Floor Jack Recommendation?

[Paul Ferradas]

I'm in the market for a car jack to do some work on my 911. What do you guys recommend? Anything I should be looking for like maximum lift height? Someone mentioned 22" is that that max I should look for?

Thanks,

Paul

[Zeke]

A couple of thoughts: Many 911s are quite low and the standard 2.5 ton jack is tough to insert under the car without first "prelifting" the car or driving it up on some sturdy boards (which ain't no big deal). The aluminum "racing" jacks are lower than the standard. Many have had trouble with the longevity of these AL jacks, but for the most part, they do their job. Just don't lift the SUV with one, it might help kill it sooner. Shop around, prices vary.

Then, there is a low profile, long frame jack which is expensive, but a great jack. Pelican sells them, check it out. These are NOT cheap jacks from some offshore company. In fact, I believe they are foreign (Europe?), but of high quality.

However, for a first jack, you really can't beat the standard 2.5 (or 3t) that many stores sell. You can pay as low as $60 for one, or pay a lot more and get essentially the same thing. Shipping on a jack is expensive, so look around in the local stores before deciding where to buy.

As a last thought, I personally don't much care for any of the mini jacks you see as a combo with a couple of short jack stands at the local chain store parts houses. You DO need some jack stands if you buy a jack, but get the taller ones, usually rated 6 tons. There are circumstances where the 3t stands work, like when your car is on 4 stands, you can use them in front. And, if you get the bigger jack and the bigger stands, you can use all this on any car, SUV or pick up and be/feel safe. It's better, IMO, to use a larger stand not extended than using a smaller one extended to the max.

That's the main thing, be safe at all times and buy good stuff. Just shop around.

[Motorhead-45]

Check out my link below. Nowhere near the quality of the European models that Pelican sells but available at a fraction of the price. A long frame jack with a lift height of almost 32". I've used the heck out of mine for the past 9 months and have no complaints.

Harbor Freight Long Frame Jack

[Paul Ferradas]

Thanks for the recommendation. I have a Harbor Freight close buy. What is the minimum required height to lower an engine? I'd like to buy a jack that allows me to do this if I build of the courage to do so in the near future. I don't want to spend a fortune though.

[Danny_Ocean]

Originally posted by Paul Ferradas
I have a Harbor Freight close buy. What is the minimum required height to lower an engine?

Bad news?

Do not buy a Harbor Freight floor jack. Their jackstands are adequate, but most anything else they sell with moving parts is sub-standard. Search E-Bay for a local auction and find a good quality jack. Pre-owned is OK. Older Craftsman (pre-Chinese manf.) and most any others made in USA (or Europe) is what you're looking for.

[dentist90]

Don't forget to consider the jackplates that insert into the square hole below the door. This is one of the safest places to lift (one side at a time) without damage to floorpan or bottom of engine. I agree with Milt... wide based jackstands are essential. Smaller ones will hold the car up, but feels scary when you start torquing on something while you're under the car.

[Zeke]

Originally posted by Paul Ferradas
Thanks for the recommendation. I have a Harbor Freight close buy. What is the minimum required height to lower an engine? I'd like to buy a jack that allows me to do this if I build of the courage to do so in the near future. I don't want to spend a fortune though.

Not even that high!

Originally posted by Danny_Ocean
Bad news?

Do not buy a Harbor Freight floor jack. Their jackstands are adequate, but most anything else they sell with moving parts is sub-standard. Search E-Bay for a local auction and find a good quality jack. Pre-owned is OK. Older Craftsman (pre-Chinese manf.) and most any others made in USA (or Europe) is what you're looking for.

Really? I've had their stuff for years and it works fine. There was a time when it was not as good and it takes a long time to overcome that reputation. Post your actual failures for comparsison. No, really, in all friendliness.

I have a theory that I've posted too many times about buying overseas tools and merchandise. I can't labor through it again. It's something about what Sears sells vs. HF. Look similar? Keep looking, You might find out something. So, now, tell me why you'd pay more to Sears?

You just own some Sears or Costco Stock? You can't have any HF stock becasue it appears to be privately held. Myabe that's it.

[Danny_Ocean]

Originally posted by milt

Really? I've had their stuff for years and it works fine. Post your actual failures for comparsison. No, really, in all friendliness.

It's something about what Sears sells vs. HF. Look similar? Keep looking, You might find out something. So, now, tell me why you'd pay more to Sears?

I've had several failures of Harbor Freight tools, including a right-angle drill attachment, floor jack and a bench grinder. Most of their "static" tools (hammers, jack stands, etc.) are worth the price.

I buy nothing from Sears that is manf. in China (including their floor jacks)...only Craftsman & SK tools that indicate "Made In USA".

P.S. - With all due respect, Milt, I'm not about to get sucked into yet another on-line pizzing match with you, so this will be my last post on this matter.

Best regards,

Danny Ocean

[Zeke]

Hey, I am not up your ass on this, we are here to learn. A few Pelicans I know well tell me my writing and my in-person personality are on opposite poles. No matter how it comes out in writing, I'd bring you a jack on a Sunday night if you needed one.

I'd have to fullheardedly agree on the right angle drill attachment. I fell for that one too, and finally just threw it in the trash. Come to think of it, I threw a well known brand of 19mm lug nut soft socket in the trash yesterday. No ***** stays in my tool box long.

