ZR-1 Friendly Jack and Ramps?

[Erik]

Decided that it's time (I'm sure with the help of you fine folks) to take on more of the repairs and servicing of my ZR-1. I've got a great, heated garage for working on stuff, and my tool set, after many moves, is building up again nicely. Scanners and shop manuals are on hand. But, there will be more tools needed, including stuff to get it up in the air and work underneath. So I was wondering what you guys recommend in the way of floor jacks and ramps. Anything to watch for while lifting a ZR-1?

[HAWAIIZR-1]

While I rarely use jack stands and a floor jack these days, I find much more use and feel much safer using a QuickJack. I really love it 100%. I do not have the space or ceiling height for a two or four post regular lift, so this was the next best thing for me. With the Vette-2-Vette no flex bars on the car lifting points are a breeze with those mounts as pick up points with the pads provided. If no V-2-V then they also sell the pinch weld blocks as an accessory. The QuickJack is the #1 best investment of all my tools. I even bought the motorcycle adapter to work on my bike so I make a lot of use from it.

Buy the best quality jack stands you can find as well as the best quality low profile floor jack for when you need to lift other than with a QuickJack. Sorry, I do not have any input on ramps and never like using them, but I have only tried at few.

Best wishes in your quest.

1605416055


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[tf95ZR1]

Hey Craig,

The underside of your car is pretty darn clean!
I hope that you are driving your Z.

Be well my friend,

Ted

PS: I also have a limited height garage so I can't use a 2/4 post lift.
I use a Kwik-Lift which are ramps to raise the car about 2 1/2 feet.

https://www.kwik-lift.com/

Plus: Very stable, strong, and safe.
Neg: Still have to jack up the car to work on tires/suspension.
Also nice as an anti-theft device here in Los Angeles.

[HAWAIIZR-1]

Hey Craig,



The underside of your car is pretty darn clean!

I hope that you are driving your Z.



Be well my friend,



Ted



PS: I also have a limited height garage so I can't use a 2/4 post lift.

I use a Kwik-Lift which are ramps to raise the car about 2 1/2 feet.



https://www.kwik-lift.com/



Plus: Very stable, strong, and safe.

Neg: Still have to jack up the car to work on tires/suspension.

Also nice as an anti-theft device here in Los Angeles.


Hey Ted,

Long time no see. Thanks, I guess it is a low mileage Cali car that is why. I hope to be driving the Z soon. Early retirement and back to Japan in Dec if I don?t get a job by then.

The Kwik-Lift is another great choice that I was also considering. I think maybe even safer and lifts higher. Aloha!!


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[tccrab]

Costco sells a 3 ton low profile floor jack for $179 that almost fits under the front of a standard height C4. I first drive my car onto 4 inch high blocks that i made from 2X6 boards cut into 2 foot lenghts and screwed together with deck screws. Then i slide the jack under the front and lift the car via the engine cradle. The rear end i have an old hockey puck i put on the jack cup and lift the car from under the differential. My jack stands are professional quality from SnapOn, a gazillion years old, from back before electricity when my Dad was a Chevy Mechanic. Not an automotive technician mind you, but a true bred grease monkey. Back when cars had carburetors and column shifted manual transmissions.
And AM radios. Back when cars had cigarette lighters and ash trays in the front and the back.I

Steer clear from ramps, they are dangerous and nothing but trouble.

Crabs

[Black Red '90]

With the Vette-2-Vette no flex bars on the car lifting points are a breeze with those mounts as pick up points with the pads provided. If no V-2-V then they also sell the pinch weld blocks as an accessory.

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I have QuickJack's as well. With the larger of the supplied blocks, the frame of the jacks nearly touches the floorboards...like a sheet of paper clearance. The pinch weld blocks would make things worse. I've started using hockey pucks on top of the blocks to gain a little clearance.

[HAWAIIZR-1]

I have QuickJack's as well. With the larger of the supplied blocks, the frame of the jacks nearly touches the floorboards...like a sheet of paper clearance. The pinch weld blocks would make things worse. I've started using hockey pucks on top of the blocks to gain a little clearance.


Hmmm, I am not sure how our cars can be different. Here is a screenshot of a video with mine being lifted at the V-2-V mounting end brackets. The lift is no where near the floor boards. In fact, my car has 49th Street rockers (aka Blue Flame Restoration rockers) but with QJ blocks I clear everything. ???

16078



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[Black Red '90]

Hmmm, I am not sure how our cars can be different. Here is a screenshot of a video with mine being lifted at the V-2-V mounting end brackets. The lift is no where near the floor boards. In fact, my car has 49th Street rockers (aka Blue Flame Restoration rockers) but with QJ blocks I clear everything. ???

