"ImmoralMinority" (araimondo)
07/23/2017 at 16:04 • Filed to: None
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"ImmoralMinority" (araimondo)
07/23/2017 at 16:04 • Filed to: None | 1
| 20 |
This child will soon be a licensed driver.
I have been looking on the Internet at these, and I cannot tell what is any good. Steel v. aluminum? Brand quality? It needs to lift both Sunchaser and T Bird.
How much of a difference is there?
1970 T Bird for your time. Dat nose. My son’s girlfriend says it looks like it was designed to kill pedestrians
Urambo Tauro
> ImmoralMinority
07/23/2017 at 16:29 |
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I like low-profile floor jacks. Even if the car isn’t lowered, a flat tire can mess with your ability to reach a preferred jacking point. Also: look for one with a “rapid pump” feature (twin cylinder). I didn’t, and now I wish I had...
A 2-ton jack should be plenty powerful enough, seeing as you’ll never be lifting an entire car at once with it anyway. But if you expect to be working on any big RVs or buses, you might want to get something more heavy-duty.
I’ve never tried out an aluminum one, but I can see how it would be nice for carrying around. But if it’s only ever going to be used in your driveway, I wouldn’t bother.
If you find one that you like, but it doesn’t have any padding on the lower part of the handle, get some pipe insulation or something to wrap around it to protect bumpers/fascias.
Flynorcal: pilot, offshore sailor, car racer and panty thief
> ImmoralMinority
07/23/2017 at 16:31 |
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Aluminum if you need to pick the jack up more frequently than the car, low profile if you’re in need (and you are) and the rest is weight rating. 2 ton jack lifts two tons. If you have a three ton car you’re in luck as it’s less than two tons on either half and you’re only lifting half at a time at most.
lone_liberal
> ImmoralMinority
07/23/2017 at 16:38 |
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Mine are all older Craftsman stuff rated at 3 tons and work fine but I wouldn’t mind having a jack like the Harbor Freight Daytona model.
My X-type is too a real Jaguar
> ImmoralMinority
07/23/2017 at 16:42 |
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Overbuy by weight if the T-bird weighs 2 tons buy a 3 ton etc. I prefer steel, anything that holds up the T-bird will hold up the Chaser.
crowmolly
> ImmoralMinority
07/23/2017 at 16:45 |
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Harbor Freight stuff should be fine. The low profile jack is pretty good, I use one from time to time. Go for a full size floor jack, not a trolley jack.
unclevanos (Ovaltine Jenkins)
> ImmoralMinority
07/23/2017 at 16:47 |
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I remember that steel is 2.5 times denser than aluminum and the plastic range of aluminum is less than steel. If you can get a low profile jack made of steel. I don’t trust the cheap aluminum jacks knowing the casting quality and being prone to cracking. Steel has the ability for more deformation and the young modulus is higher if its a mild steel (1040 steel I think).
XJDano
> ImmoralMinority
07/23/2017 at 16:47 |
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I bought a 3.5 ton jack after I bought my jeep in ‘01. It was a combo with 2 stands from Costco or sams. Still have it and still works.
What I would strongly suggest is a pair of ramps. I have a pair of the plastic ones and they are what I use for getting under the equinox or van more so than using the jack. But also since I don’t have a low profile fancy jack, I’ll jack the cars up off the ramps.
I’m sure jacking technology has improved from the $90 combo I bought years ago, but it’s what I got. MFR is heavy though, like 70+ lbs.
That’s my jeep. ...... and I forgot to just look up my Flickr photos for one of the stands and jack here that is.
I later bought more stands that were smaller for things like, holding up an axle instead of the whole jeep as pictured
shop-teacher
> ImmoralMinority
07/23/2017 at 16:50 |
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This is the one on my shopping list, a steel NAPA 3-1/2 ton low profile jack.
https://www.napaonline.com/en/p/NLE7916440
PS9
> ImmoralMinority
07/23/2017 at 17:00 |
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Why would sonic need to drive a car? Isn’t he the fastest thing alive?
TheHondaBro
> ImmoralMinority
07/23/2017 at 17:05 |
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How heavy is your heaviest car? The jack should be able to lift twice that.
The Snowman
> ImmoralMinority
07/23/2017 at 17:14 |
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Harbor freight steel Jack and jackstands. Unless you need to carry it around I see no point in AL jacks.
Sovande
> ImmoralMinority
07/23/2017 at 17:14 |
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The Pittsburgh 3 ton low profile from HF is a fine jack for home. It weighs a shitload but since it’s not going anywhere, it doesn’t matter. Rhino ramps are super nice to have too. If I am doing engine work I will put the car up on ramps so I don’t have to bend over as far.
