Tech / General Engine Is your car making a strange sound or won't start? Thinking of adding power with a new combination? Need other technical information or engine specific advice? Don't see another board for your problem? Post it here!

jacking and jack stands?

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old 08-28-2009, 09:25 PM
  #1  
Supreme Member

Thread Starter
iTrader: (1)
 
musclecar70sfan's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2009
Location: Central Connecticut
Posts: 1,777
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Car: 91 Trans Am 'vert
Engine: LB9
Transmission: T5
Axle/Gears: 3.45 9 bolt
jacking and jack stands?

Hey guys, I'm kinda new to this stuff. I was wonder where would be the best places to put a hydraulic jack under to jack up my 91 trans am convertible and where to put jack stands to safely keep it up. Any pointers? Thanks!
Old 08-29-2009, 03:23 AM
  #2  
Supreme Member

iTrader: (4)
 
InfernalVortex's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: Macon, GA
Posts: 6,487
Received 21 Likes on 18 Posts
Car: 1992 Camaro RS
Engine: Vortec headed 355, xe262
Transmission: T56
Axle/Gears: 9-bolt 3.70
Re: jacking and jack stands?

There was an excellent thread on this somewhere... try a search, it had a cool diagram.

But basically there are several places that are safe to jack:

1. K-member
2. Subframe "torque boxes", these are the big frame rail looking things on either side of the transmission
3. rear end pumpkin.

And there are several places safe to put stands:

1. A-arms... I like to put them in the spring perches.
2. subframe rails
3. right in front of the rear LCA mounts
4. under the sway bar mounts on the rear axle. I prefer the LCA mounts though.
I say generally I jack up the car by front subframe rails and the pumpkin, and put jackstands under the A-arms and the rear lower control arm mounts. It's better to jack it up by the k-member, it's just a stronger chunk of metal than the subframe rails, but I've seen too many incidents where a car will slide off the pad on the jack and destroy and oil pan. I just dont like doing it. It makes me nervous. Anyway, where you put the stands is going to depend on whether you need the suspension loaded or not.




Those are the front subframe rails on either side of my header collecters there. You can see mine are a little worn out from being used all the time to support the weight of the car.

Last edited by InfernalVortex; 08-29-2009 at 03:34 AM.
Old 08-29-2009, 09:35 AM
  #3  
Supreme Member

Thread Starter
iTrader: (1)
 
musclecar70sfan's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2009
Location: Central Connecticut
Posts: 1,777
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Car: 91 Trans Am 'vert
Engine: LB9
Transmission: T5
Axle/Gears: 3.45 9 bolt
Re: jacking and jack stands?

Thanks! I'll really have to find that diagram since I didn't find anything using the search.
And the K-member is that beefy bar that passes underneath the engine perpendicular to the rest of the car right?
Old 08-29-2009, 01:54 PM
  #4  
Supreme Member

iTrader: (4)
 
InfernalVortex's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: Macon, GA
Posts: 6,487
Received 21 Likes on 18 Posts
Car: 1992 Camaro RS
Engine: Vortec headed 355, xe262
Transmission: T56
Axle/Gears: 9-bolt 3.70
Re: jacking and jack stands?

https://www.thirdgen.org/forums/tech...ng-points.html

There ya go... few posts in.
Old 08-29-2009, 02:25 PM
  #5  
Senior Member
 
RED_DRAGON_85's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: Norfolk VA
Posts: 1,298
Likes: 0
Received 2 Likes on 2 Posts
Car: 85 Camaro IROC
Engine: 5.7 TPI
Transmission: 700-R4
Axle/Gears: open rear, 3.42 gears
Re: jacking and jack stands?

if you have ramps, you can do like i do if you need more space...
back the car up the ramps, then jack the front up at the k-member and put jack stands under it.
now you have lots of room to work with
Old 08-29-2009, 02:58 PM
  #6  
Supreme Member

Thread Starter
iTrader: (1)
 
musclecar70sfan's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2009
Location: Central Connecticut
Posts: 1,777
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Car: 91 Trans Am 'vert
Engine: LB9
Transmission: T5
Axle/Gears: 3.45 9 bolt
Re: jacking and jack stands?

