Wow! we seem to be over thinking this thing, while safety is of utmost importance it would appear a lift is in order if a great deal of rocking /twisting motion is required for the needed repairs, looks as if doublepumpers contribution should work to me as well.
I mentioned it also with adding the 2x6 in the middle. Steel straps from corner to corner will be the best! But the 2x6 will be an improvement! Then maybe cover it all with a piece of plywood! Bones
For yours, ends should be solid and/or X braced before I would trust them and even then only if they were screwed and glued and not just nailed.
Plywood is lighter and actually stronger in this application. Think of shear walls sheathed in plywood in earthquake prone areas
The sun glare and shadows just made it harder to work out what was done. The construction method is why it got a poor review. By his own admission, he stated that he was not an engineer. The beauty of this forum is that there are plenty on here with knowledge other than cars, and they can be helpful in these situations. I applaud @goldmountain ‘s efforts to heed the advice. .
It won't pass code where I am, unless there is adjacent ground level lower than the floor of the pit, and the pit is ventilated on that side.
Hello, If the patterns of using 2x4 wood of any kind, as long as it is not too high or can create a wobbly situation, the box plank builds are quite strong. When I first saw the need for our toddler son to have a safe place to sit and eat something without falling off of a small kid’s chair, I made this sturdy seat for his east access abilities. It was always sitting against our small kitchen wall and anytime he had to sit to eat something, he walked over and sat down without a care in the world. There was not much distance to the ground, so he was not going to fall down at any time. Also, the stool/chair was heavy enough that it would not slide on the tile floor. It was a safe and secure piece of utility furniture. Plus, it was made with scrap wood and the cost was less than minimal. The stool was so sturdy that I could use it to reach up to the tallest cabinet to get something for my wife. No need to break out the 6 foot tall step ladder. I felt secure even though I am 6 feet+ tall and weigh around 200 lbs. It was the way the 2x4 wood was attached and evenly distributed the weight put upon it that made it sturdy. Jnaki I used it in two other ways in association with automobiles. The early car seats made by GM were the best on the market. Straps, buckles and secure one piece construction was the best on the market. But, it was low and a one way angle to look forward with the straps holding it in place. At the time, that was the safety protocol for these car seats. It was all good and secure. He could look at me while I was driving around. If he was strapped in the protective seat. But, he was lower than the window ledge. There were times that he was facing rearward and his view was looking out of the back of the El Camino, blue sky and flying birds…etc. But, the moment I put the 2x4 stool on the seat, added his car seat, still strapped in place, it worked well. Secure and it gave our son a view out of the side window and if I turned the seat around, which was also approved back then, now he could see forward at where we were going. Yes, that is no longer the proper way to install a toddler car seat, these days. But, the rules from the traffic safety board back then allowed front facing kid/toddler seats as long as they were strapped down with the approved factory car seat belts. Note: When he got older and we had to get a taller, larger seat, the 2x4 stool could be used in my wife’s low slung sporty car to allow our son to see the world as it passes by the car. It was as if he were just a teenage passenger. His view angle was forward and all around to enjoy the ride, while still being safe and secure for the times. Remember … it was the times and all approved safety protocols were followed. Note 2: Doug Cook 1937 Tahitian Red Chevy Lion's Dragstrip History shows up and tells a story. In the early street legal Gas Coupes and Sedan Classes, it was hot rod heaven. Bring what you have, make sure you have a scattershield and off to the races… big motor? Just bring your hot rod to the drags, pop off the hubcaps, open the exhaust openings and go see how fast or quick your daily driver has become. 1959 So, what does a guy like Doug Cook do? Changes the rear axle gears to get a better ratio for the drags, test drive it on the daily street trips and then show up at Lions Dragstrip to race in C/Gas or without added weight, B/Gas on Saturdays. In the highly competitive Gas Coupe and Sedan classes, every bit of speed advantage is always a good thing. 4:56 Positraction gears or similar versions work wonders to lower E.T. and adds to the awesome quickness off of the starting line on any of his races. 2x4 and 4x6 blocks for support as well as a floor jack and jack stands behind the blocks of wood that are holding up the rear axle. We saw and filmed different versions of the 37 Chevy coupe. Painted wheels were the changing factor, but still had the whitewall street look tires with gold painted rims. The black on black? The dragstrip added slicks that were allowed in the class races. single timed run
Maybe it's just me but there usually isn't a month that goes by I don't drive past a set of steel ramps sitting by the side of the road come garbage day. And if I don't see them there they are usually at the swap meet for about ten bucks a set.
So bottom line: we all have to get lifts to be safe and secure! But my garage isn't big enough to have one. Oh well, back to the blocks and old school jack stands...
I've got a set of alignment stands that were being thrown out when they closed the shop. Raise it about a foot. Also got the turn plates so they can be repurposed to their original use.
I might be a bit on the flexible side but I work on the principle of if a car weighs 2400lbs there's theoretically only 600lbs per timber stack not the entire 2400 lbs per stack.
Nope, not even lifts are fool proof. I was in the rod shop one Saturday and had the boss' lift catch on one leg as I was raising my 54 Chevy. Good thing I was paying attention and caught it immediately or it would have dumped the car thru the wall into my office!
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