hydraulic jack buy recommandations?

Well, if you want cheap:

There is a 2 ton jack available at sears that will just barely fit underneath the 308. Not sure of the lift height though. But, it is $40.

Also, harbor freight makes one of those nifty aluminum racing jacks for ~$150 (maybe a little less).

If you do a search of the old archives, you can probably find more info on jacks.

Hope this helped. These are the only two I am familiar with. Maybe someone else can chime in with more suggestions.

Dom

 

I have the sears jack mentioned above and it works great. I fashoned a small block of wood to fit in the jack cradle that mates up to the jack point on the car.

 

I have the Craftsman floorjack, and I don't like it. The action is very sticky. When I twist the handle to release the pressure, so that the jack can lower, it doesn't do it smoothly. The clearance is 4", and the lift hight is 20". Also you have to put in a bit of effort to lift. If you have a COSTCO near you you can go buy a very nice floorjack there. It is an Arcan floorjack. I like it alot better than the Craftsman. It has a double pump that makes it very easy to pump. It is very smooth lifting and the handle twists easy to release the pressure. Both jacks lift 2,1/2 tons, but the Arcan has a lower clearance of 3, 1/2", and a higher lift of 21". It is a better floor jack in my opinion than the craftsman, and at a way better price. The crafstman cost me over $130 and the Acran was only $69. However I do have craftsman jack stands, they cost $20 for a pair. Happy shopping. Oh yeah almost forgot, neither one of them has rubber on the top.

 

ernie must not have the same Sears jack that I do. Mine was 1/3 the price he mentions, and works very smoothly and easily. I'm sure it's the same one Dom mentioned.

As a plus, it comes with a carrying case.

 

4re gt4,

We must have the same jack. $40 Sears 2 1/2 ton I believe. Works great.

 

Yep. The $40 jack with the carrying case. It was mentioned several times in the old ferrarichat archives.

I may have a slight issue with my car. Usually, in my garage, the jack will not fit under the car. I have to grab it by the rear fender and lift the car, while my wife pushes in the jack. But, I've use the jack other places with no problems (used it at a time trial 2 weeks ago). Don't know if it is an issue with my garage, the car (sagging suspension??), or what. I suspect at the time trial, I had everything out of the car, so it was lighter, and therefore up higher, and the jack easily fit under the car.

Dom

 

i'v e got the harbor freight Al "race jack" and so far i'm fairly pleased. it fits under mine, and my friends, ridiculously low cars, gets most cars up in 3 - 4 pumps and is small (light) enough to be easily toted along to the track. i got it onsale for $129 about 6 months ago, make sure to also get the right oil for it, and a set or 4 jack stands.

 

i have not bought mine yet, but i have seen an aluminum jack advertised in Northern Tool magazine for $149 with a 3 1/2 inch low profile...anyone have htis one?

 

I have the Sears jack that will go to the car with one pump ($130 or so) and agree with Ernie that it sucks. It is sticky and if you do not tease the car down carefully...$$$ Also the caster are not very smooth and it is just too heavy.
I wish I had bought an aluminium one.

Gianluca

 

I have two rolling floor jacks in my garage. One I bought years ago from Sam's Wholesale Warehouse. It is a standard type steel floor jack and it is heavy. If you remove the pad on the lifting surface, it barely will fit under the 308. It fits perfectly under the 348 rear end. I use it frequently with no issues at all. I am quite pleased. I think I paid about $45 for it.
I also have an aluminum racing jack that Shad Shadowins GAVE me for a gift after I assissted him in his engine removal and reinstallation in his Lambo Countach. He said "here ad this to your garage, it looks cool, but I hate it". Since I've had it in my garage, I've used it little. It is flimsey and does not inspire confidence. He paid big $$$. We both hate it, but it does LOOK cool sitting in my garage.
Floor jacks- Harbour Frieght.

I hope this helps.
Jeff

 

Weird. Gianluca and ernie spent semi-serious bucks on a mediocre expensive Sears jack, and Dom and I spent beer change on one that works! Castors silk smooth, etc.

I'm sure that Sears doesn't make any of these things, so it's a hit-and-miss thing as to their suppliers.

 

I just bought the aluminum racing jack from Sears on sale for ~$175. It's great and fits under my 348, 308 and TR. The action is smooth. It's fairly light at 45 lbs.

 

IMHO that bar is too light to lift the 308 by. If i remember correctly, It's not a full bar, only a upside down U-Channel.

I've seen several of them that have slight upward bows and am pretty sure that's what bowed them. Bowing that bar will throw the rear end out of alignment big time.

The safest lifting points are the triangular pad adjoining the u-channel for the emergency jack, and the large structural member that angles outward behind the front wheel.

 

I have a walker, 2 (U.S.) lincolns and a harbor freight jack. I gotta tell you Sears has a new aluminum floor jack in red that really kicks ass for around $200. I am thinking of buying 4 and throwing out my others!!! well not the lincolns!

http://www.sears.com/sr/javasr/product.do?BV_UseBVCookie=Yes&vertical=TOOL&pid=00950239000

http://www.suprastore.com/alraflja.html

 

No ifs ands or buts, the greatest jack for your garage can be found here:

http://www.drivewerks.com/catalog/shopcart/TOOL/POR_TOOL_ACHyd1_pg1.htm

It's not cheap ($399), but it is a super-high lift, and super-low clearance jack that is *not* made in China like just about every one else out there (it's made in the Netherlands by an industrial jack company that makes mostly heavy-duty truck jacks).

Just used it on my 308 tonite - slides right under very easily, lifts it up very high...

-Wayne

 

I have an aluminum 3 ton jack from Harbor - about $150. Raises from about 3 inches to close to 18. Saddle height is low enough for under frame access on the 308. Lift height is enough for most jobs. Occassionally have to put it on a plank of wood.

It is well made, light, easy to operate and has a two part handle which can be helpful for tight spaces. My only debate is whether I buy a second one. I would buy again. HTH

 

I've used this one quite extensively out at the track. it seems everyone has one too! it definately rocks! and with a round thin rubber pad, it can secure a lift and not scrape up much underneath.

 

The only caveat is that those jacks are often made in China, which means that their quality isn't always up to par.

Honestly though, the quality is indeed improving, but this is still too much of a mission-critical, safety-concious tool to mess around with too much...

These are very cool jackstands too:

http://www.drivewerks.com/catalog/shopcart/TOOL/POR_TOOL_ACHyd1_pg4.htm

-Wayne

 

Old Corvette mechanic's tip of the day:

a hockey puck makes a great insert for the head of your jack to keep things from getting scratched up.

Ed