to pit or not to pit?

[Mark McClure]

Well I am in the process of building a new garage and since I will be doing a lot of work on the car I though that I might put a pit in. From memory I remember everyone who had a pit had water problems and space problems.

So to throw this open to people who work on these cars often....should I pit or alternatively have a slopped depression in the slab....allowing enough room for me on a trolley. Almost as if the car is on four ramps.

Pros and cons would be nice.......

Budget has removed the opportunity to put a hoist in.

Cheers

Mark....

[Andras]

Mark,

As an architect, the only way that I have ever been able to compare two things is to do a cost analysis. What makes you think that a pit is cheaper than a lift?

Have you considered the cost of the excavation, the cost of the extra concrete, the cost of the waterproofing, the stairs/steps, etc.

Please read all former threads (do a Search), and you will see all the downsides of a pit, and the upsides of a lift. Pits were the pits, even in the 30's and 40's.

My humble opinion..............Andras

[dickster]

a lift would be the best, but in its absence a pit would be nice.

i have neither

[ChrisBennet]

Don't do the pit.
Except for oil changes on a 911 they are pretty useless IMO. On top of that you can't use a jack where the pit is so you've effectively made a bay in your garage where you can't drop a motor, bleed brakes, etc. If that wasn't bad enough, they are dangerous collectors of carbon monoxide and flamable fumes.
-Chris

[Joe Bob]

Pits are the pits......get the lift.

[red-beard]

Lifts are as inexpensive as $2195. $2495 for ones which will handle an SUV. This is for a 4 post lift.

My next house will have at least 1 lift, maybe 2, for storage.

James

[Mark McClure]

I thought that the lift would be the way to go......the plans have been drawn up but removing the pit is no big deal.

Do you need any structural work for the lift......ie reenforced slab?

What about the idea of the mini pit.......the last two steering and suspension garages I was in had drive up ramps which are raised about 30-40 inches up. This allows you to roll under the car easily on a trolley. It would enable you to do an engine drop easily with a floor jack and to get to everything elsy easily without having to jack the car up.

Cheers

Mark...

[304065]

A pit is cool. . . if you want to retain that period 1936 flavor!

[Mark McClure]

do you mean when sarcasm was popular?

[Zeke]

Pits are good for farm tractors. 'nuff said.

[Harlan Chinn]

Architecturally speaking, the pit could be a liability. Hydraulic and mechanical lifts have come down in cost enough that they are affordable and really are the choice of serious automobile a enthusiast. I have several friends that have installed both 'H' style and sissors lifts in their garages.

[Mark McClure]

OK lift it is......just need to tell the wife and hide the cost in the construction!

Thanks guys!

[cmelecci]

In all honesty I've worked in places with pit (awhile ago). They serve their purpose for quick drive in walk under and basic maintainence and greases. It is difficult to remove an engine or trans while using a pit because you need to have a cover over the pit that can support a jack or lift. Second the width of pit would be a constraint. Also the depth would depend on your height and wingspan(reach). Third any changes to layout or addition of garage is limited, while a lift can be relocated or even moved to another garage in the future. I think you know the answer.
Good luck
Carl

[TMH]

Mark,

Seems like the price of lifts has come down nicely. Here is a link to one that has gotten a few positive comments: http://www.asedeals.com/low_rise_lifts.html

Seems like it might be close to the cost of the extra concrete for a pit, and they export to Australia.

Tom

[Britain Smith]

Get a lift...then you can store a car on top and put a car below it.

-Britain

[RickM]

I would not go the pit route for my Porsche.

[Andras]

Mark,

Careful, I really doubt that that sissor lift will be able to lift your 911 without crushing something on the car. There are unreinforced body pans under there, there are A.C. hoses and oil lines under there, and I doubt that there are any reinforced places parallel to the lifts rails which you can use.

With a two-post lift, one can position the four arms where you need them, and up she goes without muss or fuss.

I would sincerely try to find one in your neighborhood or talk to someone who has one, and see if you can position your 911 over it before you even consider that kind of sissor lift.

[widebody911]

Originally posted by Andras

Careful, I really doubt that that sissor lift will be able to lift your 911 without crushing something on the car.
(...)
With a two-post lift, one can position the four arms where you need them, and up she goes without muss or fuss.

Um, and how does the soft underbelly that a scissor lift would crush suddenly turn into titanium when ones uses an autolifters ® lift?

[304065]

Thom, were you browsing the Onion?

[tangerine911e]

I have a pit - it's no good. Mainly 'cause it is so small, but even if it was bigger it really doesn't give access to areas you really want IMO (plus you can't take the wheels off). Go the lift option. I've got my lift just ready - waiting for a garage big enough to put it in!

oh yea, gasses to. Bad for pit.

Mark - there are always a lot of ex-commercial lifts for sale at the auctions here in sydney for a reasonable price. Just make sure you get it checked out and serviced by someone who knows what they are doing before you start to use it (sometimes there is a reason it is at the auction - last thing you want it a busted useless lift!). The commercial quality worm & chain drive electric lifts are pretty safe and bulletproof if you use them properly.

Ash