My lift is coming from the same company Lou got his from, and is due on Monday. Even though they said they would send me an e-mail, I did not find this out until I called them Friday. Because I had no time to communicate with an auto towing company, I am a little bit panicked over having the needed equipment to get it unloaded, and here when needed. AT least the shipping company, whom I called, said they would call that morning. So, any advice you can offer would be greatly appreciated.

Equipment needed to unload?
Best place to store until assembly can proceed? I can vacate an entire bay of the garage. The Miata can sit outside for awhile.
Is it best to have the pile of parts in the same bay it is going to be built in, or next to it?

Thanks Sam

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I sent you an email response. We may want to have a phone call. The shipping co can always keep it at the depot for another 1-4 days. That's what happened with me. I bought a set of 4 car wheel dollies to aid in moving it (crated or assembled). I built mine within a foot of where I wanted it anyway, and will probably move it around over time to try different locations.

Lou

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Home of Slant6-powered fun machines since 1988

How did it turn out, Sam? The fact that the delivery company would not unload it on delivery is the reason I picked up my Direct Lift from the distributor. Renting a long trailer was cheap and easy, they loaded it with a forklift, and when i got home I moved the heavy rails on dollies- rolled them right into position.

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Never seen a Valiant I didn't like!

Thanks for asking. It is sitting in its bundled condition in my driveway now. I scheduled a rollback to meet the truck, which was an hour late, and he pulled it onto the rollback with his wench, and then unloaded it on the drive in front of my garage. It will be Friday before I can get to looking it over.

Sam

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I have not found the instructions for the lift yet. It is all in the garage, and spread out on the floor, and I have opened all the boxes. Also, I went on line and could not find instructions on line. Does anybody know if there are instructions somewhere on line? This kit is sold under the name Autolift from the same supplier as Lou's. Lou, did yours come with instructions? I guess I will call the dealer on MOnday.

Sam

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I bought a Bendpak brand lift (HD-9 series), not an Autolift. I wanted better quality for this life-important tool, and my favorite pro mechanic James Longhurst recommended Bendpak. Directions for mine were in one of the boxes.

Lou

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Home of Slant6-powered fun machines since 1988

I will look again, but did not see them in there. If you use your lift a bunch then the quality comes more into play. I do not believe there is a safety concern, but maybe a durability one. I know the warrantee is longer on yours. I am certain I will not use mine anywhere near as much as you will. I asked about this when I ordered mine. Mine is rated at 8K pounds, and my car is only around 3K so there is plenty of safety factor there.

Sam

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OK. That seller has been very amenable to making me happy when things have not gone as planned (like refunding the $75 home deliv fee), so I bet they'll send you a new set of directions or have them in electronic format. Give em a call...

Lou

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Home of Slant6-powered fun machines since 1988

Search for them on the internet.

Check other makes too, they may be close enough (maybe even the same).............

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Ed
64 Valiant 225 / 904 / 42:1 manual steering / 9" drum brakes

Yes, I found a set of instructions for a 7k lift that is pretty similar, but the safety stops on mine are a separate bolt-in steel plate which is different. I would guess the cables are the same. But if there is anything I wish to have exactly right it is the safety stops. Also, this lift has the added wheels for movement around the shop floor, which the lift in the instructions does not include. I cannot tell intuitively how they work. I'll get it worked out. Thanks for the support. In the mean time the Miata is getting covered with pollen.

Sam

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The dealer referred me to the "manufacturer"/importer for instructions, which they e-mailed me. The instructions they sent are for a slightly different model, but it seems this can go together only one way. Again the instructions are for a model with the welded on safety dogs, instead of the internal steel plate that hangs from the top plate just like the cables. Mine has a separate steel plate.

Anyway, all the parts are now understandable, and I will have friends over on Thursday evening to begin getting this together. It was exciting just to stand the four posts up in the approximate locations. I've been experiencing a lot of delayed gratification here. Read grown up discipline there.

Choir practice is Monday night, band practice wed night, and Friday is kind of date night for the wife. Last week I had my monthly train meeting, and Sunday afternoon was our first band concert. So there you go. The garage is lucky to see me once a week these days.

Sam

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Definitely need some help. I had 4 guys help me, and with my pre-assembly of the posts, we had the main unit up and running in about 8 hrs.

Lou

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Home of Slant6-powered fun machines since 1988

IN two hours last night we got the main structure assembled and bolted together. Me, my son-in-law and one of my employees did the deed. We never once lifted an entire track but chose instead to simply lift one end at a time. I had a floor jack, and two piano dollies to help. Plus a bucket and a board to support one end or the other while we lifted the opposite end. It was really quite simple. Now I have to run the cables, hook up the hydraulic lines, and assemble the safety release levers and it is good to go. I will do that Sunday afternoon. This is going to be a great addition to the garage. I guess it is the baby boomers with disposable income who have created this market. In years past I knew no one with a home lift of any kind.

Sam

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a piano dolly sounds like a tool I could use.....

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Yeah....Im the one who destroyed this rare, vintage automobile.....

What are you going to use it for??
DD