Best thing to jack up car and set back down on wheels? - NJFBOA - Home of New Jersey's Camaros and Firebirds

ThoR294 · 04-09-2018, 11:29 AM

Idk how to word it. I want to jack up the car and put weight back on the wheels. I see some ramps on Amazon but they have bad reviews. I figured I can just jack up each corner then rest the wheels on something. Do I just get some wood and place it under the wheels?

What do you guys do?

Blackbirdws6 · 04-09-2018, 11:34 AM

How far are you trying to get it up in the air? If not too much, buy 2 pairs of rhino ramps.

WildBillyT · 04-09-2018, 11:35 AM

Are you trying to say you want to have the car in the air but with the weight on the wheels vs. jackstands?

If so, ramps will work. There are good brands, you may have to pay a little extra.

qwikz28 · 04-09-2018, 11:43 AM

I use ramps. My Camaro is too low to clear them, so I have a low profile jack that reaches the subframe that I use to jack it up and down from. Everything else is much more expensive:

https://www.ecstuning.com/b-schwaben.../006182sch01a/

ThoR294 · 04-09-2018, 11:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Blackbirdws6

How far are you trying to get it up in the air? If not too much, buy 2 pairs of rhino ramps.

Enough to get my fat ass under a car with a creeper. End goal is to do this so I can tinker with pinion angle on my firebird without having to go to my uncles shop and use his alignment rack. I've seen people post those cracked. I wonder if it's because they didn't drive up on them properly?

Quote:

Originally Posted by WildBillyT

Are you trying to say you want to have the car in the air but with the weight on the wheels vs. jackstands?

If so, ramps will work. There are good brands, you may have to pay a little extra.

Yes lol. Ramps look good but I figured I could save $ by just getting blocks or whatever since I have a quick pump low profile jack and such.

Quote:

Originally Posted by qwikz28

I use ramps. My Camaro is too low to clear them, so I have a low profile jack that reaches the subframe that I use to jack it up and down from. Everything else is much more expensive:

https://www.ecstuning.com/b-schwaben.../006182sch01a/

I saw those. damn thats $ lol

Jensend · 04-09-2018, 11:56 AM

Built 5' long stepped ramps out of treated 2x8s screwed together and beveled at the rear edge. You can add as many layers as you need for height, but the ramps get heavy after the 4th layer. Good part is that they are absolutely stable and solid. Not fun to lug about if you'll be using them often. Did this because Rhino ramps tend to skid on my driveway when driving the car up. They work ok on gravel though.

MDSheds_SS · 04-09-2018, 12:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by qwikz28

I use ramps. My Camaro is too low to clear them, so I have a low profile jack that reaches the subframe that I use to jack it up and down from. Everything else is much more expensive:

https://www.ecstuning.com/b-schwaben.../006182sch01a/

I have a pair of these if your looking to borrow them. I used them to mount my exhaust. Stuck a piece of 4x4 under them for a little extra height. Need extra height because my weekend habits... aka beer belly.

I had the front on low profile race ramps then added these to the rears.

Blackbirdws6 · 04-09-2018, 12:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ThoR294

Enough to get my fat ass under a car with a creeper. End goal is to do this so I can tinker with pinion angle on my firebird without having to go to my uncles shop and use his alignment rack. I've seen people post those cracked. I wonder if it's because they didn't drive up on them properly?

I've never had one crack but I don't treat ramps harshly either. I also don't know how you drive up them improperly unless folks are way off center. They can slide on concrete but come with small rubber pads to help avoid it.

LS1ow · 04-09-2018, 12:32 PM

Ive had my car sitting on spare wheels for months. No issues here. I only do 1 axle at a time. Not sure how you would do all 4 and prevent the car from possibly rolling.

wretched73 · 04-09-2018, 02:22 PM

Make stands out of 2x4's

Like so-

Jersey Mike · 04-09-2018, 04:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wretched73

Make stands out of 2x4's

Like so-

This is what I was going to suggest. One of our members here, Paul, made a bunch of these for his garage build. I think he drilled and added dowels so he could adjust the height as needed, depending upon the project.

If you're just looking to load the suspension, this is the route I'd go. I have Rhino Ramps and never use them since they're limit side access in my already cramped garage

*edit*
Found his garagejournal post: https://www.garagejournal.com/forum/...&postcount=282

V · 04-09-2018, 08:01 PM

Im building some 2x4 Jenga stands when I do my GTO clutch eventually.

ThoR294 · 04-10-2018, 06:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jersey Mike

This is what I was going to suggest. One of our members here, Paul, made a bunch of these for his garage build. I think he drilled and added dowels so he could adjust the height as needed, depending upon the project.

If you're just looking to load the suspension, this is the route I'd go. I have Rhino Ramps and never use them since they're limit side access in my already cramped garage

*edit*
Found his garagejournal post: https://www.garagejournal.com/forum/...&postcount=282

wow thats awesome.

I suck at arts and crafts though lol. Paul, what would you charge for these

wretched73 · 04-10-2018, 06:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ThoR294

wow thats awesome.

I suck at arts and crafts though lol. Paul, what would you charge for these

Wut?! You can go to the HD and they will cut them all for you. Then just screw them together.

Cheese and crackers man, keep it simple.

ThoR294 · 04-10-2018, 06:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wretched73

Wut?! You can go to the HD and they will cut them all for you. Then just screw them together.

Cheese and crackers man, keep it simple.

well then

my only concern is if it will keep the car "level" per se like I need for pinion angle. hmmmmmmmm

LTb1ow · 04-10-2018, 10:08 AM

maybe I am missing something here, but jack stands under the axle tubes will do the exact thing you want.

If you can do math, in theory you can do pinion angle with front of car on ground and rear raised. Or just place stands under A arms and toss some wood under tires for safety.

IROCZman15 · 04-12-2018, 09:39 AM

yea, Thor, this isn't complicated at all. I have built and often use my own wood ramps similar to what was mentioned above, a stack of 2"x8" treated lumber that is beveled on the edges that you will be rolling up. I also cut up one of my rubber shop mats and stapled it underneath because the wood tended to slide on my vinyl garage floor. I also use low profile plastic race ramps from quartermax, but they only go up to about 2.5"

I currently have had the camaro in the air since December on cribbed 8"x8" wood blocks since I had the rear, transmission, exhaust, fuel tank off.
also if you use them the right way, concrete/cement blocks will work, (NOT cinder blocks, those can crumble) .

if using jack stands on all 4 corners and attempting to keep the suspension loaded, all you have to do is prior to raising the car off the ground. measure the height from floor to the top of the wheel well arch at each corner. then if you need to go up 10" (or however much in height). put jack stands under the a-arms and rear axle and measure everything to be plus 10" in fender height. or 12" or 20" you decide, just set it all so the heights are ALL the same "X" amount of inches above the measurements you started with the car on the ground