Need to get my M3 up in the air, Race Ramps vs others...still plan on a nice jack too

[Bartman39]

I like the idea of making your own initial ramps like (Dopple) said out of OSB and screwing pieces together progressively but only to allow a quality floor jack to be used... Then a good pair of stable jack stands would allow for removal of the wheels as needed for suspension work and such... A quality floor jack would be a useful tool for the future even if you get a lift later... I sure agree that kind of $$$ for ramps is not worth it and could better spent on the floor jack...:thumbsup:

Here are a some that would work and are of a quality build... (the low rider is quite cool)
http://www.asedeals.com/automotive_floor_jacks.html

I have the BluePoint version of this and its nice and light but works great even on my Duramax (I only lift one side at a time though)
http://www.northerntool.com/shop/tools/product_200413773_200413773

Not the best quality but a good deal for sure... (has everything plus...)
http://shopper.cnet.com/tools/craft..._9-792542771.html?tag=contentMain;contentBody

 

[AMCRambler]

If the car is really that low then the race ramps look like the best off the shelf option. I wouldn't want to frig around with another hunk of wood in front of the ramps.

The other option is to build your own out of 2x8s. They wouldn't be too difficult if you've got the tools.

 

[PricklyPete]

Some wood, a decent jack, and some jack stands are all that is needed. I use this on my M3 all the time. Takes nearly the same time as setting up the ramps. and provides much more clearance.

 

[natto fire]

I have a jack that will work without needing ramps, I was looking at something just to get the car up quick.

Ah, then yeah ramps are definitely good for that. One tiny caveat if draining oil though, depending on where your drain plug is and pan shape, you might not be getting as much old oil out because of the angle ramps alone put your car. A higher lift would exacerbate this problem. Then again if your plug is on the back of the pan (this is fairly common in my experience) you would be at an advantage. Just a minor thing, but I know a person that is fanatical about getting every last drop of old oil out, he leaves the plug out overnight, or sometimes a whole weekend.

 

[Gillbot]

I will likely do something like this: http://corvettec3.ca/ramps.htm

or get the metal drive on, they aren't that costly. http://www.kwiklift.com/features-all.htm

Or this: http://www.amazon.com/Profile-Sports.../dp/B00069G51S

 

[Dr. Detroit]

I will likely do something like this: http://corvettec3.ca/ramps.htm

Love the adjustable swivel lights built into the ramps. Genius idea!

 

[mvbighead]

Love the adjustable swivel lights built into the ramps. Genius idea!

No kidding. That whole cabinet looks like a really neat idea... granted, you have to know what you're doing and build the support properly.

 

[Gillbot]

No kidding. That whole cabinet looks like a really neat idea... granted, you have to know what you're doing and build the support properly.

Most of the ones I've seen have better ties between them to hold them together for stability. I'm liking the wood, but I'd likely use metal bars between them to brace them together.

 

[alkemyst]

Yeah, this should not be someone's first 'woodworking' project.

Much like the idiot that thinks cinder blocks are a good substitute for jack stands.

 

[Gillbot]

Yeah, this should not be someone's first 'woodworking' project.

Much like the idiot that thinks cinder blocks are a good substitute for jack stands.

I must be an idiot then.....

 

[natto fire]

I must be an idiot then.....

Yeah, pretty dumb to think that something which supports a house and boasts over 2500 psi of compression strength would hold up a car...

 

[exdeath]

Yeah, pretty dumb to think that something which supports a house and boasts over 2500 psi of compression strength would hold up a car...

Houses don't put point loads on the ends of them right over the hollow cavity. Their psi rating is top to bottom through the solid outer perimeter when laid horizontally as when building a house, not laterally through the end right over the unsupported hollow opening as when used vertically as a jack stand.

 

[Gillbot]

Houses don't put point loads on the ends of them right over the hollow cavity. Their psi rating is through the solid outer perimeter when used in the "house" orientation, not laterally through the end as when used as a jack stand.

I use a block of wood on top of them to distribute the load, but either way I doubt my several cinder blocks will crumble under the weight of one car.

 

[slugg]

I wouldn't trust cinder blocks, either.

They're brittle and virtually fall apart under tension, which *can* (although improbable) happen when a car is resting on it. This is because high pressure on a small area (like a sharp pinch weld, screw on a subframe, etc) can dig into the block, causing it to push apart. This is why reinforcement steel bars are intertwined through concrete construction: to hold it together under tension. Concrete is king in terms of compressive strength, which is why cinder blocks can hold up to the pressure of a house.

Maybe I'm just overly paranoid, but I, too, would not trust a cinder block to hold up my car while I'm under it. I wouldn't call others that do it idiots, though.

I use a block of wood on top of them to distribute the load, but either way I doubt my several cinder blocks will crumble under the weight of one car.

I guess that's okay. You still won't find me wrenching under YOUR car... lol

 

[exdeath]

I use a block of wood on top of them to distribute the load, but either way I doubt my several cinder blocks will crumble under the weight of one car.

I doubt it as well, just saying

 

[alkemyst]

Man, somehow I think I am going to be labeled a troll again, but using cinder blocks as a jack stand(s) has left quite a few people seriously injured. Cinder blocks work well for walls, but they are fragile when solo and most don't really handle them gingerly for driveway duty.

 

[slugg]

Man, somehow I think I am going to be labeled a troll again, but using cinder blocks as a jack stand(s) has left quite a few people seriously injured. Cinder blocks work well for walls, but they are fragile when solo and most don't really handle them gingerly for driveway duty.

I... fully... agree...

Damnit, did this just happen?:hmm:

 

[natto fire]

Man, somehow I think I am going to be labeled a troll again, but using cinder blocks as a jack stand(s) has left quite a few people seriously injured. Cinder blocks work well for walls, but they are fragile when solo and most don't really handle them gingerly for driveway duty.

Yeah, I think the big thing is that usually the types of people that use cinderblocks as jack stands are more likely to cut corners on other areas of wrenching as well. I have used cinder blocks with soft wood on top as Gilbot explained after my jack stands were stolen (while a car was on them, weird story) and did not feel unsafe. I definitely was a lot more careful about lateral movement and not striking the blocks with anything though.

Then again, I think I learned a lot of "unsafe" methods of wrenching from working at a junkyard for a couple years. There were guys there that had no problem walking underneath the cars while on the forklift, we racked them 3 high. I never got that dumb, but when you learn "tricks" from people like that it rubs off a bit. Some demonstrations I saw there that stick out is a cup of gasoline extinguishing a cigarette, and ether to seat a bead on tires.

 

[Gillbot]

I don't work on it when it's on cinder blocks usually, and if I do I put everything including the kitchen sink under there "in case". I mostly use them as "stepping stones" while I get it high enough for my real jackstands. Then again, I doubt most have giant jackstands that hold a car like 3 feet though. ;-) Their minimum height is more than my jack can lift so I need to step it up to get them under the car.