Don Plumley

How do you jack up a 993??

Yes, I read the DIY on P-Car.com. The rear jack point is where I want to put a jack stand. But that's where my jack lifts the car. So I put the jack stand on the bottom of a suspension support piece (it's round, attaches to the chassis). While jacking up the other side, it slipped off the jack stand! Man, that got my attention.

I resorted to the "lift from the engine" method so I could place the stands under the proper jack support points, but watching the engine rise 4" in the bay as I lifted the car just does not feel right to me.

Is there a better way? (other than buying a lift?)

f_scaife

4 inches?? Are your motor mounts attached?

Mark in Baltimore

Don,

Just use the engine as the jacking point. People have been doing it for years now and it makes working on the car easy. Make sure your front wheels are chocked and you'll be good to go.

TheOtherEric

Use your engine as your jacking point. Everybody does it. You may want to reread the DIY on p-car.com. That's how it's done!

ca993twin

Don,

Pay attention to Fred's comments! Your engine should barely budge when the mounts are secure!!!!

Dudley

The front is easy. I used a 3' long 2X12 board to spread the force of the jack across the trunk pan.
I did not originate the method but it worked well for me.

Mark in Baltimore

I thought Don meant the engine rose 4" inches in his garage bay...but maybe he meant engine bay. If so, that's, um, bad.

993-CT

I remember reading a post expressing concern about using the engine as a jacking point ...found it:
First link in a thread re: motor mount
https://rennlist.com/forums/showpost...50&postcount=5

https://rennlist.com/forums/showpost...2&postcount=11

I really cannot see any safe way to jack the car without using the engine jack point , but the mount failure possibility is in the back of my head....

TheOtherEric

That sure would be a convenient way to get jackstands under the 2 front corners. I'd like to hear of others doing this before I ever attempt it. That floor pan up front is REALLY thin.

Leland Pate

Don, it sounds like your hydraulic motor mounts are shot. I know you are at the tip of the iceburg with your project so I'm sure everything will get the treatment.
Too bad we don't live closer together, I'd love to watch the transformation.

Lee

Mark in Baltimore

The floor pan is thin; I've never felt comfortable using it as a jack point, even with wood underneath to spread the load.

With my cheapie Harbor Freight jack, I just jack under the point in front of the rear tire and crank that baby up. My jack stands aren't that tall and slide very easily under the front points. If you have AC jack stands or something as tall, you might not be able to do this.

Don Plumley

Thanks for the quick replies.

The engine definitely rises and falls in the engine bay. Maybe 4" is a bit of hyperbole, but it goes from clearing the engine pad about 1" or so to touching it as I lift.

I was talking to Tyson Schmidt about this at Laguna Seca on the 1st. He did say that he's seen a 996 engine mount fail due to lifting by the engine. So I'm very cautious about this.

Needless to say, after seeing my car slide off the jackstand, I'm a little rattled right now...

Mark in Baltimore

Well, it's a good reason to go to solid mounts...if you have a track car.

pcar964

your engine should definitely not be moving up in the bay!

TheOtherEric

Yikes! If your engine rises at all in the engine compartment when you jack on it, then you have a problem with your mounts. I would definitely NOT jack there until you get that fixed. Nor would I even want to drive the car! Swapping mounts is an easy DIY.

p.s. in general, don't worry about hurting your engine mounts due to jacking on the engine.