I need a lift!

[autobonrun]

I have a 4 post unit by American Automotive Equipment.

In pricing the total cost, consider up front how you will use it. If it's purely for maintenance of one car, you can get by with your garage door as is. However, if you plan to use it for storage and want the door to clear the top car, you'll have to change the radius of your garage door opener and add a section so it moves closer to the ceiling; unless you have a RV sized door to start with.

Also, if you want to be able to raise it to it's maximum height (in case you want to park something else underneath other than another Porsche), you'll also want to remove the overhead door opener and replace it with a wall mounted LiftMaster.

I ended up making both these modifications over time. Actually, the sequence went like this:

1) garage door radius modification
2) purchase and installed 4 post lift
3) bought a 993 (yea room for another Porsche)
4) added the Liftmaster door opener

This photo was taken between steps 3 and 4 so you can see there wasn't much space between the top car and the door opener. The Liftmaster freed up several more inches above the car. You can see the panel I added to the top of the garage door along with the bigger radius on the track so it would clear the top car.
P.S. The SUV ride height on the 993 is now gone; replaced with a ROW M030 setup.

[SpeedracerIndy]

Originally Posted by autobonrun

I have a 4 post unit by American Automotive Equipment.

In pricing the total cost, consider up front how you will use it. If it's purely for maintenance of one car, you can get by with your garage door as is. However, if you plan to use it for storage and want the door to clear the top car, you'll have to change the radius of your garage door opener and add a section so it moves closer to the ceiling; unless you have a RV sized door to start with.

Also, if you want to be able to raise it to it's maximum height (in case you want to park something else underneath other than another Porsche), you'll also want to remove the overhead door opener and replace it with a wall mounted LiftMaster.

I ended up making both these modifications over time. Actually, the sequence went like this:

1) garage door radius modification
2) purchase and installed 4 post lift
3) bought a 993 (yea room for another Porsche)
4) added the Liftmaster door opener

This photo was taken between steps 3 and 4 so you can see there wasn't much space between the top car and the door opener. The Liftmaster freed up several more inches above the car. You can see the panel I added to the top of the garage door along with the bigger radius on the track so it would clear the top car.
P.S. The SUV ride height on the 993 is now gone; replaced with a ROW M030 setup.

I am in between your steps 1 and 2 right now. I have increased the radius of my garage door and installed a torsion bar garage door lifter. So now I have this huge gaping hole in my garage begging for a Porsche to be shoved up there. I just have to take the plunge and buy the dang lift. Busy life is making me drag my feet...

How tall are your ceilings? You have pretty good clearance there.

By the way, I purchased a Zap! torsion bar opener. Similar to the Lift Master, but much smaller. It is only about 6" deep and 12" long so it will fit in a very compact space. More expensive, but I didn't have enough room for the lift master. I had the thing installed and working withing one hour by myself. ZAP Residential Jackshaft Garage Door Opener 815RLB

[andyt11]

I figured out a while back that I need 10'-0" if I'm going to park the Porsche over the top of my wife's Mitsubishi Lancer. That will allow 3" above the 911 and 3" between the roof of the Lancer and the bottom of the lift.

Not sure you can get away with much less than that if you are planning on stacking cars.

[NeedSpace]

Thanks for the post regarding the garage doors. I am planning on purchasing a 2 car garage (pre-fab) in the next year or so and wondered about that. At present, my garage has barn doors (and no automatic opener) so that isn't much of a problem.

I was surprised that installing the lift wasn't more difficult given the size of the garage. I thought I would have to remove some clapboard off the side for some of poles for the safety latches which are rather long. Happily, I didn't have to. The only procedure left is to reposition one of the rafter beams to allow the windshield to pass above the ceiling line. That should happen tonite.

I think I am going to look for a car cover that only protects the interior.

BTW, sorry the car isn't a porsche, I will be using the lift to install the engine. I have the porsche at another garage.

[SpeedracerIndy]

Originally Posted by andyt11

I figured out a while back that I need 10'-0" if I'm going to park the Porsche over the top of my wife's Mitsubishi Lancer. That will allow 3" above the 911 and 3" between the roof of the Lancer and the bottom of the lift.

Not sure you can get away with much less than that if you are planning on stacking cars.