Danny, when you get near the ghetto, stop in for a beverage, a tour and let's take a look at my collection of tools from Milwaukee, Makita, Bosch, Delta, Ryobi, DeWalt, Sears Roebuck (the olden stuff) and Craftsman,, plus Skill and PortaCable. And a few "home based" HF power tools that never cease to amaze me. I'd take this stuff out on the job if it didn't make me look like a newbie apprentice. After 35 years as a carpenter, I guess I can take out on the job what I feel like. It's what you do with it, not what it does.

So, after having bought many 1000's of tools over a 50 year span, I like to "talk" bout them. No "pizzing" match intended or desired. Call me sometime and we'll have a tour and a sandwich at the local brewery. Just shoot me a PM for the number any time.

[randywebb]

price has gone up, but here is another middle-of-the-road jack -- not nearly as nice as the Danish jack Pelican has but better than the current Chinese output.
Norco jack

http://www.ryderfleetproducts.com/cgi-bin/ryderfp/products/product_detail.jsp?BV_SessionID=@@@@1764676918.116 4350051@@@@&BV_EngineID=ccccaddjgjfkhjlcfkmcgfmdfoldflm.0&oid=120273

another option is to try and find a used Walker, Lincoln or other quality US brand

the current Snap-Off jacks, BTW, don't see very good

[bbh03]

AC is top quality. I have been using them for years. Spendy though. However, I don't put a price limit on safety. Choose wisely.

http://www.whatsyourconcept.com/shopCategories.asp?categoryID=92

HF? I have tons of their stuff, but no hydraulics. Not worth the risk.

[T77911S]

i have the harbor freight orange and white floor jack. it is identicle to the one sams use to sell. i havent had any problems with mine.

[Gunter]

Paul:
I am in the process of swapping my 3.0 for a SS 3.2 and can tell you about my experience. I recommend taking the engine/transmission as one unit.
Reading the Bentley, and Wayne's book, beforehand helps.
Concentrate on getting 4-5 ton jack stands under the T-bar covers because the bigger jack stands have a wider base.
Get a jack that has a lift height of at least 22", don't worry about the low range because you can pre-lift the car with jacking plates in the square holes under the doors.
Instead of jacking plates, I use regular 7/8" key stock 5" long, one on each side.
Pre-lift the car a little at a time, place the wide-base stands under the T-bar covers.
Make sure you put large wedges under the front wheels before you lift.
Heights required: 32.5" from floor to bumper will clear the engine to be rolled out on the floor jack. To obtain 32.5", I found that the T-bar covers will be 23.5" off the ground resting on my 5-ton jacks: VERY SOLID.
Center the large floor jack on the engine seam; the "Sweet spot" for balance is in front of the sump plate, NOT ON IT!
I made a plate from ¾” ply-wood with cut-outs to support the engine/transmission on the jack; you can make one or buy the steel plate for this.
For maximum safety, aside from the jack stands under the T-bar covers, I place bottle jacks under the 7/8" key stock in the square holes meaning: I have 2 jacking devises per side supporting the car.
After you disconnect all the wires/hoses (Take pictures) the lowering is easier if someone holds the engine/transmission for balance. You can do it alone if you use 4x4 supports and come down in stages. Take it slow and watch for things still connected.

[safe]

Originally posted by Motorhead-45
Check out my link below. Nowhere near the quality of the European models that Pelican sells but available at a fraction of the price. A long frame jack with a lift height of almost 32". I've used the heck out of mine for the past 9 months and have no complaints.

Harbor Freight Long Frame Jack

Looks exactly like my cheep $200 jack. A generic chinese crap jack I guess.
Had it for 3 years and have lifted my car countless times, best tool for the price I've ever bought.
I have removed the white "lifting cup" and replaced it with a thinner block of wood.

[Gunter]

Magnus:
$200.- for a jack made in China is not cheap.
One doesn't really want to spend a lot of money on a jack that's used a few times only.
Couple things:
Instead of aiming for height, I concentrated on side-way stability meaning a broader stand and good rollers for moving/rolling the load.
Lift range to about 20" is o.k. because one can always support the engine/transmission at that range and then get the car higher on the jack stands to roll everything out.

On my new jack, I oiled the rollers before using it to ensure good movement.

[safe]

Originally posted by Gunter
Magnus:
$200.- for a jack made in China is not cheap.

Really? Its the cheapest I found with high lifting capability, 80cm ~31.5".
But I'm Sweden and everything is a little more expensive here...

[T77911S]

harbor freight has a great 3 ton jack for $100!
i have used this type for many years. i just took the engine out with it. i also bought a furniture moving dolly fron home depot fot $20. i set the motor on it to roll it out from under the car. i did have to raise the car another 2 or 3 inches once it was on the dolly. i placed a 2x6 across the pan at the firewall to raise it, then set it back on the stands. the jack is a great buy for the money.

http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/displayitem.taf?Itemnumber=34271

[Gunter]

Originally posted by safe
Really? Its the cheapest I found with high lifting capability, 80cm ~31.5".
But I'm Sweden and everything is a little more expensive here...

O.K. A country that produced Greta Garbo and Ingrid Bergman has to be alright.

A high-lift, long-frame jack will be more expensive.

(And weigh a ton)

[vash]

i bought this one.



so far it works great. i just got it, and i have used it for an engine drop. nice part is that it fits under my homemade engine pallet dolly. i admit that despite its manufacture's name, "american forge and foundry" the jack was put together in china. to be a true 911 enthusiast, you really need two jacks. my next one, i am ponying up the cash for one of the swedish ones.

[randywebb]

What we really need is to get the design for the Swedish jack sent to a quality co. in China and made there.