Lifting a Chim

[Kitchski]

With my clutch release arm dead, I'll shortly be attempting to change it with the box in situ. Problem is the car will be in my garage with my limited tools and height is a bit of an issue. Right now its on ramps and it's pretty tight underneath.

I'm thinking about removing the bonnet and using my engine crane to pick the front of the car up, carefully and slowly obviously and supporting it on some stands or the like, while obviously chocking the wheels and taking all the usual precautions.
The question is, is the box frame part of the chassis at the front of the car stronger enough to use to lift the car up?
I know it's not an ideal situation, but it was less than ideal that the arm went in the first place It's the best I've come up with really!

Cheers

[andy-w]

go down machine mart and get 4 3ton axle stands...you can lift the car really high using a trolley jack....i think i had about 600mm clearaance underneathwhen i did this....

[Kitchski]

I did consider trolley jack, but I don't have enough room either side of the car to use it, and the one I have is a basic crap 2tonne Halfords type. The stands I have, but I'm keen to get the car as high as is possible in a single garage

[biggiles]

Kitchski said:

I did consider trolley jack, but I don't have enough room either side of the car to use it, and the one I have is a basic crap 2tonne Halfords type. The stands I have, but I'm keen to get the car as high as is possible in a single garage

Why do you need to lift via the side?

if you already have it on ramps, put the trolley jack under the front.

Lift then car on to some axle stands; put some solid wood under the trolley jack and repeat until the car is high enough.

[andy-w]

^^^^^^^

Thats exactly what i did...lifted the front...then went round the back and lifted that, then back to the front and so on until i could get under it with great ease...took about 10 minutes.

I have a double length garage but single width and i managed to totally strip the car down and rebuild it so it is possible...just hard work!!!

[spend]

If you can jack high enough (easier if you use 2 jacks IMO) it will be easier to work on if you raise your ramps by putting solid wood under them. Just use axle stands as safety devices at the front, you can prob do what you want with the rears on the ground?

Dave

[Kitchski]

Thanks for the suggestions. In the end I ratchet strapped the front wheels to the ramps and then jacked the rear on the outriggers. Worked a treat and kept it high