Best garage tool yet for the roadster!

[skullandbones]

I have been jacking the roadster up from almost every angle imaginable after lowering it to ride height several months ago every time I want to see something or do some task under it. It's a real PITA! So I had to think "outside the box" due to the low profile of my garage (100 inches). I finally found a lift that would fit: sort of. It has a post height of 111 inches. I know, the math doesn't work! However, with some determination, I pulled the trigger and ordered the monster at 1600 lbs. We wrestled it off the truck and moved it over to the garage entrance where I disassembled the components. Long story short, I have the 2 post lift standing and anchored in the garage. There are two holes in the ceiling to allow for the oversize. I will be doing some additional carpentry work to create a "tray ceiling" to accommodate my windscreen and roll bars. After completing that task I should have almost full max height for the lift. For now, I will have to sit on a stool to do my inspections. It's still better than a jack. I had forgotten what it was like under there. It's been so long since I took it off it's build dolly. I have come to the conclusion that if you plan on any after build mods and serious maintenance, it's almost a necessity.

So here are a few pics after day two of testing and adjusting. I think I will soon be ready to take it up higher for a much needed oil change.

Thanks,

WEK.

[68GT500MAN]

That is exactly what I have been thinking about for my garage. Thanks for the photo's and I look forward to seeing your "tray ceiling" completed.
Doug

[skullandbones]

Now that everything is adjusted (equalization cables), I raised the roadster to the roof so to speak. I allowed the roll bar to touch the ceiling. Lift controls are quite easy to modulate. So I was able to get some very accurate estimates of how much ceiling to remove. While it was at it's maximum height for the present, I found that I have 57 inches from the bottom of the differential and 55 inches from the bottom of the cross 4 inch tube in front. That is due to the inclination of the garage floor. If my calculations are correct, I should have 69.5 to 70 inches after the added carpentry work. So I will have to tolerate sitting on a stool to work now.

BTW: please be very careful with a 2 post lift in positioning the car and support pads under it. They are a little trickier than the 4 posters. I'm stepping back now and then rather than going full bore at it just to be safe. After some practice with the components, it shouldn't be too much of a risk. One safety factor that I like is the geared arm attachments which hold the arms in the position you place them under the car. WEK.

[skullandbones]

Well, it's been a while since I installed the lift with vacation and other things like driving the roadster. So I finally got to the task of creating a "tray ceiling" to allow me to raise the roadster another 15 inches so I can get almost the full height lift capacity. I had to remove sections of two trusses to create a hole large enough for the roll bars and wind screen. The opening is about 70 in by 60 in. With the trusses removed, it allows for a space about 16 inches without having to remove the top component of the trusses. I added four 2x6 braces where I removed the trusses and nailed the braces to those ends. I was able to replace one truss section to the side of the opening so it actually acts as a replacement for one of the trusses. The other truss was placed next to the truss on the other side of the opening and bolted to it as a reinforcement. Before any cutting, I added two support beams under the trusses to hold them at the correct height while the braces and other supports were being installed (then removed). As of now the "ruff carpentry" is done. I will sheetrock and finish it sometime this winter but now it is functional. I have a few shots to illustrate. I must admit it looks a little weird seeing the top of the car disappear into the ceiling! The net result is: I have 68.5 in from the front cross member to the floor and 70.5 in at the rear of the 4 in tube. I'm 72 in so I can stand up straight under the car where the spaces are. I just have to be careful not to knock my head on the suspension, etc. I'm looking forward to the new toy as I can grease, change oil, inspect bolts and clean without much trouble. It was well worth the effort!

See ya, WEK.:cool::cool:

[VdubJoe]

I have a 2 post in my garage and its the best thing I ever did. I've still got a long way to go on my build and its nice being able to raise and lower it. Having a bad nee getting up and down off the floor sucks. Got mine from a old shop. Needed a new pump got a total of 800.00 in it. A rotary 7000 lb.


Joe

[WIS89]

Hey WEK-

Lift looks wonderful! A very elegant solution to the ceiling "problem."

Out of curiosity, do you have some sort of lock-out when the car is at the highest point before hitting the ceiling? I would be crazy paranoid about accidently driving the whole car up into the attic by raising it too far.

Very nice job!

Regards,

Steve

[CraigS]

look around every time you see baseball type caps for sale. I think you can find some that are of a thicker than normal material to protect your head. While I was working as tech, I always had a problem w/ the big SUVs. We needed to put the lift pads at their highest setting. SO when the SUV was raised to where I wanted it the lift arms were about 5 inches lower than normal. Bang. It got to where my wife could always tell if I had been working on an SUV when I got home. Then I found a hat. I would still bang my head but at least I quit leaking blood.

