JimV8

The car is in for the winter and I want to redo the engine seals, belts and it needs a clutch (long overdue). I have a welding shop so building stuff is easy and I thought a ramp with a fixed front and that i could raise ( jack) the back of it up would give a good platform to work under the car. Its been done and not terribly difficult. My question is how high should I raise the car?

AznDrgn

I'd raise it about a foot and a half or just tall enough that you can get under it with a crawler and still have room to work.

Jakerx

well the higher the better because that makes working under the car very easy. since you're not actually making a lift you don't want to make it to high because you'll be on your back and not standing. i would say somewhere around or maybe a few inches less than 2 feet?

JimV8

Thanks for the input. I was just doing some measuring ans found that when I'm on my butt my head is about 34" from ground so maybe a 3 ft high would be good as i won't have to do the work on my back.

Granite 944

I like the idea of not working on my back, but also keep in mind that if you go that high, you'll need a stand to work on anything in the engine compartment also. Maybe you can design one with a removable step shelf, or just have another seperate engine compartment perimeter stand? Let us know what you come up with. I might consider doing the same.

JimV8

Jeez, Ken that sounds compulcated, I takes some pics and post them though.

lleroyb

I made 11" ramps and they are too low to use a creeper with. 18" to two feet would be nice. The challenge is in the approach ramps. With an angle that keeps the front end from hitting the ramps to get to two feet they will be long enough that the back tires will run up o them too. Hmmm, maybe that would not be so bad. Let us know how it works out>

Lou

JimV8

I found some steel stair stock at my supplier and it comes in 10 foot lengths. The top surface has holes punched out and the surface is very rough. This is good because the angle of a 12 foot long ramp at 36 inches height is very steep and I can see wheel spin without some kind of friction assistance. I figure a couple .125 x 2 x 2 steel angles along the length of edges will give a width of 16 inches add a lot of strength and that would give room to place a jack. Wheel chocks are definately in on this one. I'll have to get a big floor jack to raise the back up to 36" or maybe i can mod one. Just thinking out loud.