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Topic: Placement of jackstands on an 81'

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Placement of jackstands on an 81' (1/14)
1/30/07 3:16pm

tsmith1499
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mount airy, MD - USA

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1981 Charcoal Met., Silver Interior, Gymkhana Suspension, 27K original miles. It's my daily driver.

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Posts: 71

Okay, I am getting ready to change the plugs and wires on my semi newly acquired 81 Vette. As I have never owned one of these before I was wondering what the best method of jacking the front end up and what jackstand placement would be for access underneath the car? Do these cars flex badly when the weight of the motor is hanging off the front? I just don't want to cause any damage if possible. Thanks, Tom

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1981 Corvette, 26K original miles, charcoal gray, gymkhana suspension, AM/FM/8 track.

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Placement of jackstands on an 81' (2/14)
1/30/07 4:05pm

eddie20875

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Lanoka Harbor, NJ - USA

Vette(s):
1975 metallic blue coupe with t-tops,L48, t/t steering, black leather interior. 1990 L98, white/red leather interior, auto,a/c

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the best way to jack it up is like any other car--- with a jack Rolling%20On%20The%20Floor%20Laughing

. sorry had to get that in. i would imagine putting them under frame would be the best and as you are not going to be leaving them on it for an really extended period i don't think it would affect it. i lift mine with a scissor lift and when raised cant close door (if i open it) once i lower car it closes perfectly. as i don't leave it in the up position i don't see any thing sagging.

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Placement of jackstands on an 81' (3/14)
1/30/07 4:22pm

tuxblacray

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Greensburg, IN - USA

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Previous: 1984 Silver / Charcoal Coupe, 1988 Maroon Coupe / 1989 Artic White Coupe / 2001 Speedway White Roadster / Present:1976 Stingray Black / Black, Auto, 350 slightly modified (355 hp) Luxor Wires Redline Tires. / 1989 Roadster Bright Red...

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I jack mine up at the crossmember and then place the jackstands accordingly in whatever location best suited.

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Placement of jackstands on an 81' (4/14)
1/30/07 4:50pm

mkapp7879
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Joined: 10/21/2003
Posts: 1220

I jack mine from the transmission crossmember where it attaches to the frame. I lift the entire side, place a stand directly in front of the rear wheel at the big flat area and one at the spring mount at the front lower control arm. Been doing it like this for over 20 years with no problems at all. No apparent body flex like this, I can open the doors with no problems. With the jack stands under the control arms they are bearing the front end weight almost as the tires would, in fact the front suspension hangs only about half that it would hang if they were under the frame. Then I do the other side.

I NEVER jack just one corner at a time, I don't like the flex that takes place. I also never jack from the front crossmember under the motor as it dents easily. And I never place the front stands at the "recommended" spot just forward of the doors, too much front end weight just hanging out there. And get a good floor jack if you don't already have one.

All 4 of mine spend about four months like this every winter. Mike

mkapp78792007-01-30 18:13:07

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Placement of jackstands on an 81' (5/14)
1/30/07 4:56pm

deeboy59
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visalia, CA - USA

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1981 red with silver interior,350(L-81), 350TH, glass t-tops, aluminium rims, 1980 Black/ Black int., 350 GM crate engine/350TH, 1976 black/ saddle int., L-82 w/headers, holly carb, Hypertech ignition

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I have an '81 and when I raise it first I roll down the windows, then unlatch the hood and doors and sometimes take the tops off. I was told once by a mechanic that worked on vettes to this to prevent anything (fiberglass I assume) from possibly cracking. The GM manual I think says the jack points are right behind the front wheel and right before the rear wheel on the frame rail and jackstands at same location. Thats the way I put mine up at least. I cant get to the crossmember up front due to the spoiler (to close to the ground). Wish my floor jack would fit under there, it would make lifting the car a whole lot easier.

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Placement of jackstands on an 81' (6/14)
1/30/07 6:03pm

dwright
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Victor, NY - USA

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2004 Commemorative Edition Coupe, Auto w/HUD. 13K miles in 2015. Sold 1982 Red Coupe

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I jack mine the same way as mkapp7879. In fact, it is sitting on 4 jacks right now. Two under the front a-arms and two under the frame in front of the rear wheels.

I can open and close the doors with no problems.

Not sure if the front jacks will be in the way for changing the plugs or not.