[Ray]

I know the lift that you installed (by the way.....what company?) allows you to stand under it, there is another option for use in low ceiling areas. Lot's of builders etc. are using this one: http://www.maxjaxusa.com and like them a lot.

Your install looks great and you've done a really good job with the ceiling modifications. Good work!

Ray

[AZPete]

Bill, I enjoyed seeing your new lift and the ceiling mods. I'd love to have one of those!
It looks like you now have enough room below your roadster to build an 818 or a GTM. Have you ordered one yet?
Pete

[skullandbones]

I got this lift from Best Buy Equipment. It's an Autolift symmetric two post floor plate model. It uses the same colors (blue and yellow) as the stereo box store. Don't know if it is the same corporation or not. Thanks for the comments. I like it too! It really relieves me to know I have a convenient solution to the jacking issue.

I do not have a fail safe device to keep from launching the car through the ceiling although it only can go about another 1.5 inches to max height. I do have a warning sign consisting of two yellow strips of tape at eye level that I compare to a point on the lift arms. I also have a plug in unit so I can remove the plug to kill power. It is relatively slow so there is time to react. I have thought about installing a mechanical stop but that would probably not work. So I will be looking into a kill switch.

AZ Pete: no plans for storage under the roadster. I will have to think long and hard before committing to another build. Right now I will just continue "finishing" this one and tinkering with it. Thanks, WEK.

[AndyP]

What made you go with a two-post lift instead of a scissor lift?

[xatudor]

You may also want to look at putting a switch in the control circuit to stop the garage door from opening automatically or manually when the lift has a car on it.

[skullandbones]

Hi Andy,

I have a chronic back/Sciatic nerve issue that I've had since I tried to pull a boat out of the water by hand (real dumb!!!). I've regretted that ever since. You don't have to be old to have a bad back problem. I manage it OK but crawling under the roadster results in a day or two of discomfort following the activity. With the two post, I can stand straight up in front or back with a slight difference due to slant of pad (72 inches in rear and 68 inches front). The slant also dictates that I have to head the roadster in instead of backing in the garage as it will not clear the arms of the 2 poster with my present ride height of 3.5 in in front and 4.5 in rear. I keep reinforcing the wisdom of my "good" decision every time I use it because changing oil, tightening header bolts, checking for leaks, general inspection, etc..... Usually I would second guess myself for such rash actions but not in this case. It was worth the effort. I don't even think twice about raising it as it does take a little bending and positioning the arms but I've gotten it down to a routine so it is easy now. So I guess my condition requires me to be about to stand up rather than recline under the car. That would have been faster.

Xatudor: I am still in the 20th century with a flip phone and no door opener on the single door opening of our three car garage. So I am actually looking for a different door that I can raise while the car is in the up position. That is really the only significant down side to the project so far. But since I have been able to use the lift for so many operations so far, that outweighs any issue I have with the door. I have a push pin I insert to hold the door open about half way when I want more ventilation and light.

BTW: I closed off the attic with some sheet rock on the main "tray ceiling". I still haven't finished the sheet rock where the posts go thru. It's funny; I was worried about the heat coming from the holes but we got our roof foamed so now there is no heat to speak of. I will still treat it like it wasn't done and replace all the old insulation and ceiling. Pics to follow.

Thanks,

WEK.

[VdubJoe]

For sure one of the best tools to have in a shop. Found a nice Rotary for 800.00 bucks. 2 post . Laying on the ground is a thing of the past. Was hard on the knee.
Love the ceiling idea.

Joe

[skullandbones]

OK. I'm slow at this. I finally got the sheetrock installed on the tray ceiling. I did not want to do any more than necessary on the finishing so I installed it so there is only one seam and screw holes to fill and sand. The rest is caulked. Once it's painted, it will look almost as good as a taped/mudded ceiling. If it was in the living room, it would have been jobbed out to a contractor. Unfortunately, Trish wouldn't let me put the hoist there.

I'm actually getting used to looking at this without saying, "what?". I'm glad I was able to make this work as raising the whole ceiling to 12 feet would have been a real project!!!:cool::cool:

[wallace18]

Cool idea! I waited till I was 50 to get a lift. Now I have 2. It does make things so much easier. Enjoy!

