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|

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.

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.

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

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...

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.

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

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.