16078



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Just took some quick measurements. I measure the floor pan 1" lower than the pinch welds. The thicker Quickjack blocks only sit 1 5/8" above their pocket on the jack frame. Between the general flex of the blocks & the pinch welds sinking into them, that 5/8" disappears quickly. I'll take picks next time I have it in the air. Good to know the V-2-V braces can be used with the Quickjack.

[HAWAIIZR-1]

Just took some quick measurements. I measure the floor pan 1" lower than the pinch welds. The thicker Quickjack blocks only sit 1 5/8" above their pocket on the jack frame. Between the general flex of the blocks & the pinch welds sinking into them, that 5/8" disappears quickly. I'll take picks next time I have it in the air. Good to know the V-2-V braces can be used with the Quickjack.


Okay, got it now. You do not have V-2-V no flex bars and you are saying that QJ does not work well on C4s or too close for comfort to lift the car properly. Sorry, I am slow and missed that the first time.




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[Erik]

Thanks, guys.

I have the V2V bars installed, so that makes that easier for me.

[conesare2seconds]

I generally use a Kwiklift. With the optional cross bar, cleaning and service is pretty easy. For times I need to work on brakes or suspension I use Rennstands. They solve the problem of how to place a jackstand near the same spot I?ve placed my floor jack and they come with pinch weld adapters. They weren?t especially cheap but I find the car is very stable when positioned on all four.
https://safejacks.com/products/the-rennstand-by-safe-jack-single-unit

[HAWAIIZR-1]

Thanks, guys.



I have the V2V bars installed, so that makes that easier for me.



You are welcome and glad if the info helped someone.


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[HAWAIIZR-1]

I generally use a Kwiklift. With the optional cross bar, cleaning and service is pretty easy. For times I need to work on brakes or suspension I use Rennstands. They solve the problem of how to place a jackstand near the same spot I?ve placed my floor jack and they come with pinch weld adapters. They weren?t especially cheap but I find the car is very stable when positioned on all four.

https://safejacks.com/products/the-rennstand-by-safe-jack-single-unit



Thanks for sharing. I especially love those Rennstands. Nice, high quality looking products and no price is too much for safety. [emoji847]🤙🏼


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[ghlkal]

Erik and Hawaii,


I'm considering the Vette 2 Vette no-flex bars, but I'm concerned about lifting the Z on my 2 post life. It seems as if you guys are lifting on the bar itself, or where it bolts to the frame, and that works OK. Is that right?


Thanks :thumbsup:

[HAWAIIZR-1]

Erik and Hawaii,


I'm considering the Vette 2 Vette no-flex bars, but I'm concerned about lifting the Z on my 2 post life. It seems as if you guys are lifting on the bar itself, or where it bolts to the frame, and that works OK. Is that right?


Thanks :thumbsup:



ghlkal,

Not on the bar itself, but on the bracket where it bolts to the frame and mounts the helm joint on the bar. So it os actually on the bracket. If I were back in Japan with my car I could show better pics of the mounting area, but it is perfect for the rubber block of the Quickjack. The photos I posted earlier are the best I have. It you see the bars installed by itself in photos, you can clearly see where to place your lift points.


https://www.motortrend.com/how-to/1711-cure-for-creaking-c4-corvettes-vette2vettes-no-flex-kit?galleryimageid=a2b0692d-ed1e-49c8-bd7d-d5580fcad325

Having said all that, after looking at the photos and depending on your lift, I would get that flat spot where the Jack stand is usually placed in the front, and on the rear in that pocket on chassis near the area right behind where the no flex bar mounts to.
I used to put my Jack stands in that slot on the frame.



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[1993C4LT1]

I use 2 piece race ramps when I don't need to take wheels off. They have been great.

[Young1]

I want Quickjacks bad. I have V2V bars so that will get it up even higher. I have been on the hunt for used for a while.

[HAWAIIZR-1]

I want Quickjacks bad. I have V2V bars so that will get it up even higher. I have been on the hunt for used for a while.



You won?t regret it. Costco had them, but I don?t know about now. If you can afford to get the new and improved TL model it lifts even higher. Unless you can find a used locally the shipping might outweigh the cost and I don?t know you want used equipment like this. JMHO.

https://www.quickjack.com/car-lifts/5000tl/


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[-=Jeff=-]

I generally use a Kwiklift. With the optional cross bar, cleaning and service is pretty easy. For times I need to work on brakes or suspension I use Rennstands. They solve the problem of how to place a jackstand near the same spot I?ve placed my floor jack and they come with pinch weld adapters. They weren?t especially cheap but I find the car is very stable when positioned on all four.
https://safejacks.com/products/the-rennstand-by-safe-jack-single-unit

do you use the Rennstands on the Kwiklift? I use jack stands on the center bridge with kwiklift for the front, but the rear becomes more of a challenge and looking for a good solution for lifting the rear while on the Kwiklift.