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Placement of jackstands on an 81' (7/14)
1/30/07 8:41pm

Adams' Apple

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Duncanville, TX - USA

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#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

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Wow...I thought I was the only one that jacked the car up one side at a time. I also put the jack under the center of the frame, and jack the one side of the car up. I did this at an NCRS meet one time, to change from my alloy rims to the rallys, and everyone just kinda stared at me...

Mike's pic shows exactly how it should be done. I had the '74 up for almost a year while I was restoring the chassis, and I moved the front stands to the frame, just under the front edge of the door. It stayed like that for about 6 months, with no adverse effects.
A lot depends on how sound the frame is to begin with.

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Placement of jackstands on an 81' (8/14)
1/30/07 8:50pm

tuxblacray

I guess I should have clarified which crossmember in my 1st post. Mike hit the nail on the head with a much better description and pics to boot. I can't get to the front crossmember due to the spoiler. Likewise my roller jack just barely squeaks by on the sides due to the side skirts. But thats okay cause a squeak is all I need to get me to the tranny crossmember. Thanks Mike for your great post!

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Placement of jackstands on an 81' (9/14)
1/31/07 1:39am

gurtz
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baton rouge, LA - USA

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1981 dark metallic blue, dark doeskin leather interior, mirrored glass T Tops, 330hp/350ci GMPP crate engine, billeted aluminum serpentine system, Dewitts with dual spalls

Joined: 8/12/2006
Posts: 391

Tom

I am kinda with everybody. I have had my 81 up sooooooo much since I bought it, I have done it most ways, but I find it easiest to jack it up from the middle of the frame - one side at a time. The manual says to put the stands where deeboy says, slightly in front of the door and rear wheel, but that looks ackward.

I have put stands in many locations depending on need. But I have heard from other Vette folks to pop your tops and crack your doors if you can to prevent cracking.

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Placement of jackstands on an 81' (10/14)
1/31/07 2:03pm

Chips58
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, - Australia

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71 Coupe Black on Black

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Because you have a coupe, you shouldn't get too much flexing of the body unless your frame has problems. I jack mine from the front and rear but because you have a loooong nose, it's probably not as easy. Try the side jacking as the guys have described. Your stand points should be at the four corners of the main frame, that is the right behind each front wheel and right in front of each back wheel. With them in this position you should be able to work on any part of the car. You will hear some creaking and groaning as you lower the jack and the car settles but you should still be able to open the doors and put the tops on and off etc. If you can't on a coupe you may have problems which will appear when you least expect.

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Placement of jackstands on an 81' (11/14)
1/31/07 3:24pm

71Shark
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Edmond, OK - USA

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1971 Brands Hatch Green L48 Coupe Automatic Driver - restored 1995

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I've done as the others at the center crossmember for 13 years. Doors always open OK . I have had some occurrences when the hood would not unlatch in the raised position. I usually try to remember to pop the latch before I raise the car. I was told at one time not to raise a C3 vert this way.

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Placement of jackstands on an 81' (12/14)
1/31/07 4:13pm

I really appreciate all the help. I have worked on many cars in my life including these, but always with a lift in a repair shop not in my little garage. I just wanted to try and keep the possible damage to a minimum. With all the suggestions I have recieved that should be accomplishd Thanks again, Tom

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Placement of jackstands on an 81' (13/14)
2/2/07 11:15am

zgator
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Savannah, GA - USA

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1982CE,32,000 and counting. (fast!!) 1981 Vette, black on black. ZZ4 (quick!!)

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[QUOTE=Tuxblacray]I jack mine up at the crossmember and then place the jackstands accordingly in whatever location best suited. [/QUOTE] Thats where I put it also.I allways take the T tops off first just in case.

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Placement of jackstands on an 81' (14/14)
3/20/08 8:22pm

2tonevette1981
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Hillsboro, TX - USA

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1981 beige/bronze

Joined: 3/2/2008
Posts: 148

I am a new owner of 81 vette and have been jacking it up one corner at a time. I did not know about the flex etc and happened to notice today a small crack on both sides of the car just in front of the spoiler. couldnt imagine what caused it...now i know. I changed rear brakes this weekend and the cracks were not there....darn...back to the body shop. thanks for asking this question and mostly thanks for all the good info...2tonevette19812008-03-27 22:26:14

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