I have measured my garage and cars probably 100 times and came to the same conclusion as you. I even fabricated 4 posts out of wood and placed them in the proper locations for a 4 post lift at the proper height. I have exactly 10.0 feet of clearance and it is the minimum I feel you would need to store a car. With my Audi on the ground and the Porsche on the lift, I should have 4" clearance between the rafters and the Porsche and 5" between the bottom of the ramps and the roof of the Audi. My Audi is a little shorter than an Lancer, and my 911 is lowered, which explains my difference in measurements.

One thing to keep in mind about a 4 post is that you need a few inches extra head room to lift the car off of the safety locks to be able to lower it.

[andyt11]

Originally Posted by SpeedracerIndy

One thing to keep in mind about a 4 post is that you need a few inches extra head room to lift the car off of the safety locks to be able to lower it.

That's a crucial point. So if you jam the Porsche up too close to the roof, there is potential that you wouldn't be able to raise it enough to get it off the locks!? You'd have to let the tires down I guess.

[yelcab1]

I live life precariously, I have exactly 1.5 inch clearance over the top of the bottom car, and about 2 inches over the top car when the door is open.

[autobonrun]

Originally Posted by SpeedracerIndy

How tall are your ceilings? You have pretty good clearance there.

I have 125" available floor to ceiling. If I was building a garage from scratch however, I'd install 11' minimum.

There is a head bang factor that needs to be considered when getting out of the lower car. I've done that about 4 times in 6 years and that's 4 too many. Also, if you park a car underneath that has a trunk, there's the danger of the trunk lid slamming up against the lift. Ask me how I know. I've since installed cushions on the back of the lift frame where a trunk lid might hit.

[yelcab1]

Head banging? Notice the cross bar getting wrapped with white foam after the 3rd time I bang my head?

[NeedSpace]

Hmm, good point... Given my clearance, I'll be hitting the foam. So, it is official, I can fit 2 cars in the garage. I put my audi in, the audi is 57 inches tall, I have 58 inches of clearance. Needless to say, I won't be doing this very often. That said, I believe the 911 is about 52 inches so I am good to go.

[JJ 911SC]

Originally Posted by NeedSpace

... So, it is official, I can fit 2 cars in the garage. I put my audi in, the audi is 57 inches tall, I have 58 inches of clearance...]

Make sure that the 1" is enough to release the safety lock

[Fritz Peyerl]

I have a safety optical beam mounted on my ceiling and any car which rises to 1" of the ceiling, the lift shuts off.
Since I am not on my safety stops at this time, I use 4 supports, in the channel to to rest the hoist on . That way I have no pressure on the ram.

[yelcab1]

Originally Posted by Fritz Peyerl

I have a safety optical beam mounted on my ceiling and any car which rises to 1" of the ceiling, the lift shuts off.
Since I am not on my safety stops at this time, I use 4 supports, in the channel to to rest the hoist on . That way I have no pressure on the ram.

Can you share the design of that safety beam?

[zippy_gg]

Originally Posted by NeedSpace

What an awesome car! More pics please!

[NeedSpace]

Zippy,

Here ya go...

here is a close up of the dash...
http://forums.pelicanparts.com/porsche-911-technical-forum/600140-how-fast-4.html#post5936581

And of course some others of the car...

[zippy_gg]

Thanks NeedSpace, it is a gorgeous car, and in beautiful shape!
So... 105 MPH... Nice!

[les_garten]

Originally Posted by Tim L

I have the MAXJAX and love it. I only have a 9' ceiling in the garage so my options were limited but the lift still lifts 45", no more using the creeper for me.

Originally Posted by jsmithcds

+1 use it all the time. With the adapters you can get 50" of lift

Hey! For you guys that have the MaxJax, any problems getting under the car or the arms between the wheels?

I am thinking of getting one this week.

Can you guys supply your inside post to inside post measurements?

[70S Targa Guy]

Originally Posted by Driver_X

Freaking whiners....at least you have a garage!

Let me be the first to comment....Been there, done that Driver_X. Fortunately for me it was years ago! I used to wrench out of necessity even in the winter when I was a younger "Yout" with my cousin Vinny. I guess we are thick skinned here in NJ & PA.

LIFTS, WE DON'T NEED NO STINKIN' LIFTS!

BTW, in all seriousness...wow, some nice garages and equipment some of you guys enjoy. Kudos to you all!

[les_garten]

Need to be doing that on a Gravel driveway to really brag about it!



It's amazing what we do in our youth!

[kuehl]

Originally Posted by Driver_X

Freaking whiners....at least you have a garage!

Looks good to me. Symmetrically balanced.