Rockape Posted June 23, 2022 Report Share Posted June 23, 2022 So - I need to crawl around under the car looking for leaks etc. and reckon a decent set of ramps should be in the tool kit. The front of the car is pretty low and am concerned that I could easily buy something that won’t fit. I guess I could buy something and return if no good? - bit thought I would see if anyone has any suggestions/recommendations first. cheers Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Clive Posted June 23, 2022 Report Share Posted June 23, 2022 You can by buy "car ramp extensions" However, I have not used ramps for many many years. A decent trolley jack and axle stands for me. Required for taking wheels off. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Badwolf Posted June 23, 2022 Report Share Posted June 23, 2022 I second the axle stands and trolley jack, along with several breeze blocks under, but not quite touching the chassis, just in case of accidents Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Unkel Kunkel Posted June 23, 2022 Report Share Posted June 23, 2022 CJ Autos hydraulic ramps.Not cheap, but do get around the problem of low front end clearance and they are reassuringly sturdy. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rockape Posted June 23, 2022 Author Report Share Posted June 23, 2022 Thanks for the suggestions i have trolley jack and axle stands (and wheel chocks) - changed the gearbox oil yesterday - and now I have clean gear oil on the drip tray. Grrrrr…. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Clive Posted June 23, 2022 Report Share Posted June 23, 2022 2 hours ago, Badwolf said: I second the axle stands and trolley jack, along with several breeze blocks under, but not quite touching the chassis, just in case of accidents I stack the wheels from the car underneath. Decent place to store them while working. Just choose your spot with care! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gully Posted June 23, 2022 Report Share Posted June 23, 2022 The ramps I have were great for the GT6 until I reduced the front camber - now the front of the car sits too low to use them without using some short sections of scaffold board as a run-in (essentially doing what the extensions pictured above achieve). The extensions are essential if you want to be able to reverse onto the ramps. However, I use a trolley jack and axle stands far more often. Gully Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Colin Lindsay Posted June 23, 2022 Report Share Posted June 23, 2022 1 hour ago, Gully said: However, I use a trolley jack and axle stands far more often. Gully Trolley jack and axle stands, or just trolley jack and ramps, especially if you're working on the handbrake cables and need to have the wheels raised so that they're not hanging down, or just don't want to take them off but need the extra height that wheels on ramps will give. Many times I've jacked the front of the car and then slid the ramps under the wheels; just make sure the car is well chocked and can't roll. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
daverclasper Posted June 23, 2022 Report Share Posted June 23, 2022 I do use ramps with sections of scaff board for "non wheel off work". Bit less faff for me, and gives a good height for doing chassis maintenance, etc Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rockape Posted June 23, 2022 Author Report Share Posted June 23, 2022 More good ideas. its a balance between safety, ease of use and access gained. I used the jack and stands for the oil change - it’s “ok” but a bit of a faff. Ramps - super easy and quick - but problems with clearance i might bite the bullet and get some hydraulic jack/ramps…. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark B Posted June 23, 2022 Report Share Posted June 23, 2022 I've used ramps and similar extension pieces as pictured for many years, mainly with my Vitesse but also my gt6 and mk1 mx5. The extension pieces help to pin the ramps down as you start to climb, and ive not had a ramp skate away on approach as I've had with just ramps on their own. My mx5 is very low and the the extension lifts it just enough to miss the front valance. I always make sure I am fully on both ramps up to the stop, with both tyres centralised on the ramps. Hand brake on, in gear if iam not going to run the engine and rear wheels chocked. I wedge a block of wood behind the front wheels through the ramps also. I then rock the car side to side to make sure the ramps are seated with no movement. I have a high lift low entry jack and numerous stands, but sometimes, if I just want a quick visual check, it's quicker and easier with the ramps. If I was going to do major work where I was heaving and pull on things I would use 4 stands, plus timber blocks on ramps placed under the car to add additional support for the stands, and if the worst was to happen the car is dropping nowhere. You can never be to safe. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Unkel Kunkel Posted June 23, 2022 Report Share Posted June 23, 2022 2 hours ago, Rockape said: More good ideas. its a balance between safety, ease of use and access gained. At risk of sounding boringly Health snd Safety I would urge you very strongly to to swing that balance in your decision making very firmly in the direction of “safety’. In 1976 due entirely to my impatience, carelessness and momental stupidity, I had a car slip off a jack onto me. I was incredibly lucky to get away with it.It was a hard and painful lesson. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Josef Posted June 23, 2022 Report Share Posted June 23, 2022 3 hours ago, Rockape said: I used the jack and stands for the oil change - it’s “ok” but a bit of a faff. I have discovered I can get my oil drainer just under the Spit and the drain plug out without jacking it up! All from the engine bay too. I don’t have engine bay valances fitted, they’d get in the way of this obviously. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rockape Posted June 24, 2022 Author Report Share Posted June 24, 2022 I used a large syringe to get the oil in….the one I have to ballast my model railway track. Need a new one now ! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rockape Posted June 24, 2022 Author Report Share Posted June 24, 2022 10 hours ago, Unkel Kunkel said: At risk of sounding boringly Health snd Safety I would urge you very strongly to to swing that balance in your decision making very firmly in the direction of “safety’. In 1976 due entirely to my impatience, carelessness and momental stupidity, I had a car slip off a jack onto me. I was incredibly lucky to get away with it.It was a hard and painful lesson. I completely agree - I never get under a car with just a jack - makes me nervous just looking at it ….. i was told that breeze blocks don’t help much either as they can easily shatter the CJ Auto jacks look to be the best bet at the moment Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AndyTV8 Posted June 24, 2022 Report Share Posted June 24, 2022 I use a pair of CJ Autos hydraulic ramps - when in the fully lowered position front-end clearance with my TR4 is not an issue (although they did come with a pair of lead-on ramps as well, I have never used them) I don’t have much room in my garage so I park the car on them every time to save on storage-space and means the front is always ready to lift 😀 ……. Andy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rockape Posted June 24, 2022 Author Report Share Posted June 24, 2022 On 02/06/2022 at 17:01, Josef said: 20W50 for the engine. GL4 spec for the gearbox. I’ve been buying the Penrite stuff from the club shop recently for the engine, Castrol Syntrans in the gearbox since it came recommended from an overdrive specialist. 16 minutes ago, AndyTV8 said: I use a pair of CJ Autos hydraulic ramps - when in the fully lowered position front-end clearance with my TR4 is not an issue (although they did come with a pair of lead-on ramps as well, I have never used them) I don’t have much room in my garage so I park the car on them every time to save on storage-space and means the front is always ready to lift 😀 ……. Andy I think this going to be my preferred option….parking the car on the ramps is a good idea too Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cliff.b Posted June 24, 2022 Report Share Posted June 24, 2022 If I need complete under car access, I use standard ramps on the rear wheels then trolley jack to lift the front and place axle stands. Reversing on to the ramps also has the advantage that they are pulled under the tyres instead of the tyre trying to push them away Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Badwolf Posted June 24, 2022 Report Share Posted June 24, 2022 4 hours ago, Rockape said: I was told that breeze blocks don’t help much either as they can easily shatter Sorry, they are not breeze blocks, my mistake, they are actually concrete. The type of padstone that builders use under RSJs. Left over from my extension some years ago. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rockape Posted June 24, 2022 Author Report Share Posted June 24, 2022 37 minutes ago, Badwolf said: Sorry, they are not breeze blocks, my mistake, they are actually concrete. The type of padstone that builders use under RSJs. Left over from my extension some years ago. Good idea - i have some large timbers from a project 12”x6” x 48” seriously solid bits of wood….they would do the same job Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Badwolf Posted June 24, 2022 Report Share Posted June 24, 2022 I was taught by my Dad at a very early age, always leave yourself an escape route either physically or verbally. Always forget the second part!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stratton Jimmer Posted June 24, 2022 Report Share Posted June 24, 2022 I have a pair of standard ramps and a pair of axle stands so depending on which bit of the underside I need access to, the other end is "High Jacked" and then lowered onto the ramps. The business end is jacked and axle "standed" with wheels off. I wish I had a pit! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
1969Mk3Spitfire Posted June 25, 2022 Report Share Posted June 25, 2022 On 23/06/2022 at 10:13, Rockape said: Nice looking car. I’ve pretty much abandoned the idea of using ramps and use trolley jacks with axle stands. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pete Lewis Posted June 25, 2022 Report Share Posted June 25, 2022 I had some CJ auto's full length ramps with 5ft long run up ramps so a gentle incline the centre bridge could be removed leaving the wheels on the 4 pods so access was easy but heavy bits of kit and i sold them on last year as with the 2000 the rear overhang made engaging the ramp ends was more than i could lift , but was very strong kit and had years of service Pete 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dick Twitchen Posted June 25, 2022 Report Share Posted June 25, 2022 Pate, I had exactly the same ones and also recently sold mine on. Excellent for what they were designed for but, as you say they are HEAVY and storage needs thinking about. Dick Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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