is it possible to lift the front end in "one shot" instead of jacking up the left side and then the right side? Same question for the rear also.

Thanks,

Kenny78

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Re: Jacking up front end or rear end only (2/7)
 2/22/23 8:59pm
manchestersharkLifetime Member
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Equinunk, PA - USA

Vette(s):
1972 conv, 4-speed, 350, 200hp, numbers match, rally wheels, war bonnett yellow w/white top. good condition, nice driver.


Joined: 10/31/2007
Posts: 2387

Providing you can get a jack under the front, Yes, I've done it many times. You may need a long nose low jack, or drive up on some 2x6s to raise it high enough to get under. As for the rear, where will you put the jack? Not much area with exhaust on the vehicle. The sides are much easier. 



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Re: Jacking up front end or rear end only (3/7)
 2/22/23 9:11pm
NorskyLifetime Member
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Burke, VT - USA

Vette(s):
SOLD - "The Toy" - '70 Convertible
SOLD - "The Beast" - '90 ZR-1 (#682)
SOLD - "Betty" - '28 Ford Model A Tudor
Still have - "BLKBRRD" - '78 Pontiac Trans Am


Joined: 1/23/2002
Posts: 7190

For what it is worth, I've not created problems lifting any of the cars I've owned by placing a floor jack under the center of the front suspension cross member and then placing jack stands under the control arms so the car is resting on the suspension.  Then I go to the rear and lift from the differential again placing jack stands under suspension points.

Jacking one side at a time takes some trial and error to find the "sweet spot" where the car is balanced front to rear.  I never feel comfortable when lifting the other side up.

IMHO, jacking up one corner at a time puts extra twist on the frame, and body, that I would rather not do. 

If the car is going to be off the ground for any length of time I always set the jack stands under suspension points rather than under the frame which leaves the suspension hanging.



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Jim Olson 

"The Toys"...!!!  Save the Wave!

Where I've been in a Corvette...!!!

Re: Jacking up front end or rear end only (4/7)
 2/23/23 3:18pm
F4GaryGold Member
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Grapevine, TX - USA

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1972 LT-1 convertible with factory air.


Joined: 8/26/2006
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I also open the doors and hood when jacking from the side.



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Re: Jacking up front end or rear end only (5/7)
 2/23/23 3:36pm
manchestersharkLifetime Member
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Equinunk, PA - USA

Vette(s):
1972 conv, 4-speed, 350, 200hp, numbers match, rally wheels, war bonnett yellow w/white top. good condition, nice driver.


Joined: 10/31/2007
Posts: 2387

F.Y.I. Convertibles should ALWAYS have the door closed. The pin in the door pillar is support for the body spreading. 



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Re: Jacking up front end or rear end only (6/7)
 2/23/23 7:01pm
F4GaryGold Member
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Grapevine, TX - USA

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1972 LT-1 convertible with factory air.


Joined: 8/26/2006
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I've broken 2 of those tapered pin receptors by having the doors closed.



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Re: Jacking up front end or rear end only (7/7)
 2/24/23 1:57am
NorskyLifetime Member
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Burke, VT - USA

Vette(s):
SOLD - "The Toy" - '70 Convertible
SOLD - "The Beast" - '90 ZR-1 (#682)
SOLD - "Betty" - '28 Ford Model A Tudor
Still have - "BLKBRRD" - '78 Pontiac Trans Am


Joined: 1/23/2002
Posts: 7190

manchestershark said:

Providing you can get a jack under the front, Yes, I've done it many times. You may need a long nose low jack, or drive up on some 2x6s to raise it high enough to get under. As for the rear, where will you put the jack? Not much area with exhaust on the vehicle. The sides are much easier. 


Forgot to add that I did drive both "The Toy" and "The Beast" up on 2x6s to gain the room needed to get my floor jack under the car as manchestershark mentioned.  Putting a chunk of 4x4 on the jack let me slip in between the exhaust pipes to reach the differential on both cars.



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Jim Olson 

"The Toys"...!!!  Save the Wave!

Where I've been in a Corvette...!!!

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