Aftermarket Product ReviewProvide questions and answers about aftermarket parts for the Third Generation F-Body.
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Since there is no "tools" section (atleast I didnt see one) I figured this is the best place to ask.
Im looking for a good floor jack. I want one that is built well, and preferebly in the USA. Aluminum would be nice, but is not a necessity. A good jack that can slide right under a camaro would be great. I want one that doesnt require 40 pumps to get it just to the body. I dont need a real heavy duty jack. the most I would ever pickup is the front end of a camaro. When I get a good duramax truck, I will upgrade if need be.
so to reiterate, I would prefer a low profile, quick jacking, aluminum, well built, built in the USA jack.
Any recommendations?
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I have a craftsman aluminum jack and a steel one. They both fit under my 1 inch dropped iroc very well. I think i paid around 100.00 for the aluminum one and like 60.00 for the steel one with 2 jackstands included.
__________________ 1986 Camaro Iroc-Z 350 TPI Corvette motor 700r4 trans, BMR strut tower brace,BMR adj.Panhard Rod,Energy Sway Bar links,Eibach Pro Kit,J&M street lower control arms,Accel Distributer,wires.Blacked out all lights.5% Limo tint all the way around.
Kragen has a nice aluminum U.S built 2 ton fast pump floor jack.The last time i checked they were selling for around 100-120.Kinda pissed me off cause i paid $160, still a good price, but i shoulda waited a bit.Been using mine over 2 years, works great.I was gonna buy the sears aluminum jack, but the kragen was/is equal in specs & cheaper....way cheaper now.It just fit under the crossmember with my 1inch dropped front.
HF also sells a 2 ton aluminum jack for around $160
DO NOT BUY SOMETHING AS IMPORTANT AS A JACK FROM HARBOR FREIGHT. All of their products are china made and with no quality control.
I got this as my jacking setup. It reaches my camaro frame in about 3-4? pumps, from its lowest point, also since it is a low profile version it is extended to fit fairly far underneath before its higher point touches the car.
DO NOT BUY SOMETHING AS IMPORTANT AS A JACK FROM HARBOR FREIGHT. All of their products are china made and with no quality control.
I got this as my jacking setup. It reaches my camaro frame in about 3-4? pumps, from its lowest point, also since it is a low profile version it is extended to fit fairly far underneath before its higher point touches the car.
The ironic thing about what you said is that my first jack was actually my dad's that he bought probably 15 years ago from HF. It worked great until a couple years ago when we noticed the frame was starting to crack from use. So I bought a US made jack with Jack Roush's name on it and it was dead within a year due to bad hydraulics. The aluminum HF jack that replaced it is still going strong and works every time.
I do want to get one of those Summit jacks though since even the HF one that I have won't fit under my car and certainly wont fit under my truck unless its parked right.
Realize though, that's 15 years ago, before we cared about saving money and just enjoyed making quality parts. I mean, that's how I feel about it, seems ever since the 80's everything has been getting cheaper and of less quality. That's another reason why warranties are on everything now.
I remember when video games never had a warranty, then one day I bought a game and was asked, you want insurance, I was like hell no, why, I never bought it before, never had problems with games before. Played that game for about 3 months and it ended up melting and the back (reflective foil) started peeling, I forget the game but it pissed me off, ever since then I buy games and get the warranty...same with their systems.
P.S. I just purchased a nice order (small torque wrenches, battery terminal cleaner, oil bucket, power steering puller etc.) through HF, so I'm not completely bashing them, but their products are cheap, so to me I wouldn't trust a jack from them if I could get one I know is great for just $40 more.
-Take care
__________________
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The improper displacement of power to the front wheels.
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But lie and deceive it and it will do so right back.
So lets fill this relationship (forum) with trust and companionship.
-I H8 WWD-
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Realize though, that's 15 years ago, before we cared about saving money and just enjoyed making quality parts. I mean, that's how I feel about it, seems ever since the 80's everything has been getting cheaper and of less quality. That's another reason why warranties are on everything now.
