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Author Topic:   Car lifts
64FalconF-16
Gearhead

Posts: 191
From: Republic Of Texas!! Temporarily living in KY
Registered: Feb 2002

posted 01-10-2003 09:30 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for 64FalconF-16   Click Here to Email 64FalconF-16     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
I posted this on the Tool forum too.

I just (finally) got concrete poured in my shop. Now I am wanting a car lift to put in it.
I am looking at the two post lifts. Does anyone have one of these? If you do I have a few questions before i go out and buy one.

Any input on these would be appreciated!!

Rick

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Rick Austin

64 Pro-Street Falcon
351C 4V 8.1s in 1/8
79 Ford Bronco 4 X 4
400 9.9s in 1/8
2000 F-150 XLT 5.4L
1932 Ford 3 window Coupe
http://mustangsandmore.50megs.com/64FalconF-16.html

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Just Strokin
Gearhead

Posts: 754
From: Tuscaloosa, Alabama
Registered: Dec 2001

posted 01-10-2003 10:02 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for Just Strokin   Click Here to Email Just Strokin     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Just a question....How thick is the concrete where you are going to put the lift?

If it is only say 4-6" thick, I don't think I would get a two post unless I cut out and repoured a thicker area where the post will mount.

I like the thoughts of a 4 post in the stability of it on 'thin' concrete.

Just my thoughts and not the opinion of others.

------------------
Larry

No fast Fords at this time but one fine cruising 96 F350 CC DRW Power Strokin diesel.
And one rusty 64 Fairlane nick-named the Rust Bucket....And sometimes called the Money Pit...

The sounds of a brain dropping into gear.....
"Buzzzzzz.......Click"

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64FalconF-16
Gearhead

Posts: 191
From: Republic Of Texas!! Temporarily living in KY
Registered: Feb 2002

posted 01-10-2003 10:40 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for 64FalconF-16   Click Here to Email 64FalconF-16     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
quote:
Originally posted by Just Strokin:
Just a question....How thick is the concrete where you are going to put the lift?

If it is only say 4-6" thick, I don't think I would get a two post unless I cut out and repoured a thicker area where the post will mount.

I like the thoughts of a 4 post in the stability of it on 'thin' concrete.

Just my thoughts and not the opinion of others.


Yes, It is 4-6" thick. The only problem I have with the four post is you can't get the wheels off of the car like you can with the two post unit.

Rick

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Bob Hopkins
Gearhead

Posts: 253
From: BRIDGEPORT NJ USA
Registered: Jan 2001

posted 01-10-2003 02:46 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for Bob Hopkins   Click Here to Email Bob Hopkins     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Ok if your worried about thin comcrete what about a 2'x2' 1/2" steel plate under each post to spread load over a bigger area???

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BLUE
Gearhead

Posts: 118
From: COLLINSVILLE, IL
Registered: May 2002

posted 01-10-2003 05:55 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for BLUE     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
the 2 post my buddy has in his shop already has about a 2ft x 2ft maybe 3/8 thick foot on the bottom of the posts(came like that from the factory) he also has 2 4 posts in his shop. both have there ups and downs, the biggest down on the 2 post is the legs you swing under the car to lift it sometimes get in your way on undercar work.
we mainly use the 2 post for brake and suspension work.

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Mike Harris
Gearhead

Posts: 122
From: Oakfield, Ga USA
Registered: Jul 2002

posted 01-10-2003 10:56 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for Mike Harris   Click Here to Email Mike Harris     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
I have a two post lift in my shop and I love it. My pad is thicker, but 4-6 inches of fiber reinforced concrete is all you need. 3000psi is a lot of load capacity multiplied 4 times or more. I have a friend with one as well and his pad is about 5 inches thick. Most two post lifts have a mount pad of 2 feet or better span. Spreading the load is not a problem. The four post takes up alot of valuable room in the shop. There may be a few minor areas you can't get to depending on were the jacking arms are on the car, but the whole underside other than that is WIDE-OPEN! Great for exhaust work, transmission work, suspension work, rear end,...I just have had no troubles. I have also had a 7500 pound work truck on it with nor problems.

------------------
Mike Harris
MKZ Racing
home.isoa.net/~mharrisj

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64FalconF-16
Gearhead

Posts: 191
From: Republic Of Texas!! Temporarily living in KY
Registered: Feb 2002

posted 01-13-2003 10:10 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for 64FalconF-16   Click Here to Email 64FalconF-16     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
quote:
Originally posted by Mike Harris:
I have a two post lift in my shop and I love it. My pad is thicker, but 4-6 inches of fiber reinforced concrete is all you need. 3000psi is a lot of load capacity multiplied 4 times or more. I have a friend with one as well and his pad is about 5 inches thick. Most two post lifts have a mount pad of 2 feet or better span. Spreading the load is not a problem. The four post takes up alot of valuable room in the shop. There may be a few minor areas you can't get to depending on were the jacking arms are on the car, but the whole underside other than that is WIDE-OPEN! Great for exhaust work, transmission work, suspension work, rear end,...I just have had no troubles. I have also had a 7500 pound work truck on it with nor problems.


