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Merganser1
 Post subject: Giving A-bodies a lift
PostPosted: Fri Aug 10, 2001 10:42 am 
Had a bad experience with car ramps last Sat, and they totaled my front valance (64 Valiant). Couldn't believe it: They squeezed out from under the tires like a couple bars of soap. So. . .

When jacking/lifting the front end of an A-body to a serviceable height, what is the best method?

The factory service manual says no to using a floor jack under the K-frame member (and I understand why). The factory bumper jack maybe good for an emergency tire change, but it doesn't seem safe having to jack the car an extra 8-10" higher to get blocks under the control arms, or the reinforced frame sections.

I suppose I could use the bumper jack to get it high enough for a spanner beam and floor jack combo, but what homegrown method(s) do you all employ in your garage?

-ToddC
"Anyone got a decent valance on the cheap?"

cole020@yahoo.com
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Brian
PostPosted: Fri Aug 10, 2001 2:33 pm 
I use the Floor Jack ($50) bucks to lift under the front end (k frame) as high as I can with Hydrolic jack then put jack stands under the frame behind each tire near the door post then let the jack down and pull it out to check to make sure its solid on the stands with a good shake...The jack stands are 4 ton rated each from local kragens.
Its always worked for me...never a problem..
Quote:
:
: Had a bad experience with car ramps last Sat,
: and they totaled my front valance (64
: Valiant). Couldn't believe it: They squeezed
: out from under the tires like a couple bars
: of soap. So. . .
:
: When jacking/lifting the front end of an A-body
: to a serviceable height, what is the best
: method?
:
: The factory service manual says no to using a
: floor jack under the K-frame member (and I
: understand why). The factory bumper jack
: maybe good for an emergency tire change, but
: it doesn't seem safe having to jack the car
: an extra 8-10" higher to get blocks
: under the control arms, or the reinforced
: frame sections.
:
: I suppose I could use the bumper jack to get it
: high enough for a spanner beam and floor
: jack combo, but what homegrown method(s) do
: you all employ in your garage?
:
: -ToddC
: "Anyone got a decent valance on the
: cheap?"



bduffy@onemain.com
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Doc
PostPosted: Fri Aug 10, 2001 5:18 pm 
Quote:
: Had a bad experience with car ramps last Sat,
: and they totaled my front valance (64
: Valiant). Couldn't believe it: They squeezed
: out from under the tires like a couple bars
: of soap...


Here is the "tip" for using ramps, always set them on some old rubber floor matts or simular material, this will prevent the "slip-out".

I use a floor jack under the "K" frame, just be sure you get it well centered so the "tangs" don't ding it or that you don't get the edge of the jack pad overlapping under the oil pan.
DD
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Merganser1
PostPosted: Fri Aug 10, 2001 7:01 pm 
Ya, the slip-out generated one of those "notes to self." Like alway use them in the gravel or on a piece of rough CDX plywood. Maybe I'll cut up an old innertube.

Never happened to me before. Guess I just had to find out the hard way. TOTAL BUMMER.

Re: jacking the K-frame. This is the method I employed going back to my first Valiant. I just read that blurb in the FSM that got me freaked about cracking a weld or something.

Thanks for the tips! Now I just have to find that valance.

Have a good weekend all!

cole020@yahoo.com
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tnsguy
PostPosted: Sat Aug 11, 2001 6:35 am 
My '64 service manual says to use a floor jack under the lower control arm. That way, you have to do one side at a time - jack up one side, insert jack stand, jack up other side, insert jack stand. Its a bit of a pain, but really doesn't take that long........
Quote:
:
: Had a bad experience with car ramps last Sat,
: and they totaled my front valance (64
: Valiant). Couldn't believe it: They squeezed
: out from under the tires like a couple bars
: of soap. So. . .
:
: When jacking/lifting the front end of an A-body
: to a serviceable height, what is the best
: method?
:
: The factory service manual says no to using a
: floor jack under the K-frame member (and I
: understand why). The factory bumper jack
: maybe good for an emergency tire change, but
: it doesn't seem safe having to jack the car
: an extra 8-10" higher to get blocks
: under the control arms, or the reinforced
: frame sections.
:
: I suppose I could use the bumper jack to get it
: high enough for a spanner beam and floor
: jack combo, but what homegrown method(s) do
: you all employ in your garage?
:
: -ToddC
: "Anyone got a decent valance on the
: cheap?"



tomc@abac.com
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maxdart72
PostPosted: Wed Aug 15, 2001 10:23 pm 
Ditto here... under the k-member carefully, and some jacks on the frame rails behind the control arms. Was sturdy enough to take both feet and breaker bar to get the torsion bars out without smooshing me.

max
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