I remember when video games never had a warranty, then one day I bought a game and was asked, you want insurance, I was like hell no, why, I never bought it before, never had problems with games before. Played that game for about 3 months and it ended up melting and the back (reflective foil) started peeling, I forget the game but it pissed me off, ever since then I buy games and get the warranty...same with their systems.
P.S. I just purchased a nice order (small torque wrenches, battery terminal cleaner, oil bucket, power steering puller etc.) through HF, so I'm not completely bashing them, but their products are cheap, so to me I wouldn't trust a jack from them if I could get one I know is great for just $40 more.
-Take care
Trust me, its definitely something I think about whenever I am under the car but I always have jackstands under it as well so it should be fine. What I DO think is funny though is how much aluminum "racing" jacks have come down in price in the last 5 or 6 years. I remember when they were $500-1000 for one. Now you can find them all day for 200 or less.
Trust me, I know all about the video game thing. I'm on my second Xbox 360 now because microshit can't make a decent quality product to save their life.
I know you said aluminum, but I just wanted to mention a steel one I recently purchased. Bought the 3 ton model, with jack stands and a creeper from sears. I was buying it to replace a 1 1/2 ton that is at least 25 years old. I returned the new one the following day because it was the biggest piece of ****. You want something that doesn't take 30 or 40 pumps, this is your jack. It took almost 70 pumps to get it to the highest point. LOL. I went through all the bleeding recomendations that came with the jack, non of them helped. It ended up puking half of its fluid on my floor. I can't say for sure, but it looked almost exactly like the HF jack. The handle was a sloppy fit, just a big disappointment considering how long I've used the first sears jack.
I know you said aluminum, but I just wanted to mention a steel one I recently purchased. Bought the 3 ton model, with jack stands and a creeper from sears. I was buying it to replace a 1 1/2 ton that is at least 25 years old. I returned the new one the following day because it was the biggest piece of ****. You want something that doesn't take 30 or 40 pumps, this is your jack. It took almost 70 pumps to get it to the highest point. LOL. I went through all the bleeding recomendations that came with the jack, non of them helped. It ended up puking half of its fluid on my floor. I can't say for sure, but it looked almost exactly like the HF jack. The handle was a sloppy fit, just a big disappointment considering how long I've used the first sears jack.
OMG THAT HAS ME LAUGHING...i own a sears jack and it seriously takes me forever to get that mother ****** in the air...dont get me started on the back of the car....put it under the rear end and jack up....you first off hit your hand on the exhaust or back somewhere every pump, and cause its half a pump i swear its like 120 pumps before the ****** is in the air...i NEED to get a nice FAST! low profile aluminum one. The sears jack stands have worked well for me and so has my walmart creeper which also transforms into a rolling seat with a compartment $20....YEAAAHHHHH BAAABBBYYYYY! lol
I bought the same jack as I H8 WWD. I know that it's not aluminum, but, I am impressed with it's performance, a few pumps and you are there. No clearance problems, mine came with a deeply padded handle but it looks like that's an option now. I bought it when I started my strut/shock this spring and I was pleased. The manufacturer is American Forge and Foundry. This a solid,well made tool. my 2cents randy
I bought a steel floor jack from Costco (Arcan 3.5 ton) about 6 years ago , and it has been working great.
I have that same jack, for $100, it's great. But if you want light weight (you mentioned wanting an aluminum jack I believe), this jack isn't for you, it weighs about 100 pounds.
Craftsman all the way! Remember your going to be sticking your arm under there to put down a jackstand so dont cheap out! I have a craftman pro floor jack and kinda wished I got the aluminum low profile one but it was 300 dollars at the time, now that they dropped to 150 at sears and stuck some LED lights in them, I'm very interested in one.
__________________ 9 years.. same bird.. in love with every second
I have that same jack, for $100, it's great. But if you want light weight (you mentioned wanting an aluminum jack I believe), this jack isn't for you, it weighs about 100 pounds. 
