Safely Jacking Up The Car

[DMECMAnderson]

I'm fixin to change the gaskets in my oil pan, but I'm not exactly sure how to jack up and support the car on Jack Stands (or whatever) so I can safely get under the car to work on it. What's the easiest and safest way (since I don't have one of those nifty hydraulic lifts like the car shops do..) to jack and support the car? Where are the "hard" spots to place the jack? I know how to jack it up to remove a tire...

[mdrburchette]

I jack the front end up right past the oil pan drain plug on the cross rail and the rear at the differential. I have a block of wood with a hole notched out for the diff drain plug.

[Danno]

spend 20 bucks on ramps at wal-mart. easy up easy down.

[manoa matt]

Usually I put the jack stands at the ends of the cross member near where the lower "A" arms mount since that is also where the frame rails are, and is a good solid point.

HOWEVER, since you are planning on changing the oil pan gasket you will need to lower the crossmember to free the pan. Therefore you cannot place jackstands under the crossmember. Which leaves you with two options. Place jackstands under the frame rails more rearward or at the jacking points, or buy the ramps and drive up.

[bandit]

the other option would be loosen the nuts on the engine mounts and jack up the engine i have done this on
the transmission housing to remove the oil pan, the oil pump will make it hard to remove the pan so you
need more clearance by lifting the engine a couple inches .
I think the ramps to lift the car would be great and then lift the engine with some wood blocks and a jack .


Daniel


Daniel