Dino jack alternative? | FerrariChat

Dino jack alternative?

Discussion in '206/246' started by need4speed, Jun 2, 2005.

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  1. need4speed

    need4speed Formula 3

    Nov 3, 2003
    1,616
    Pacific Palisades
    Fellow Dino owners,

    My car doesn't have a jack and I don't feel like paying the asking prices on eBay or elsewhere. Mechanically, it is designed like a lot of other jacks from other cars. Anyone know or have tried another jack that will slot into the jacking holes?

    The floor jacks I have are too tall to get under the car.

    Thanks,

    Manny
     
  2. synchro

    synchro F1 Veteran

    Feb 14, 2005
    9,294
    CHNDLR
    Full Name:
    Scott
    Do NOT use the jacking holes.
    This area of the car is prone to rust and could possibly damage your bodywork.
    Your best bet is to buy a low profile floor jack and lift using that.
     
  3. John Corbani

    John Corbani Formula 3
    Honorary Owner

    May 5, 2005
    1,153
    Santa Barbara, CA
    Full Name:
    John Corbani
    Previous owner dropped car off left jacking hole and left dent in body. I tried once on right side and said "no way". Dino jack and holes in body may work fine in shop but are no good in dirt or on a hill. Or when it is my head in the gap!

    I got a scissor jack from a Honda Civic (year unknown, 1980?) and it is just fine. Goes under frame both fore and aft, easy to crank and stows easily in left trunk recess.

    Keep the Dino jack for the purists, for when you sell the car. In the meantime, jack the car on the frame, near the wheel that needs help. If you want to jack the car for maintenance, buy one of the $20 Pep Boy trolley jacks. Replace the front wheels with 1 3/4" dia x 5/8" steel disks. You can get the minimum height you need and it only costs a few bucks at your local machine shop. Luck.

    John
     
  4. synchro

    synchro F1 Veteran

    Feb 14, 2005
    9,294
    CHNDLR
    Full Name:
    Scott
    I was at the discount store "Harbor Freight tools" in LA and found a low profile floor jack for under $100. It fits under my Dino and Maserati Bora - both have low profile tires and works well.

    Disclaimer - I always suggest jack stands and a secondary support system and never condone getting underneath a car with only a single jack holding it up. Be safe.

    PS - if your current floor jack doesn't have a low profile that allows you to get underneath it, then you can do what I have done for years - the $5 solution! I constructed a ramp using three pieces of 3/4 inch plywood, each progressively shorter and attached them. By centering them together I produced a stacked ramp like this:

    ---------
    ------------
    ---------------

    Make two of these, place them under the rear wheels and drive your car up on it. This allowed me the extra clearance to get my old style floor jack underneath the suspension points to lift the car.
     
  5. need4speed

    need4speed Formula 3

    Nov 3, 2003
    1,616
    Pacific Palisades
    Synchro,

    Where is Harbor Freight Tools? I really need a good inexpensive low-profile floor jack.

    Thanks,

    Manny
     
  6. synchro

    synchro F1 Veteran

    Feb 14, 2005
    9,294
    CHNDLR
    Full Name:
    Scott
    There are several around - one on Santa Anita near Pasadena and another on PCH in Torrance-Lomita.
     
  7. need4speed

    need4speed Formula 3

    Nov 3, 2003
    1,616
    Pacific Palisades
    Thanks Synchro,

    Is that you and the Bora in the Crystal Cove pics? I've been hoping to get down there and check out the Bora. Haven't seen many in person.

    Have a great weekend,

    Manny
     
  8. synchro

    synchro F1 Veteran

    Feb 14, 2005
    9,294
    CHNDLR
    Full Name:
    Scott
  9. dgrperformance

    dgrperformance Formula Junior

    Feb 28, 2005
    311
    Oceanside, CA
    Craftsman also makes a nice aluminum low profile quick lift jack for somwhere around $170.00 that works great. There are also lots of choices on E-bay, we use several of the cheapy Chinese ones with inflatible tires for off-road racing also good for moving cars around.
     
  10. synchro

    synchro F1 Veteran

    Feb 14, 2005
    9,294
    CHNDLR
    Full Name:
    Scott
    To be absolutely clear, Harbor Freight sells cheapy Chinese made tools and that jack is one of them. Not bad, quite functional and disposably priced, but it is not a high end US product.

    I bought it, but never use it as a single support for getting underneath a car to work on it.
     

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