Jack Question

Is my jack not thin enough? Or all jacks are about the same height and there is another way to lift a 3X8?

What's your solution?
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I got one of the aluminum racing jacks from Harbor Freight. It is much lower and does the trick (looks nice too).

 

COSTCO has a very nice ARCAN brand jack that goes as low as 3 1/2" and up to 21". Works great for the 308. About $99.

 

I've got a low profile jack from Harbor Freight as well, although not aluminum. The other jack I have just wont go under the car--just like your photo.

 

And hey, there's a Harbor Freight just off 520!

 

Welcome to F-car land. My two post won't clear either! I found an extra long low-profile at carquest and it clears nicely and has the reach to lift under a crossmember. lost

 

...or just drive the car up onto some 1"-2" thick planks - that should be enough to allow you to get the jack underneath.

 

for what it's worth, here's my setup.

i use a 2 1/4 ton jack from napa with a removable saddle.
this leaves a flat surface about 3" x 4" in area. also leaves the 1" hole in the
center where the saddle's mounting pin was located.

i then found a scrap of 5/8" thick laminated, heavy-duty conveyor belting like the
coal mines use. after cutting the pad into a 3" x 4" rectangle, i found the center
and made a new pin out of a 3/4" pipe coupling to fit the hole in the jack. i then
drove a wooden dowel into the pipe coupling which allows me to secure the new pad
into the existing hole in the jack with a screw. the pad is also removable.

this new rubber pad is much thinner than the metal saddle and grips the car's jack
mount surface much better and far safer because of the pad's greater surface area.
i can safely lift the car to the full stroke of the jack. no fussing with shims, ramps,
or other contraptions.

napa's 3ton and 6ton jack stands allow me to work under the car at a reasonably
comfortable working height.

 

I can also recommend the Arcan low profile jack. $109 from northern tool. Not sure you can get them from Costco anymore.