How To: Proper use of the floor jack and jack stands on the front/rear of a DeLorean

[pezzonovante88]

Which front springs are you running?

You might want to look for a different jack.

There are portable floor jacks rated at 3000lb with a 3.5in.-15in. lifting range. That ought to work no matter what suspension you are running.

Yeah, I need a low profile one.

[DMCMW Dave]

Yeah, I need a low profile one.

Or you can make a simple ramp of 2x8 boards that you drive the car on to make room for the jack.

[Shep]

Or you can make a simple ramp of 2x8 boards that you drive the car on to make room for the jack.

Which looks roughly like this, in case anyone's wondering:


[from DCO's site]

[pezzonovante88]

Which looks roughly like this, in case anyone's wondering:


[from DCO's site]

Very true. I have ramps too, so I could use those.

[DMCMW Dave]

To get a floor jack under the front of a lowered car, one or two boards like that would be plenty.

[Shep]

To get a floor jack under the front of a lowered car, one or two boards like that would be plenty.

Alternatively, you can use a ramp of that design and only drive it up one or two levels. That still gives you the option of using those same ramps if you want to forgo the jack entirely, while still being able to provide a low enough raise to allow jack clearance and usable jack height.

One thing to keep in mind: if you need the ramps to get the jack to fit, do NOT remove the ramps during service! What goes in must come out, and if the jack didn't fit going under, it's not going to fit coming out. Use the ramps both ways if you need them at all.

[Tillsy]

I always find that I am searching around the garage for a scrap piece of wood, and frequently think that I should make some sort of wooden cap for the stand, maybe sloped in some way that there is even contact with the top of the jack, rather than just one point (when I am only jacking up one end) which tends to split the wood imo.

Anyone done that? Anyone got any custom jack stand toppers?

I do - a mate of mine made these for me last year due to both of us being concerned I was using wood (which was splitting). They slide on top of the jack stand and have a layer of rubber on top - I love them so much I've been meaning to ask him to do me one for my jack as well (I still use a piece of wood for that).

[Dangermouse]

That's what I'm talking about!

Nice and wide to spread the load. Pity your mate wasn't stateside. But something like that should be fairly easy to make up. Thanks for the info.

[StainlessSteelDream]

Pity your mate wasn't stateside. But something like that should be fairly easy to make up. Thanks for the info.

They aren't cheap, but the Lotus boys are Sector111 have the same problem with flatness .. so they have "flat jacks"
http://www.sector111.com/newest_stuf...jacks-pair.cfm

flatJACKSmed.jpg

[dvonk]

mmm, very nice!