Welded Lift Pads onto an SC

Andras Nagy · 01-12-2005, 04:52 AM

Has anyone ever wanted to, or actually did, weld some lift pads onto the bottom of the car, similar to what the 993 and later 911s have?

I just hate the process of supporting the car on the torsion tubes at the rear and the welded seams at the front. There has got to be a better way. Everytime the SC goes up in the air, a large knot forms in my stomach and throat.

My only other concern is that in order to weld, we'd have to remove some undercoating.

At least when I change tires for Drivers' Ed I can use the floor jack and lift one entire side, thus changing front and rears. And since my '83 SC has no rust or body damage, lifting on the side is relatively painless (at least I don't get those knots in my body).

Any creative solutions?

RallyJon · 01-12-2005, 05:20 AM

That's a great idea for a "driver" or track car. The 911's fragile underbody is a real pita. I just use a piece of wood to spread the load underneath, since I'm usually lifting from the side and the original jack plate holes are long gone.

ErVikingo · 01-12-2005, 05:39 AM

Andras,

Here's some pics of what we did to the race car (the first photo is way before we cleaned everything up

On the second pic, you can hardly see the tube but it gives you an idea.

These are welded and also have a reinforcement/angle. We must work something out for the rear. We use the torsion tubes.

As part of the rust repairs, some plates were welded on the rear pan which can be used but, I'd prefer a better solution.

Hope this helps!

atlporsche · 01-12-2005, 06:00 AM

I'm just gonna put airjacks in mine. then figure out how to carry a nitrogen bottle around to track events.

(not the 912...the other one)

sjd

smcdermaid · 01-12-2005, 06:25 AM

Is it just me or is the jack pad, plate (paddle looking device you insert into the factory jack receiver much smaller diameter than the hole? I insert an addl piece of metal bar at the same time to keep the pad from tilting up in the reciever when lifting.

MotoSook · 01-12-2005, 06:27 AM

My '89 Carrera has pads welded in corners of the floor pan where one would put the pads of a lift. The same is on a friend's '87 (?or '88). I wonder if that part could be bought NOS or repro and welded on. Or cut the part off a wrecked tub. Sorry no pictures to post right now.

Andras Nagy · 01-12-2005, 06:36 AM

Hi Sean,

Yes, we also use the jack pad on the sides of the car, but I was specifically referring to lifting the car with a service lift, and lamenting that our 1983 SCs don't have the any points "planned" as to where to put the lift's plates.

The later cars have lift points welded in by the factory, but retro-fittintg these on an older car like ours would necessitate welding, which would destroy some of the undercoating. I do understand we can always re-undercoat, but this seems to only way to do it on a street car, concourse condition as ours are.

BoxsterGT · 01-13-2005, 08:04 AM

Part of the problem in fitting 87-89 jack pads is that the front right interferes w/ the oil tubes to the front cooler.

I welded all (4) to my 72 after getting used oil tubes from a salvage car.

BoxsterGT

Tim Hancock · 01-13-2005, 08:26 AM

Does anyone have some pictures of these jackpads on the newer cars? If so, I will replicate something similar for my '79 SC.

KFC911 · 01-13-2005, 08:39 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Tim Hancock
Does anyone have some pictures of these jackpads on the newer cars? If so, I will replicate something similar for my '79 SC.

I don't have pics handy to post, but they are shown on my car in the two threads below:

Jack stands and torsion tube covers

This thread has a pic of the front, but it's not very visible...let me know if you need another...

Help with AC hoses rubbing against tire

Hope these help...KC

Tim Hancock · 01-13-2005, 08:46 AM

Thanks KC, It looks like a formed tab at the rear below the torsion bar but I could not see anything on the link for the front.

KFC911 · 01-13-2005, 08:54 AM

Tim, I'll snap some pics specifically of the jack pads this evening and post some pics (unless someone beats me to it...).

KFC911 · 01-14-2005, 05:33 AM

Hey Tim, here are a couple of pics I took last night of the front pad, and since my rocker panel is currently removed, you can see it a lot better...hope these help.

KFC911 · 01-14-2005, 05:37 AM

Here's a clear shot of the rear pad:

Andras Nagy · 01-14-2005, 05:39 AM

Hi Keith,

Yes, that's what I was asking about - some sort of permanent "pad" welded to the car. This now allows you to place the jack, the lift, or the jack stands always at the same location every time.

Question - why did you decide to make them so "high"? Could the jack pads have been welded closer to the body, thus potentially avoiding the metal from "bending", or is the metal pretty heavy (thick)?

Rot 911 · 01-14-2005, 05:45 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Andras Nagy
Hi Keith,
Question - why did you decide to make them so "high"? Could the jack pads have been welded closer to the body, thus potentially avoiding the metal from "bending", or is the metal pretty heavy (thick)?

Correct me if I am wrong, but I believe those are the factory lift pads and not something Keith added.

KFC911 · 05:51 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Kurt V
Correct me if I am wrong, but I believe those are the factory lift pads and not something Keith added.

Kurt is correct...on the Carreras, these are from the factory...

ps: Just FYI, but on the rear, I usually use the torsion bar tube as I feel it provides a MUCH more stable point when jacking up (or lowering) one side and then the other (not an issue if using a 4 point lift). I only use the factory pad when doing suspension work.

Tim Hancock · 01-14-2005, 05:59 AM

Thanks KC! I do not need to reinvent the wheel now! I recently purchased a scissors type lift and I have not attempted to lift the 911 yet but when I get back to working on it, I will probably add some of these hard points.

Andras Nagy · 01-14-2005, 06:00 AM

Ooops,

It didn't register that he has an '88 and they come that way.

Okay guys, the question from my original post still stands, "who has done this modification" and where did you place the pads? And how did you weld them, and protect the undercoating".

Anyone done this?

chrisp · 01-14-2005, 06:05 AM

Keith, that looks pretty precarious. You may want to get the head of the jackstand closer to the car. Maybe even get rid of the wood all together or move the stand to another location.

It looks like the factory did this so shop lifts would automatically clear the oil lines. The structure underneath those lift pads is "probably" the same as pre-Carrera cars. So, when we non-Carrera owners use those some spots to lift from or as jackstand points (which you should) we're getting the same effect.

When you take your car to a porsche mechanic they use those same spots but with wood pads added to their lifts so the oil lines don't crunch. The factory probably just wanted to do away with the concept of the wood pads being required.