[davidijaxson]

ghlkal,

Not on the bar itself, but on the bracket where it bolts to the frame and mounts the helm joint on the bar. So it os actually on the bracket. If I were back in Japan with my car I could show better pics of the mounting area, but it is perfect for the rubber block of the Quickjack. The photos I posted earlier are the best I have. It you see the bars installed by itself in photos, you can clearly see where to place your lift points.


https://www.motortrend.com/how-to/1711-cure-for-creaking-c4-corvettes-vette2vettes-no-flex-kit?galleryimageid=a2b0692d-ed1e-49c8-bd7d-d5580fcad325

Having said all that, after looking at the photos and depending on your lift, I would get that flat spot where the Jack stand is usually placed in the front, and on the rear in that pocket on chassis near the area right behind where the no flex bar mounts to.
I used to put my Jack stands in that slot on the frame.



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HawaiiZR-1, for the QuickJack 5000TL do I need to purchase anything additional from QJ? I am ready to pull the trigger but want to get everything I need first go around. Thanks in advance.

[HAWAIIZR-1]

HawaiiZR-1, for the QuickJack 5000TL do I need to purchase anything additional from QJ? I am ready to pull the trigger but want to get everything I need first go around. Thanks in advance.



I think you should be all set with just the 5000TL, but I might not be the best person to ask because I have the no-flex bars on my car with easy pick up points. I?m not sure how a stock car is lifted as far as pick up points with the QuickJack. I see they have new accessories like the pinch weld pucks. I used similar to lift my car with a floor floor Jack before I had my no flex bars added.


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[AirbusDriver]

I just ordered a 5000TL after watching this guy use one for his C4...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vvCQQyt1L-U

[Z51JEFF]

I've got a low profile floor jack and made an aluminum pad that comes in contact with the car. I use the pinch welds at the front/back of the car and have never had any issues raising the car.

[CamP]

Too bad the jack-a-vette and EZ Jack adapters are no longer produced. They make jacking up the back of the C4 vette a snap.

[S.hafsmo]

These do the trick as well. Please ignore the semi-finished garage. The left pallet contains the tiles, and the right ones has the workbenches/cabinets.17519

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[mlipmd]

Is that bolted to the floor? Even so, I would really worry about that getting knocked over and falling to the floor.

[S.hafsmo]

It is indeed. Approved for approx 7700lbs, and sits flush with the floor when fully lowered. Lifts almost 6 ft.

17520

[XfireZ51]

Hmmm, I am not sure how our cars can be different. Here is a screenshot of a video with mine being lifted at the V-2-V mounting end brackets. The lift is no where near the floor boards. In fact, my car has 49th Street rockers (aka Blue Flame Restoration rockers) but with QJ blocks I clear everything. ???

16078



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Totally agree. My ZR also has V2V bracing. The QJs work great w the small rubber block under the V2V Heim ends.

[Young1]

I just ordered an open box QJ 5,000 not the TL for $950. I think I scored. Been looking a while. V2V does make it more difficult with a floor jack. Put that baby on the QJ and no more bending over. I need to conserve my joint jelly for 20 more years or more!

[XfireZ51]

I just ordered an open box QJ 5,000 not the TL for $950. I think I scored. Been looking a while. V2V does make it more difficult with a floor jack. Put that baby on the QJ and no more bending over. I need to conserve my joint jelly for 20 more years or more!

You are going to love them. I do my oil changes w them and they make swapping out O2 sensors pretty simple.

[Corvette95]

I am looking for an inexpensive lift as well. Room is the issue. I really just want it for undercarriage detail with the occasional "real work" . Would like to hear about the QJ 5000 Young1 picked up or other models. I am in Alabama and willing to drive to pick one up! Thanks!

[AirbusDriver]

Just got the QJ TL5000 set up and it works like a champ. Supplied pucks work well on my 1990?
https://i.postimg.cc/gksmWv4T/15-EF6-F22-C183-46-DF-8-EAF-2-D37-CF05-C57-B.jpg (https://postimg.cc/8j7qdf2R)

https://i.postimg.cc/Jzhm4G24/AD260-A8-E-914-C-45-C4-BA2-E-8-DC4-FF5-B2020.jpg (https://postimg.cc/D8RRxyht)

[Supercoupe91]

Airbus, did you add accessories to the 5000tl? Considering this for a 95.

[AirbusDriver]

No...the pucks were provided and work well. I did buy a lightstix.

[Young1]

I have the QJ BL-5000 EXT. The extended frame is the same length as the C4 rocker panel. Allows more versatility with other vehicles. I use the included blocks but added a same size piece of 3/4 inch plywood to prevent contact with the fiberglass tub. My only complaint is that no escape for water was made to rails for washing. Holes will need to be drilled.