Car lifts for our British Sports cars..

[drambuie]

I have been meaning for a time, to begin a thread discussing "car lifts" for our low British sports cars. Personaly, I am really tired of jacks and 4x4s. I have been seriously shopping for a compact car lift that won't take too much garage space and is not too over priced. Getting the frame about 3 or 4 feet off the ground would be enough for most people i think.... Any thoughts from my fellow Healeyist as what is on the market these days?

 

[Randy Forbes]

A low-rise (mid-rise? they already have somesuch designation...) lift would only be good for doing brake jobs, cleaning wire wheels and probably minor suspension repairs. They pretty much prevent prevent any under chassis work.

More later, Ravioli just hit the table...

 

[Marvin Gruber]

We had a thread on this a few months ago. Several folks liked the two post lift. Great but permanent mounts. I have a moveable one that lifts the car about 4 foot. Wouldn't still be working on LBCs without it.

Marv

 

[Randy Forbes]

(BURP!) ... now where was I?

I guess it's a matter of "to each, their own" but other than offering a place to park, I have no use for a 4-post lift, though I suppose it does lend itself to hold plenty of tools while you're reaching across it!

The mid-rise cannot be parked under, so no clear advantage there.

With a Healey and its underslung rear axle, plus the 2" block under each aft front shock arm, you could leave a your car suspended in the air indefinitely with a 2-post, as well as completely unrestricted access for all manner of maintenance and repair work.

All lifts are comparable, price-wise (I've seen mid-rise lifts cost up to double what an economical 2 or 4 post lift can be had for) so for most, it's a matter of space constraints, I think, not the money.

I've got both, an Eagle 9000# "floorplate" lift (worked in my former 9'3" ceiling garage and even better in my current 10'4" one) and a Bend-Pak (ALI Certified) 9000# asymetric (with overhead cables & hose in my 12'4"+ high ceiling'd shop) and they both work terrific for a Healey.

If you're asking what the most useful lift type is, take a look at the rows of 2-posts at every dealership's service dept__the only exception being a drive-on alignment rig.

If only the shop was still this empty...

 

[Lotuswins]

I purchased a 4 post lift about 2 years ago. I wanted to store and work on vehicles so thus the 4 post rather than a 2. I went for the Bend Pac, which is manufactured in China, but engineered here. The major selling point was the safety latches, air operated which come in if something malfunctions. Typical for chinese manufacturer though, the nuts and bolts were undersized for the holes in the frame and bits, so plan on replacing some with proper fitting hardware. Another feature though, which most don't have, is all the pulley shafts are in double shear, which will extend the life expectancy and safety. Anyways, I'm pretty much happy with it and I store the Lotus on top, and the Healey or Jag S-type on the bottom, as well as perform maintenance tasks on it.

 

[Fairview]

Any lift is better than no lift and there is no perfect lift for everyone.

I could have bought a two or four post lift, but decided on a mid-rise lift for several reasons. First of all it doesn't take up much space and is moveable. It doesn't take any special wiring, no drilling into the floor, and gives clear access to the car. It is low enough to park right over it, but lifts the car high enough for brake and suspension work, engine servicing, greasing front end, etc. It is also great for bodywork, waxing, vacuuming, interior work, etc. as you can lift the car right up to where you need. All these considerations were important to me in my particular situation.

The only drawback for me is that I can't work on the center of the car underneath. For me, that wasn't a big deal as not alot happens in the middle of the car, other than changing speedo cables, transmission oil draining, maybe clutch slave cylinder work. I can live without that capability for the other pluses. This negative doesn't even apply to a mid engine or rear engine car (think Porsche 911), and I've had a few of those over the years.

With the Healey, it doesn't interfere with the exhaust system as the lift is narrow enough to allow clearance. The frame of the Healey is almost exactly the same width as the frame of the lift, so it is very easy to set up. Below is a link to a picture of my lift with my other sports car. I don't have one with the Healey (the Healey doesn't need to spend much time on the lift!).

