Well, it just got easier to work on the car. Picked up a 4-post lift.
03-25-2008, 09:21 AM
#1
Well, it just got easier to work on the car. Picked up a 4-post lift. Having three cars and only a two car garage was starting to be a pain. We plan on building another 2+ car in the near future, but for now I figured I could store my car in the air and park my daily driver under it, especially in the winter time. Now I need to figure out how to vault the ceiling in the garage and then I can raise the garage door opener and double park the cars.
It's so nice being able to sit in a chair under the car and work on it. I installed an underdrive pulley the other night and it was cake sitting under it and working on it. Headers and suspension work will be a breeze, much less oil and fluid changes.
Now I just need to figure how to brace the roof line so I can raise the ceiling a good 2-3 feet.
As you can see in the picture below, my roof line is unusual and there isn't anything above the garage ceiling, so in theory, I should be able to go all the way up to the rafters.
It's so nice being able to sit in a chair under the car and work on it. I installed an underdrive pulley the other night and it was cake sitting under it and working on it. Headers and suspension work will be a breeze, much less oil and fluid changes.
Now I just need to figure how to brace the roof line so I can raise the ceiling a good 2-3 feet.
As you can see in the picture below, my roof line is unusual and there isn't anything above the garage ceiling, so in theory, I should be able to go all the way up to the rafters.
...looks good Brien. 
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03-25-2008, 03:42 PM
#14
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Thats pretty awesome, I remember you mentioning this before. The wheels are looking good in those pics also. Whether is getting nice, we should meet up soon. Although my car is a wreck right now.
03-25-2008, 06:44 PM
#16
03-26-2008, 06:08 AM
#17
Thanks for the compliments guys.
Lets see, I'm about an hour and a half from NYC.
The legs are ~ 1 foot from the wall, which puts the car about 2 feet from the wall, but the best thing is that the lift comes with four casters that you can lower the lift onto and it becomes movable. So in theory, I can pull the car in, lower it onto the casters, then push it to the center of the garage and work on both sides. Or I can simply move it as far away from the wall while still being able to pull onto the lift. That's the nice thing about a four post is that you don't need to anchor it to the floor.
They hydraulic motor is a 1hp, 110v which makes it convenient to use. I have a 220v line in the garage, but I can save that for a larger compressor or welder. From full down to full up takes roughly a minute. It's not the quickest, but I'm not spinning wrenches for a living where I've got 10 cars on-off the lift in a day, so I can be patient, heck that's why I have a tv out there.
Thanks again guys for the compliments. Now I just need to find the time to actually work on the car.
Lets see, I'm about an hour and a half from NYC.
The legs are ~ 1 foot from the wall, which puts the car about 2 feet from the wall, but the best thing is that the lift comes with four casters that you can lower the lift onto and it becomes movable. So in theory, I can pull the car in, lower it onto the casters, then push it to the center of the garage and work on both sides. Or I can simply move it as far away from the wall while still being able to pull onto the lift. That's the nice thing about a four post is that you don't need to anchor it to the floor.
They hydraulic motor is a 1hp, 110v which makes it convenient to use. I have a 220v line in the garage, but I can save that for a larger compressor or welder. From full down to full up takes roughly a minute. It's not the quickest, but I'm not spinning wrenches for a living where I've got 10 cars on-off the lift in a day, so I can be patient, heck that's why I have a tv out there.
Thanks again guys for the compliments. Now I just need to find the time to actually work on the car.
03-26-2008, 06:15 AM
#18
It was a pretty straight forward setup. You put the two cross beams over two vertical posts at each end, then you put the two runways on, run the cables, adjust the locks, install the motor, and your done.
It's definitely a 2+ man job. 2 guys can do it if you have some type of engine hoist or cherry picker to lift the runways into place. Andy (White.Lightning on here) came over and helped install it with me. When we were installing the runway with the hydraulic ram, I snagged a neighbor since it weighs close to 500lbs, I eat my wheaties, but that was a heavy SOB.
It's definitely a 2+ man job. 2 guys can do it if you have some type of engine hoist or cherry picker to lift the runways into place. Andy (White.Lightning on here) came over and helped install it with me. When we were installing the runway with the hydraulic ram, I snagged a neighbor since it weighs close to 500lbs, I eat my wheaties, but that was a heavy SOB.
03-26-2008, 09:04 AM
#20
Well, it took some time to sell her on the idea. In her mind, my t/a should sit outside since it doesn't get driven and the two commuter cars should be in the garage. She has been saying that we need a shed for a while. I agreed and said she could call it anything she likes as long as it's at least 24x24 with a 11 foot ceiling. That's not in the cards at this moment, so by adding the lift I've essentially added another 200 sq ft of storage in the garage. Once I raise the ceiling, I'll look into making the other side a storage loft which should help with more storage.