Thanks Mike. Who did you buy your lift from?

Rick

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64FalconF-16
Gearhead

Posts: 191
From: Republic Of Texas!! Temporarily living in KY
Registered: Feb 2002

posted 01-14-2003 07:51 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for 64FalconF-16   Click Here to Email 64FalconF-16     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Thanks for the input on the lifts.

I am going with the two post lift.

I have two cars that are 4 linked. I am tired of the jacking tricks to get the tires out from under the car. The two post lift makes more sense to me and the things I work on the most.

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Razor
Journeyman

Posts: 13
From: Niagara Falls , Canada
Registered: May 2003

posted 05-25-2003 02:09 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for Razor   Click Here to Email Razor     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
There's a hydraulic jack that can go between the ramps of the 4 post unit to lift just the wheels if thats what you need. You just use that, don't need any jacking tricks and in my experience everything is much more accessible with the 4 post unit.

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HHStang
Gearhead

Posts: 181
From: SC, USA
Registered: Feb 2003

posted 05-25-2003 09:45 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for HHStang   Click Here to Email HHStang     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Wouldn't this extra jack be just like jacking the wheels on the ground? If so, what good does the lift do you?

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67stang
Gearhead

Posts: 1676
From: Lynn Haven FL
Registered: Jun 99

posted 06-27-2003 01:07 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for 67stang   Click Here to Email 67stang     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
I may be a little late on this, but my uncles two post lift just ripped out of his 5 inch thick concrete slab at his shop. Ripped out I say, took the whole damn floor with it, and the vehicle.

Ouff dah.

BTW I found out that they recommend something like 12 inches of concrete for the lift

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Scott G
Journeyman

Posts: 23
From: Chattanooga, TN USA
Registered: Mar 2003

posted 06-27-2003 06:19 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for Scott G   Click Here to Email Scott G     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
I just looked on Rotary Lift's website, and they recommend between 4.25 and 5" thickness depending on model, but it looks like all models meant for light duty (normal cars and light trucks) would only need a 4.25" thick slab with 3.25" of anchor engagement.

Scott

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n2oMike
Gearhead

Posts: 1678
From: Spencer, WV
Registered: Jan 2001

posted 06-27-2003 07:55 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for n2oMike   Click Here to Email n2oMike     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
With thinner pads, make sure the car's center of gravity is right between the posts. Don't put the car on too far forward.

Good Luck!

------------------
Mike Burch
66 mustang real street
302 4-speed 289 heads
10.63 @ 129.3
http://www.geocities.com/carbedstangs/cmml_mburch.html
http://www.fortunecity.com/silverstone/healey/367
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bigblocked85
Journeyman

Posts: 95
From: Waterford,MI
Registered: May 2003

posted 07-02-2003 01:18 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for bigblocked85   Click Here to Email bigblocked85     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Have a four post lift and will never go any other way. Dont have to worry about balance, centered alignment, nothing. You will never have more access to the underside of your car than with a four post. If you plan on doing adjustments to your rear suspension etc., dont even think about a two post. BTW, for removing tires, changing brakes etc., I have two tall tripod stands that I use to install under the frame rails and then let the lift down as far as needed. For me it's a perfect setup. Good luck

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64FalconF-16
Gearhead

Posts: 191
From: Republic Of Texas!! Temporarily living in KY
Registered: Feb 2002

posted 07-09-2003 07:59 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for 64FalconF-16   Click Here to Email 64FalconF-16     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
I have two backhalfed cars. the four post lift will never be able to lift the car high enough to remove the rear end. I have decided to go with the two post lift. finally. I tested both and the Two post makes more sense to me and how I would use it in the long run.

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HHStang
Gearhead

Posts: 181
From: SC, USA
Registered: Feb 2003

posted 07-15-2003 11:05 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for HHStang   Click Here to Email HHStang     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
I too appear to be going with the 2-post for my back halfed 67 Stang.

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HHStang
Gearhead

Posts: 181
From: SC, USA
Registered: Feb 2003

posted 07-16-2003 08:29 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for HHStang   Click Here to Email HHStang     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
What brands are people using? What do you know about Autolifters lifts?

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