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TR2/3/3A Jacking up a TR3A

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GTP1960

GTP1960

Jedi Knight
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While this is probably a dumb question.
I will feel better knowing for sure:

is the radiator guard/base plate a solid, safe place for jacking up the 3A?

appreciate your input.


Guy
 
Hi guy,

Personally, I like to jack the car up on the frame. If you are doing it because it is easier to jack in the centre to lift both sides, maybe a set up ramps might work for you...drive the car up on the ramps and within a few pumps on the jack on each side you can get the stands set up under the car. I have seen quite a few rad shields that have been bent slightly in the middle due to using it as a jacking point. I'm sure others will differ with my opinion, and that's ok too.

Cheers
Tush
 
GTP1960 said:
While this is probably a dumb question.
I will feel better knowing for sure:

is the radiator guard/base plate a solid, safe place for jacking up the 3A?

appreciate your input.


Guy
Click to expand...
NO it is not! Go farther back and get the front frame crossmember. Even that isn't necessarily "safe" as the jack jaws can fold up the edges a bit, but at least it won't break and ruin the radiator.
 
Thanks! Glad I asked.
the rad. guard has a lot of old (bottle jack) marks on it. And I've used it before too
(I use a 4x4 piece , across frame to frame but even that worries me)& got away with it, but caution finally prevails.
Besides, if she fell, she would undoubtedly ruin my whole day.
jacking and stand placement is always a worrisome thing for me. Always feel like I'm putting my head in a trap.
 
IMO jackstands should always be used in pairs, and only go under the main frame rails. (Assuming you are supporting the car with them. Single stands are fine for just supporting exhaust or whatever while you work on it.)

Not sure what I did with that broken radiator guard, think I may have let it go as scrap. The radiator was salvageable, but it took a visit to the radiator shop to straighten the tank out (more or less).
 
I go a little extreme sometimes...I generally will use 6 stands with 4 supporting front and back with 2 in the middle. I also have two identical floor jacks. I find it easier to jack up the car by having a jack on each side of the car. I go up a little on one side a then go over to the other side and back and forth until it is at working height. I also leave the two jacks up just touching but not supporting the frame just in case.

Cheers
Tush
 
I'm more casual than that. If I do need all 4 in the air, I'll jack up one end and place a pair of stands, then jack up the other end and place a second pair. Of course, that's with a floor jack on rollers. Can't do that with a bottle or scissors jack, since the jack has to move as the car comes up.

But only rarely do I need all 4 in the air. With my tall jack stands and long arm floor jack, I can get the front end high enough (usually) to work on the OD etc in the center of the car.
 
I'm a little more "jolly" let's say and I need the car up quite high to get under it comfortably :smile:

Cheers
Tush
 
I'm on the "jolly" side myself, but I've only got one pair of the 24" stands. The other pair is the 3 ton, 16" stands. On the rare occasions where I need more height than that, I use 2x4 cribbing (sized to fit the jackstands) to raise them as far as necessary. I had enough scrap wood around to build them; but even if you have to buy new 2x4, its still a lot cheaper than the big jack stands.

This is someone else's photo, just to give you the idea
 
I have a four post lift, and have no idea how I managed without it for so many years.

"Jolly" Tush fits under easily too :smile:

Cheers, Mike
 
mgedit said:
I have a four post lift, and have no idea how I managed without it for so many years.

"Jolly" Tush fits under easily too :smile:

Cheers, Mike
Click to expand...

Ha! If one of those things showed up in my garage. The only way I would know where my wife went would be by following the 5 star hotel receipts on the CC.(payback time)
 
TR3driver said:
I'm on the "jolly" side myself, but I've only got one pair of the 24" stands. The other pair is the 3 ton, 16" stands. On the rare occasions where I need more height than that, I use 2x4 cribbing (sized to fit the jackstands) to raise them as far as necessary. I had enough scrap wood around to build them; but even if you have to buy new 2x4, its still a lot cheaper than the big jack stands.

This is someone else's photo, just to give you the idea
Click to expand...

So the 16" jack stands are inside the 2x4 cribs?

i like that idea, utilizes the height of the wheel to add 6" or so.
probably could use the cribs as shelving risers when not in service as car stands.
 
GTP1960 said:
So the 16" jack stands are inside the 2x4 cribs?
Click to expand...
No, there are no stands in that photo. I linked to it only to show what "cribbing" looks like.

I make the cribbing the right size for the jackstand to fit on top, so the jackstand can still support the frame directly. Just don't have a photo of the setup and couldn't find one easily.
 
I make the cribbing the right size for the jackstand to fit on top, so the jackstand can still support the frame directly. Just don't have a photo of the setup and couldn't find one easily.
Click to expand...

i think I understand now. The cribbing works as a platform for the jackstands to increase there overall height. Did you make the top of the cribbing (jackstand base platform ) out of 2x4's? How tall is a functional height for the cribbing?
( I think my jack goes up to 25" but I typically use a 4x4 cross piece if I need more height )
Also did you use long carriage bolts to construct, nails, or what?

thx Randall


Guy
 
mgedit said:
I have a four post lift, and have no idea how I managed without it for so many years.

"Jolly" Tush fits under easily too :smile:

Cheers, Mike
Click to expand...

I did indeed and I'm mighty jealous! Guy , you could always just do what Mike does...put his Wife in the car and raise it up on the lift....hard to hit the hotel (or shopping) circuit when you can't get out of the car :smile:

Cheers
Tush
 
GTP1960 said:
i think I understand now. The cribbing works as a platform for the jackstands to increase there overall height. Did you make the top of the cribbing (jackstand base platform ) out of 2x4's? How tall is a functional height for the cribbing?
( I think my jack goes up to 25" but I typically use a 4x4 cross piece if I need more height )
Also did you use long carriage bolts to construct, nails, or what?
Click to expand...
It's all just 2x4 & nails. There really isn't a "top platform" as such, just two 2x4 that fit exactly under the jackstand legs. I spread each layer out just a bit farther to improve stability, but it would probably work just as well in a straight stack. Just a quick ad hoc solution, only took me 20 minutes or so to cut and knock together two of them from scrap lumber. Can't seem to find them now, so maybe I robbed them for some other project (but more likely they are hiding somewhere).
 
Over the years I became very apprehensive of jack stands, so purchased a Kwiklift. It was easy to install and simple to use, but not inexpensive. The bottom of the car is about 26" high, which works well for me.









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Hey Bo, how goes it!
that lift is nice; But your car looks exceptional.
still concours, no doubt.

Re: Kwiklift, can you park on top of it when not in use?
how difficult is it to remove the front risers?
(I take it the rear risers fold under)

thx

Guy
 
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