[Gale K]

100% agreed. I didn't wait until 50. :) I knew I wanted one way before that. Bought one for me, and one for my Pa. After about 2 uses, I figured the cost was almost free! You can see, you can reach things standing on your feet, you can inspect, and you aren't laying on a creeper whacking your head on stuff... wonderful tool.

If anyone is on the fence about one, just go do it. You will NEVER look back!

I have a 13' ceiling, so most cars can go all the way up. The way the garage is configured, there is a high storage shelf at the front, and the Suburban won't go above about 4 feet as the hood will hit the shelf. Even still, 4 feet in the air is very helpful.

[j.miller]

But....but...but.....where's the trap door so you can drop into the drivers seat from the upstairs bedroom? All that so you can do some work....and you were so close to the fun part:(...da Bat

[skullandbones]

I guess I should have expected some bat cave humor especially from "da bat"!!!

[skullandbones]

I found a little tamer two seater for my wife Trish to do ride alongs with me. She still loves her Camaro but she does like the looks of the C4 vette (1991). Well: I got a pleasant surprise when I found that with it's convertible top down, the vette fits on the 2 poster and lets me raise it to full hoist for inspections and underside work. It's the best tool I ever purchased for the garage. See ya later, WEK.

[CraigS]

Love those two posts. It's working out real well for you even w/ the 'custom' install.

[Blue MK3]

A comment and a suggestion. If the floor above the tray was previously supported by trusses, are you sure that 2x6 substitutes are sufficient? Don't know what's on the floor above, but 2x6 supports don't meet any building code I'm aware of. Also, I suggest you install some sort of safety device to ensure that the lift stops before the roll bar/windshield hit the ceiling. YOU may know when to stop it, but there's always a chance that someone else would not know when or how to stop the lift. Like when a friend comes over and after a couple of beers, he wants to see the underside of your car and operates the lift. An automatic stop or something to prevent the inevitable "Oh s**t!" s**t happens.:(

[skullandbones]

A comment and a suggestion. If the floor the tray was previously supported by trusses, are you sure that 2x6 substitutes are sufficient? Don't know what's on the floor above, but 2x6 supports don't meet any building code I'm aware of. Also, I suggest you install some sort of safety device to ensure that the lift stops before the roll bar/windshield hit the ceiling. YOU may know when to stop it, but there's always a chance that someone else would not know when or how to stop the lift. Like when a friend comes over and after a couple of beers, he wants to see the underside of your car and operates the lift. An automatic stop or something to prevent the inevitable "Oh s**t!" s**t happens.:(

A lot of thought went into this before I did any cutting. I worried most about the amount of space I would have under the cars. After calculating ~68 to 70 inches, it was a go. I must admit I didn't worry too much about the carpentry part of it as I have done that sort of thing most of my life. I didn't mention the details about the carpentry. I used two 2x6 cross supports at the front and back of the tray ceiling but then I blocked them in several places. The entire span was 60 inches so the blocks effectively created 2x12 supports. The posts are braced and cross braced (boxed in just above the ceiling level). With the 4 anchors per post, it would take a bull dozer to move them. On top of the posts, I bolted braces which attach to the trusses so the posts actually stiffen and support the trusses that are at each side of the tray. Of course, that's where I put the truss pieces that were cut out (glued and thru bolted together). All in all, it's a pretty stiff section considering it's a flat roof above. My engineer neighbor approved as well. I wouldn't recommend this for everyone. But most people don't have to overcome the low ceiling issue.

I'm the only lift operator ever! I do a little mental exercise each and every time I approach the lift. This was from a Japanese translation of a procedure manual when I was working in the laboratory. It said, "before you attempt the following task, 'CONCENTRATE YOUR MIND'." It also had the international sign for caution stamped next to the statement in the margins. It was usually a prelude to a very sensitive procedure (where breakage or safety was an issue). So hopefully, I will always concentrate properly.

Even with the pitfalls that have been mentioned, I'm sure I would do it all over again. So cool to be able to raise at least 2 out of 4 vehicles on the 2 poster.

See ya! WEK.

[accobra66]

Could not agree anymore, lift was the best tool ever purchased and I could not image not having one.

[Scud67]

Same here - best thing ever. I have a "low ceiling" too. Not as low as yours, but the ceiling height is 11' 6" to finish and I used a low ceiling base plate model. The posts on mine are 9' 3" tall, so it will work in a 10' ceiling application. I can't lift trucks to "full height", but I have a really nice roll stool to go under them. The Cobra goes to full height even with the roll bar and windshield. I am actually going to install a second one (an in floor scissor lift) to do quick jobs like brakes and oil changes - but that comes later next year....