can anyone recommend a quality roadside emergency jack. After reviewing the scissor jacks on Amazon, they all appear to be Chinese junk that bends, etc after a single use. I keep my Dino jack in a safe place due to its value and just need something to keep in the car for flat tire changing. Thanks, Skipp
I haven't tried to find one of these but they look cool and extend 17". https://www.alibaba.com/product-detail/Mini-Small-Telescoping-Double-Ram-Lift_60490299283.html
Alfa made some nice scissor jacks for the Spiders and 164, as by then, all had figured out that 'one legged' jacks were not the best. For instance: https://www.ebay.com/itm/Alfa-Romeo-Spider-Jack/191843264832?hash=item2caabfe940:g:FzoAAOSwiylXBnj4:rk:23f:0 These can be modified to fit your chassis 'preoperly , not risking a fall. Personally, would prefer AAA or similar. Dino does not like to be raised at one single point. I had a windshield crack by doing so. That is why the hole for jacking is there, to lift the whole side. Regards, Alberto
Thanks for that insight Alberto. The last thing I need is a cracked...anything ! How would you modify this Alfa jack to properly be used on the Dino ? Skipp
Skipp, you would build a cradle of sorts and weld on top of scissor jack, then install a 6' x 6" of 1/2 " +/- piece of hard rubber from Mc Master Carr. Then, if you really have to, position it under the chassis tube most immediate to the original jack hole. You will be effectively be raising the car on its side, with both wheels up in the air, the way it was meant to be. Personally, I would not do it, nor recommend it. Regards, Alberto
I believe many, perhaps even most European and/or Japanese passenger cars made in past 40+ years came/come with decent quality OEM scissor or (bottle-type) screw jacks and wrecking yards around the globe probably have tons of both, the cars and their OEM jacks. Or some (many ?) can probably be found on ebay. Most of them (jacks) can easily be modified, if needed, to accommodate their designated vehicles, but many will work fine “as is”. I’ve carried one in most of my dozens of vintage cars for past 35+ years and have successfully used some in emergencies. And NO, I wouldn’t waste my money, safety of my cars or myself on any “Made In China” aftermarket junk, as I’ve never had enough money to afford luxury of being cheap. I have to work too hard for all of it.
Thanks guys. I’ve been surfing eBay for oem jacks from various car makers. I tested my wife’s BMW X5 jack and it would work, so I’m looking for one of those.
Image Unavailable, Please Login Couldn’t find the X5, so bought this Mercedes version. Low profile, designed for a heavy car, and used by Mercedes...hard to go wrong.
It seems like I saw a big inflatable industrial cushion looking thing a few years ago that was used to lift up cars/axles/heavy equipment that did not damage ANY suspension components or exhaust systems because the surface area when inflated was so big but they were still small enough to put in the trunk of a Dino, including the air compressor. Anyone remember seeing something like that?
I had one that was inflated with the exhaust pipe, would lift the whole side of the car, very invasive in the bottom. Think I bent a floor pan, or something. Not a realistic, practical item at least for 'normally delicate ' cars. Don't even remember how I got one, but I know it was when cars used to have an exhaust pipe(s). At Home Depot, they sell bags that you inflate as a blood pressure meter, and will support huge loads. Not for car lifting unless a scale model. For the Handy guys in the group, this is it: "WINDBAG: https://www.amazon.com/Winbag-15730-Wedge-Alignment-Inflatable/dp/B00NESAU0U Great tool, saw a guy separate a door to click the 'open' release, and now I have discovered that they work to work out dents like PDR? Regards, Alberto
I had a puncture recently and used my original jack to change the wheel. It worked fine. In view of Alberto's comments above, I am glad I did.