MM54
> ImmoralMinority
07/23/2017 at 17:14 |
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I have a ‘regular’ 3-ton steel floor jack from harbor freight that I’ve had for years and recently picked up the low-profile 3-ton steel floor jack from the same place because I needed something that fit under the rx-7. Both weigh ~75lb so it’s not crazy, but you’ll notice it if you need to put it in the trunk or something. Aluminum is good if you’re going to haul it around, otherwise I’d save the money and get the steel (also theoretically lasts longer).
I haven’t had any issues with my jacks from the plastic hell, have used the 3-ton on many cars including my Chevelle and Crown Vic, which likely outweighs the tbird. The only downside was that it didn’t fit under the front of the rx-7, so now I have the low-profile one for that. If you were to get one, I’d imagine the low-profile would be a safe bet since I can’t imagine the sunchaser has a lot of ground clearance.
As for jackstands (a must!) I have, again, two pair of 3-ton steel ones from harbor freight (the jack and stands are among the very few things I would recommend from there - don’t get the wrong idea though, most of their stuff is junk), one pair which I’ve had for a long time and a second pair I’ve had for a year or so - it’s good to have 2 pair so you can get the front and back of the car in the air at the same time.
(As for why I got a 3-ton jack to pick up a 2300lb car - there are many times when having two jacks is very handy, so having it in the same capacity as my other jack means I can use it on all my cars)
cbell04
> ImmoralMinority
07/23/2017 at 17:15 |
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I got this combo kit (minus the creeper and now im jealous) as a gift and I know some are hating on craftsman but mine is now 8 years old and still works perfectly. Use it a ton too! all that for $109 to the door who can complain. http://www.sears.com/craftsman-3-ton-floor-jack-stands-and/p-00950188000P
My bird IS the word
> ImmoralMinority
07/23/2017 at 17:28 |
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I have a harbor freight low profile jack. Love it actually.
The aluminum is nice if you are taking it with you places. Wholly unnecessary otherwise
Kiltedpadre
> ImmoralMinority
07/23/2017 at 17:30 |
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This is the jack I use most often. I needed something low enough to fit under my wife’s Impreza that could lift high enough to work with my truck. If you’re just using it at home no need to spend the extra cash on an aluminum jack. No matter what you buy if it doesn’t come with a foam wrap for the handle get a pool noodle, split it lengthwise and wrap the handle. It will protect the paint and bodywork if the jack handle slips out of your grip mid pump.
I’d also consider a set of ramps for when you just need to get under for things where you don’t need wheelwell or tire access. They are very quick to work with compared to a jack and stands.
As far as stands just a nice set of steel ones will work fine. Unless you plan to start working on an SUV or truck you don’t really need anything special.
Finally, consider a set of wheel chocks. A cinder block is better than nothing, but I have had them slip on me. A set of rubber wheel chocks is a cheap bit of insurance.
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Kiltedpadre
> Kiltedpadre
07/23/2017 at 17:42 |
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I’ll make one addition on stands. Get four, you won’t typically need all four, but when you do it’s nice to have them all be the same brand and model. That way they have detents at the same height so the car can be level when you’re working. You may find yourself needing to replace a fuel line or wiring on the T-bird that runs the full length of the car. If that happens having four stands will be a great thing.
Birddog
> cbell04
07/23/2017 at 19:08 |
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I bought that same set in 1992. It’s still in use.
Well, minus the creeper. That died early on.
WRXforScience
> ImmoralMinority
07/23/2017 at 19:45 |
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Get just about any 2.5-3 ton low profile Aluminum Jack and just about any steel jack stands. A steel jack will weight too much to ever want to lift and you’ll never want to do more than roll it on the floor. You might ask, why would anyone want to lift a jack; well, you might want to work on the car at a friends (or work on a friends car), you might get into autox or trackdays and need to swap tires at an event, you might want to put it on a shelf or store it, or you might need to take it to an immobile vehicle.
There is no real advantage to a steel jack and at 75lbs+ there are at least 30 disadvantages. An aluminum jack will weigh half as much as a steel jack and will be plenty strong enough.
https://www.harborfreight.com/25-Ton-Aluminum-Racing-Floor-Jack-with-Rapid-Pump-62309.html
6691 zapS
> ImmoralMinority
07/24/2017 at 00:21 |
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I would spend a little more.
How much is your Health worth, your kids?
I like how it was suggested to get double the weight of the car. Even if no one gets hurt if something fails how would you pick the car up again? Not to mention the damage to the vehicle.