I've owned a '78 vette for many years butt now I'm interested in getting into the mechanical maitenance. What is the best way to jack it up? Where do I put the jack and jackstands? How do I keep it from rolling off the stands? Thanks.

I prefer a small bodied floor jack. Position it under the side rails of the frame close to the point where the side rails meet the cross rails (just in front of the rear wheels, just behind the front wheels). If placing the car on jack stands, I will move the jack more towards the center of the side rail so that I leave enough footprint room for the jackstand. Ideally, you want the jackstands under the siderail where it connects to the cross rail (the jacking point indicated in your owner's manual and on the instruction label in the jack stowage compartment).

Do not jack up a Corvette with a floor jack under the differential. Do not jack a Corvette from under the radiator support.

Here endeth the lesson.

John

(EDIT: add-on) PS - to keep it from rolling off, block the grounded wheels both ahead and behind. Bricks or 4x4's work well for this. 2x4's are better than nothing.

|UPDATED|5/23/2004 7:33:13 AM (AZT)|/UPDATED|

I always jack mine at the trans. crossmember where it meets the side frame always lifting the entire side. Use a good floor jack. I prefer not to lift one corner at a time. Raise one side and put the stands in place, then the other. I put the jackstands just forward of the rear wheels and in the front I found the best place for me (unless working on the susp.) is at the lower control arms with the stand cradling the shock mount and the spring "bump" in the arm. This seems to take at least 50% of the weight off the front springs while putting the jacked up weight of the Vette in a more natural position. I have no problem opening doors or hood with it up like this. Been doing this for 20 years storing my 79, that's at least 40 times jacking it this way with no problems. Like John says, don't jack at the rear diff. and I also don't like jacking at the front crossmember under the motor. Seems to put a lot of stress on the front, and it's hard to reach, anyway. I'd invest in a good floor jack if you don't already have one. Relatively inexpensive nowadays. Mike

JASON REMEMBER TO REMOVE OR UNLOCK YOUR T-TOPS BEFORE YOU JACK THE CAR UP

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StingrayJim
NCM Lifetime Member #1936

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Is that how ttops get cracked if you don't unlock them begore jacking the car up? Thanks for that great advice for sure!

stingrayjim said: JASON REMEMBER TO REMOVE OR UNLOCK YOUR T-TOPS BEFORE YOU JACK THE CAR UP

You're talking about if you have glass tops, right? Regular tops shouldn't matter?

Glass or Fiberglass. Loosen them.

First of all PLEASE do not use cheap light weight jack stands.... (seeing a cheap stand bend is an eye opener that
you must avois at all costs....) Spend some serious money
to protect your body which will be under the car...

That said .... I jack my c3's up in the center...doing the rear first... using a wooden block on top of the jack itself that fits between the exhaust pipes...

I place the jack stands directly under the lower shock mounts ....

I have a couple of car lifts in my garage BUT still needed to jack up and place jack stands under one of the cars last week... (>L)(&^%$)...even had to go borrow a couple of jack stands since I gave mine to my boys years ago...

Bob Griffiths

Before I jack mine up I ALWAYS loosen/remove the T-Tops, open the doors a little, and un-latch the hood. I don't like to take any chances.

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Corvette..........Enough Said!!!

I just got my car out of the shop for some steering/front suspension work. Everytime they lift a car up, they open every door, t-top, hood and conv. cover. I was glad for that type of attention to detail.

Rick

I never did think about the t-tops, doors, and hood when jacking the car up. Thanks to all.
Ken

Bob Griffiths said: First of all PLEASE do not use cheap light weight jack stands.... (seeing a cheap stand bend is an eye opener that you must avois at all costs....) Spend some serious money to protect your body which will be under the car...

This is a must.. I had a cheap set of stands collapse under the weight of a 64 galaxie.. my tool box was halfway under the car and saved me... it crushed the box to about half its size, but all I got was a scar on my leg..

i like the craftsman professional stands.. if youre a memeber of their tool club you can usually find them on sale with a good jack..

a sale just ended friday for a 3.5 ton jack, two stands, and a free rolling stool for 100$, damn good deal..

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