Mark944na86

I'm looking at gearing up my garage for a clutch job.

I haven't got a lift, so I'll have to get the car up there on ramps or stands. How much clearance do I want/need? What do people use in the absence of a lift to get the car up there?

The usual jackstand height just won't cut it, I'm sure, so I'm interested in hearing about people's approaches and solutions.

David Floyd

Jackstands have worked for 3 clutch changes I have done

Rhino ramps up front

I rented a tranny jack for the first change, bought a cheap Harbor Freight for the next, makes it much easier

Red1

I've done several on ramps/stands.

+1 on the Harbor Freight transmission jack.

ehall

Which jack model did you guys use?

mtnman82

I did what Charlie944 did for my clutch job. See the pics in this thread:

https://rennlist.com/forums/944-turb...mps-etc-2.html

Since then, I've built wooden boxes to replace the cinderblocks (w/2x10's and 2x4's). I'll try to find the pics and post the link here too.

IMHO, it was very much worth it to have the extra room putting the stands up on blocks affords. To get it up like that, you go side to side putting hte car up on the blocks first, then up on the ramps. You will need to put the jack up on blocks to make the second set of lifts (when I made my wooden boxes, I made 5 - one for each corner of the car and one to put the jack up on).

I use the Harbor Freight aluminum racing jack - not the cheapest one but the next one up. The 'next one up' has a bit more extension - enough to clear the wooden or cinder blocks.

BTW, the reason I made wooden blocks was because it's a lot easier to move the 5 wooden blocks than ~20 cinder blocks individually. The wooden blocks are a bit taller than the cinderblocks (2~3 inches taller than just ramps) and do give enough room for working on the exhaust, etc. However, if I was doing the clutch again, I'd put it up on both to give me plenty of room.

Best of luck with it!!!

Mark944na86

Thanks for this -- just the sort of thing I was looking for.

TRACKIN951

6 ton jack stands at full extension! Gives you about 1.5'-2'! Definitely going to want this.

Ski

+1 6 ton and tranny jack

David Floyd

http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/cta...emnumber=39178

mtnman82

Link to thread w/pics of wood boxes:

https://rennlist.com/forums/944-turb...e-ramps-2.html

Link to the floor jack I use (imp't part is the 3.5" to 17.5" range):

http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/cta...emnumber=40105

Eric_Oz_S2

Jackstands worked for me:

Luis de Prat

Not to mention that dry cinder blocks can crumble under extreme pressure...

Mark944na86

At the moment, I can get about 375mm (14.75") clearance using rhino ramps at front and 2 ton stands at the rear. Not enough by a long way, particularly on a creeper.

I think I need at least twice that height for reasonable clearance. The cinder blocks look like a good quick and cost effective solution, but a bit tiresome to move around. Well-built wooden supports would be great, but I'd have to build them -- and materials would cost more.

I will check out the 6 ton ramps, but I suspect I'm going to end up with clinker blocks or wooden ramps to get enough clearance to do the job comfortably.

M758

I have used jack stands for all my car work. This includes maintaing multple street cars and build/maintain my race car for 10 years. All done on jack stands. I have 3 sets. I have about 6 smaller stands for normal work, I have 2 medium stands and 2 very large stands (They are about 15" un-extended). This has worked for tranny changes, clutch jobs, engine changes, rod bearing jobs, etc.

I will see if I have a picture.

Red1

I bought this one:

http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/cta...temnumber=4075

Excellent. I don't recall paying that much for it though. Maybe I did. Hell I don't know.

I've done the job a couple times using a regular floor jack before buying this jack. Made the next two SO much easier to do.