Car lift - radical safe ?

Car lift - radical safe ?

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Discussion

gixermark

Original Poster:

744 posts

193 months

Saturday 25th October 2008
quotequote all
Hi Guys,

I'm looking at the various scissor lifts, 2 post lifts, ramps etc etc to suit a radical.... or possibly an engine hoist to lift the car via the roll bar and use chassis stands etc ?

need to get somthing cost effective for working at decent height in my garage.. leaning towards getting one of the cheaper two post lifts - as it woudl be so easy to inspect/clean underneath... change oil easily etc ?

experiences/opinions ?

Mark.

ScottHughes

262 posts

201 months

Sunday 26th October 2008
quotequote all
Hi Mark,
I just use a quicklift each end to get the car onto axle stands set a low level, once on at both ends I then use a normal car jack to get it up onto the higher settings of the stands.. but if you have room an engine lift would be easier.. although I don't think the roll bar is at the centre of gravity for the car?

gixermark

Original Poster:

744 posts

193 months

Sunday 26th October 2008
quotequote all
thanks Scott,

yea i'm not sure how close the roll hoop is to the centre of gravity... an engine hoist and chassis stands woudl be the cheapest option.. but there are some fairly cheap 2 post lifts out there now.. and would mean total flexibility in terms of working on the underneath of the car, changing oil easily, and obviously having the car at the exact height you want at all times..

not 100% sure that the arms on a two post lift would get under the chassis on a radical either though - may need to push teh car up onto say 2" thick planks to give additional ride height to get under...

the kit car i raced this year was hard enough to get to a reasonable height - but i want a decent solution for the radical which makes maintenance easy.. and not so painful on the old back !!

Mark.

BertBert

19,534 posts

217 months

Sunday 26th October 2008
quotequote all
the roll hoop is fine re centre of g. It lifts the car with the nose slightly lower than the back, but it can be lifted horizontal by hand.

I have installed a RSJ with a geared beam trolley and chain winch for this purpose. It works reasonably well, but I haven't really got comfortable doing it single handed as you do need to steady and position the car and work the winch at the same time.

If you go the 2 post lift route, you will need to make sure you can get the car on it with planks to raise it I would imagine.

dsl2

1,475 posts

207 months

Sunday 26th October 2008
quotequote all
RSJ with a beam clamp & chain block on to the roll hoop works great, just use an adjustable steel trestle to pop under the front diffuser to support the front level.

gixermark

Original Poster:

744 posts

193 months

Sunday 26th October 2008
quotequote all
thanks guys..

if i go that route i will need to check that i can safely install a pulley block onto the structure of my shed... i plan to set this up in a metal frame shed i had put up earlier this year - but not sure the roof structure is made to support the lifting of ~500Kg

I guess there are std chassis stands available then that the kit car guys use ??

not sure i follow the comment ref: adjustable tressle for under the difuser ? i had thought of supporting the car front and back on stands resting on teh actual chassis rails..

Bert - any pics of you baby on stands - or hanging from the rafters !! ?

Mark.

dsl2

1,475 posts

207 months

Sunday 26th October 2008
quotequote all
When the car is hanging from a chainblock it hangs nose down, the trestle is put under the diffuser to level the car up for working underneath.

BertBert

19,534 posts

217 months

Sunday 26th October 2008
quotequote all
Sorry Mark, no pics of the car, I'll post a pic of the lifting setup though. As luck would have it, I have delivered the Rad off to be fettled and looked after for me for the race season next year! So Mrs Bert is tripply cross. Not only did I get the lifting gear installed to only use it once, and I have filled the space with a 73 911, and I am going racing for a season! Ouch!

dsl, you do put a trestle under both ends dont you?

Mark, a fabricator in woking made my stands for me. He can do them to the height required. PM me if it's of any interest.

Bert


dsl2

1,475 posts

207 months

Monday 27th October 2008
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No Bert, just the front to level it. We all got to go sometime! (The beam holds 3t & the chainblock is brand spanking new)

gixermark

Original Poster:

744 posts

193 months

Monday 27th October 2008
quotequote all
thanks guys..

i need to check out the strength of the shed roof/structure to see if this is a possibility, woudl certainly be cheaper than a 2 post lift :-)

what type of chain block did you guys go for ? prices/suppliers ??

Mark.

dsl2

1,475 posts

207 months

Monday 27th October 2008
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I used a high quality / price one from Yale that's an integral beam trolley & chainblock in one package for neatness!

Machine mart type should have more modestly priced units in stock.

BertBert

19,534 posts

217 months

Monday 27th October 2008
quotequote all
Or Sealey stuff from PVRDirect.
Bert