tannji Posted August 26, 2007 Share Posted August 26, 2007 I could have sworn I have seen jack stands that have a plate to mount up to your rotors like a wheel does. I just spent all day under the Z chasing a couple of wires, fiddling with the fuel system (or what passes for one in this car) and dropping the fuel tank. With 4 jack stands, I spent a fair amount of the day wanting to be in the same spot as a jack stand. Has anyone seen or heard of these? I googled a bit and came up with a patent for this idea, but no product. Obviously, they wouldn't work in situations where you need the suspension unloaded, but otherwise its seems like a good deal. Not only are the stands out of your way and in a wider support pattern... but the suspension would compensate nicely for my non-level garage floor. I have the Harbor Freight 6-Ton stands... not quite as wide as I would like, but wide enough to work. I don't think that the spinning axis of the wheel is a problem... pushing on the car hard enough to rock the stands there would probably rock the stands the same, if not more when they are used conventionally. Any thoughts? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
m4xwellmurd3r Posted August 26, 2007 Share Posted August 26, 2007 I have a feeling that the patent might be preventing someone from making them. I'm sure you could fab up your own by cutting apart some old drums or something like that. Sounds like a decent idea I suppose, but I've never been fond of having the suspension loaded when my car's up in the air. If someone were to get IN the car when I am UNDER it, you can say bye bye to air. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SilentNight1647 Posted August 26, 2007 Share Posted August 26, 2007 I had a set I inherited from my uncle he used them years ago for race cars. Worked slick, I think they are out in the shed but I'm not sure cool idea though I may make some for a Z someday. I would reccomend the chrome Goodyear ones you can get at Sam's they are plenty wide and very stable. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tannji Posted August 26, 2007 Author Share Posted August 26, 2007 I have a feeling that the patent might be preventing someone from making them. I'm sure you could fab up your own by cutting apart some old drums or something like that. Sounds like a decent idea I suppose, but I've never been fond of having the suspension loaded when my car's up in the air. If someone were to get IN the car when I am UNDER it, you can say bye bye to air. Like normal jackstands, these would be adjustable.... and the only person that would be likely to get in while I was under the car doesn't weigh enough to load the suspension = ) I need to check front wheel bearings and possibly rebuild the the calipers anyway, I might just take a rotor to work and fab something up. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mikeatrpi Posted August 26, 2007 Share Posted August 26, 2007 Have you tried using a set of ramps? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
m4xwellmurd3r Posted August 26, 2007 Share Posted August 26, 2007 Like normal jackstands, these would be adjustable.... and the only person that would be likely to get in while I was under the car doesn't weigh enough to load the suspension = )I need to check front wheel bearings and possibly rebuild the the calipers anyway, I might just take a rotor to work and fab something up. haha, in that case, fab up your own set ^^ It's always nice using tools that you know you've made. The reason why I mentioned the thing about the suspension, is that I used to own an old bug, And I worked on them a lot. The worse thing in the world is having someone get in it while you're working under it while it's up on the stands. Even worse when the guy who would get inside weighs 200lbs I've always been pretty cautious about people going in a car while i'm under them. I just get nervous. When you make them, make sure ya post them up. Im' sure if you used a set of old drums it would work pretty well. Just hack apart the drums and weld up a bracket to put onto the stand. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tannji Posted August 26, 2007 Author Share Posted August 26, 2007 ramps work... but as I said before, I am looking for more real estate, not less. Ramps, especially if I were to use 4 at a time, practically prevent access from the sides of the car, not to mention getting the car on them in the first place. I think that some 1X2 stock mated to something that closely resembles a wheel spacer, with linchpin holes drill to select extension heights would work great. Being as I work in a welding supply house, I could probably entice a scrapyard guy to bring what I need in with him = ) The only concern I have off the top of my head is insuring that the fixtures would bolt to the rear hubs without having the differential clock one side or the other out of its vertical alignment. Perhaps a slotted arrangement on one of the rear stands. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
S30TRBO Posted August 27, 2007 Share Posted August 27, 2007 I used cement blocks as a base, with (2) 2x6 nailed crossed together. I made (4) of these suckers as jack stand supports especially when I had to jack on the asphalt driveway to give the jackstands some base. I made a 2x6 floor jack support once the car is higher to make the jack go a wee bit higher. Here is a picture of the double stacked nailed together jack stand upper higher mount thingies. This worked perfect for removal and reinstallation of my suspension. Imagine 2 cement blocks 2 squares of wood and a floor jack will give you much height. I like your idea. Kind of reminds me of the miny-truck show days back in the late 80's when guys would show off there wheel wells and under carriage they would use a similar method and bolt a plate to the hub with a jack stand combined. Good luck and let us know what you come up with. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
S30TRBO Posted August 27, 2007 Share Posted August 27, 2007 I would reccomend the chrome Goodyear ones you can get at Sam's they are plenty wide and very stable. Like these: Too bad they were loaners from dtsnlvrs. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tannji Posted August 27, 2007 Author Share Posted August 27, 2007 I like your idea. Kind of reminds me of the miny-truck show days back in the late 80's when guys would show off there wheel wells and under carriage they would use a similar method and bolt a plate to the hub with a jack stand combined. Good luck and let us know what you come up with. ROFL!!! Thats where I saw it... couldn't remember where I had seen those for the life of me! Thanks man, that was seriously bugging me = ) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jhaag Posted August 28, 2007 Share Posted August 28, 2007 The first one was at the MSA show several years ago. As food for thought, I included photos of several other types that I saved from a variety of sources, perhaps from this site (I don't remember). The blue Z photos are from Eric Nyerlin. The stands under the formula car are a bit extreme but shorter, beefier versions could be made - I like the concept since a creeper could probably navigate over the base plate. I also like the ones under the stock car since they could be made so they nest in order to save storage space - a street rod place sells ones made for lighter cars that are made from fiberglass and they look to be well made in their photo - I think they were about $50 each. John Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
phil280zxt Posted August 29, 2007 Share Posted August 29, 2007 I've spent a few moments searching for the wheel stands shown under the blue Z at the end of your post jhaag, never found anything. Does anyone know where these are sold? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jhaag Posted August 29, 2007 Share Posted August 29, 2007 I don't know where to obtain them but I'm guessing they are only available in Japan. I'm thinking of ways to make a set (laser cut aluminum side plates?) that could be easily/quickly disasembled for storage. Or perhaps just the bottom horizontal spacers could be removed so they could nest for storage yet be strong enough to safely support a car. John Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
antimanifesto09 Posted December 3, 2007 Share Posted December 3, 2007 I like the idea of having all that space under there. I don't think I was made to work on the floor, but because I have to, might as well try to make it roomy... you guys mean something like this? http://www.chiefautomotive.com/manuals/WheelStandsUsersMan.pdf doesn't look like it gives you enough clearance, but it's a start. Anyone have any luck? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chaparral2f Posted December 3, 2007 Share Posted December 3, 2007 I have a home made set that I use on my truck. I'll try to take a pic when I go in to the shop. They are the only stands I would even think of using on the truck. Of course the Pete weighs about 18,000lbs. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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