I'd be happy with a two post or a four post. Ideally, I'd have one of those and a mid-rise lift. An important thing to remember is that a lift will pay for itself many times over in the work that you can do, rather than hire somebody else to do. Good luck with your search.

https://milepost105.smugmug.com/Cars/1978-Ferrari-308-GTS/i-r8RrMRg/0/L/DSCF8955-L.jpg

 

[Johnny]

Like the car also, but would like to know how do you operate it, and how much does it cost?

 

[stretchit2]

I had bought an EZ Carlift from a well known supplier. The lift is brilliant, and my son in law uses it regularly on his Camero and BMWs, for the Healey it simply did not work easily. Ground clearance was a challenge, you had to fabricate and precisely place wood blocks on the outriggers to provide adequate clearance from the exhaust. The resulting lift points left much of the weight of the engine and front end way out front resulting, at least in my case, with deflection in the frame.

I am not saying the lift was bad, as a matter of fact it is a well engineered piece of equipment, but for me and my Healey it simply did't work. I would love to find something that is as well engineered and portable as the EZ Carlift that actually works on my Healry.

Thoughts?

Jeff

 

[nevets]

I've considered a car lift for my Healey and was convinced that a 4-poster was a good choice. What is the down-side of a 4-post lift?

 

[Lotuswins]

Hi Nevets,

Just off the top of my head, the downside of a 4 poster (others chime in please):

1) takes up more floor space
2) access to the vehicle underneath is a bit more restricted, specifically removing and reinstalling the wheels requires using a jack either under each corner or under the axle/crossmember. Get the sliding jack plate, two is better.

Benefits over a 2 post:

1) doesn't require bolting to floor
2) its a drive on, so you don't need to position the lift beams under the car each time you lift it.
3) you don't have to worry about tipping, though since I don't own one, I can't really say.

I'm sure other's have comments.......

 

[Fairview]

Like the car also, but would like to know how do you operate it, and how much does it cost?

Hi Johnny,

I'm not sure if you were asking about my scissors lift or not, but assuming you were: I bought mine about 10 years ago from the local SnapOn tool dealer. I paid right around $2,000 then. If anything, the prices have probably come down, and I'm sure there are many different suppliers.

The lift is heavy (maybe 800 pounds), but just lays flat on the floor, requiring no mounting or anything. It can be moved, slid around, whatever. There is a separate power unit which plugs into a regular 110v outlet. This pumps hydraulic fluid to raise the lift. There is a manual safety that holds the lift in place, even if you unhook the power unit. Also, the hydraulic system has a safety device, a hydraulic fuse, which holds the lift up in the event of sudden pressure loss.

The lift can handle up to 6000 pounds. It is very low so I haven't found clearance to be an issue, but for the Ferrari, I lay a board on each side of the lift to give another inch or two of clearance.


If I could have just one lift, and had adequate ceiling height, I'd go for a 4 post lift because then I could store two cars in one bay. But with my present garage, this scissors lift works great.

 

[Jerry]

I like my two post lift. I have a friend that has a 4 post and have tried to work around it . Lots of bumping ankles and heads and no access to certain areas.
The other thing I figured out is that a Healey fits better on a two lift if you put the car in backwards. IE the longer arms under the engine. Otherwise the short arms won't reach the frame .

jerry

 

[drambuie]

Hi Randy! How have you been? Thank you for posting the photo of your 2 post lift. I am in the process of selling my home here in Illinios and scouting property in Sarasota florida, Kentucky and Tennessee just south of the smokys. I wanted to design my new shop with the car lift in mind. I decided on the 2 post as most of my work seems to center around suspension, body and wheel work. After looking at your photo of the 2 post i can see it really does not take up all that much space! I will have have a 5 car garage such as i do now so the 2 post makes the most sense to me. Thanks again to everyone! for taking the time to post your comments and nice photo's! I just dread packing....but it will be worth it! Michael. These jack stands will no longer do! What is not pictured are the 4x4 wood blocks i always use for a back up!