where to put jacks when raising '74 914-4

[Mark Pieters]

This may sound silly to some, but I have never seen any information on where to place jack stands under the 914. Does one use the trailing arms on the rear? Do you place them (all four jacks) at the corners of the floor pan? I have always been able to skinny under my 74 914-4 to change oil and such, but now it is time to do some brake work and I have looked in the haynes manual and searched many of the 914 internet sites to no avial. There seems to be no info on something so basic. Can anyone tell me where they typically place their jackstands underneath their 914? Thanks--I don't want to get squashed you know...

[jmcleod]

i jack up the car by placing the jack under the transmission (piece of 2x4 between trans case and jack) and then put the jack stands under the engine mounting bar (74 2.0L). i've seen this suggestion somewhere before

[Dave at Pelican Parts]

There are four metal "donuts" on the bottom of the car. I use the rear donuts (on the "floor pan triangles" that are on the front corners of the engine compartment) to hold up the rear. Or rather, one of them since the other was cut out. On that side I just put the jackstand under the longitudinal that is above where the donut is.

On the front, I put the jackstand under the front torsion bar carrier--not the bar itself, but the bracket that holds it onto the car. I am not entirely sure I trust the front "donuts"...

I usually lift the car by the stock jack points, but that can be a real risk on many cars. The jack points aren't always real solid. Other times I will lift the rear of the car by using the engine mount bar. The front I would use the "donut" if I couldn't use the stock jack point. I know of people who put a long 2x4 across the front of the steering rack opening and jack in the middle of that.

I usually use a wood block as a "pad" between the jackstand and the car body.

--DD

[Ascaris]

I normally use the "doughnuts" also, except right now I have cut the two rear ones off (along with the back half of the floor pan).

To help with this, I have made up some wood blocks with a groove cut in them and put the jackstands directly on the clamshells. The groove in the wood block is to accomodate the seam running down the clamshell.