Those diagrams are great... thanks vortex.
And Red Dragon, I have backed the car onto ramps before (to fix a leaky fuel line) and I trust em a lot so I'll do that again and I'll jack the front end up. Too bad I can't put the front end on ramps (we all know why :P).
Hmmm, now that I think of it, I'll jack the front up and just slide the ramps under the wheels when necessary. My friend is gonna give me a $40 coupon for a 3 ton US General jack so it all works out great.
Old 08-29-2009, 03:16 PM
  #7  
Banned
iTrader: (12)
 
Stephen's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 1999
Location: Bertram (outside Austin), TX
Posts: 12,212
Likes: 0
Received 10 Likes on 10 Posts
Car: 87 GTA
Engine: L98
Transmission: 700R4
Axle/Gears: Dana M78 3.27 posi
Re: jacking and jack stands?

Originally Posted by musclecar70sfan
.....Too bad I can't put the front end on ramps (we all know why :P).
Because you have the store bought ramps?

Make your own, stronger & cheaper!

https://www.thirdgen.org/forums/post...282-post8.html

Old 08-29-2009, 03:22 PM
  #8  
Banned
iTrader: (12)
 
Stephen's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 1999
Location: Bertram (outside Austin), TX
Posts: 12,212
Likes: 0
Received 10 Likes on 10 Posts
Car: 87 GTA
Engine: L98
Transmission: 700R4
Axle/Gears: Dana M78 3.27 posi
Re: jacking and jack stands?

Or if you wanna get REALLY CRAZY....

https://www.thirdgen.org/forums/fabr...car-ramps.html
Old 08-29-2009, 10:53 PM
  #9  
Supreme Member

Thread Starter
iTrader: (1)
 
musclecar70sfan's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2009
Location: Central Connecticut
Posts: 1,777
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Car: 91 Trans Am 'vert
Engine: LB9
Transmission: T5
Axle/Gears: 3.45 9 bolt
Re: jacking and jack stands?

Originally Posted by Stephen
Or if you wanna get REALLY CRAZY....

https://www.thirdgen.org/forums/fabr...car-ramps.html
Whoa... that's freakin' brilliant!
Old 08-29-2009, 11:00 PM
  #10  
Supreme Member

 
formula forever's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: chicago IL
Posts: 1,204
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Car: 91 formula
Engine: 350 tuned port. bolt ons
Transmission: 700r4
Axle/Gears: 3.73
Re: jacking and jack stands?

I would love to build that ramp the mustang is on but would have no where or room to put it.
Old 08-29-2009, 11:01 PM
  #11  
Supreme Member

Thread Starter
iTrader: (1)
 
musclecar70sfan's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2009
Location: Central Connecticut
Posts: 1,777
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Car: 91 Trans Am 'vert
Engine: LB9
Transmission: T5
Axle/Gears: 3.45 9 bolt
Re: jacking and jack stands?

Originally Posted by formula forever
I would love to build that ramp the mustang is on but would have no where or room to put it.
pffft.... if I had the room, I'd just get a professional lift.
Old 08-30-2009, 12:24 PM
  #12  
Member
 
02v8ta's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: South jersey
Posts: 115
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Car: 1984 Camaro
Engine: Crate 350
Transmission: auto
Re: jacking and jack stands?

Originally Posted by Stephen
Because you have the store bought ramps?

Make your own, stronger & cheaper!

https://www.thirdgen.org/forums/post...282-post8.html


awesome!
Related Topics
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
gta892000
TPI
13
08-11-2019 11:16 AM
RyanJB
Members Firebirds
39
11-20-2018 03:30 PM
z28joe2
Engine/Drivetrain/Suspension Wanted
2
09-28-2015 05:54 PM
roysatikas
Transmissions and Drivetrain
0
09-22-2015 08:15 PM
John in RI
Car Audio
11
09-10-2015 11:24 PM



Quick Reply: jacking and jack stands?



All times are GMT -5. The time now is 12:13 AM.