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jacking on the pinch-weld - adapter?

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Old Aug 16, 2017 | 05:12 PM
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W.E.G.'s Avatar
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From: northern VA
Car: 88 Sport Coupe Camaro
Engine: V6 2.8
Transmission: Borg-Warner T-5
Axle/Gears: RPO/GU6: 3.42
jacking on the pinch-weld - adapter?

Yeah, I know jack it with your floor-jack on the subframe points shown on the diagram.

I've got the diagram, and that's what I've been doing.

Now, that said, I am intrigued with the "ZL-1" brand magnet-on, and clamp-on, jack-point devices that folks are using on Gen 5 and Gen 6 Camaros.
https://zl1addons.com/collections/ja...nt=32532756929

There is even a "universal" device for whatever other cars you care to experiment with.
https://zl1addons.com/collections/ja...nt=28542348481

You can google the videos if you care to watch the moving pictures.

All our third-gen cars came with a scissors-jack that was supposed to engage the pinch-weld for changing flat tires.

Share your thoughts on whether one of the ZL1 devices (or similar concept) would be a good idea for third gen cars. I have no affiliation with ZL1, and I have no capacity to produce such a product in my basement. This is not a commercial post!

Simply like the idea of not having to do a hundred mini-strokes with my floor jack in order to get enough range of motion of the handle of the floor jack every time I want to push a proper jack-stand under my third gen. If I could jack off the pinch weld in a way that would fubar something, what's not to like?

Thoughts of fellow third gen people about this?


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Old Aug 16, 2017 | 11:03 PM
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Re: jacking on the pinch-weld - adapter?

Jack under the front crossmember, A-arms, or rear axle. If I really wanted to jack elsewhere, I'd weld in SFCs that would double as jacking points.

A fancy adapter isnt going to make the pinch welds any less flimsy. They're subject to rust anyway, I wouldn't push it personally.
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Old Aug 17, 2017 | 10:51 PM
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Car: 84 TA orig. 305 LG4 "H" E4ME
Engine: 334 SBC - stroked 305 M4ME Q-Jet
Transmission: upgraded 700R4 3200 stall
Axle/Gears: 10bolt 4.10 Posi w Lakewood TA Bars
Re: jacking on the pinch-weld - adapter?

Yeah, it sucks having to crawl under the front end and lift the front of the car with my back to get enough clearance just to be able to roll the jack under the crossmember. Then I have to use a 12" ratchet extension as the jack's handle to make the first few pumps, because there isn't enough room for the regular handle. Then it's a bunch of tiny pumps to actually jack the front end up.
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Old Aug 17, 2017 | 11:19 PM
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Car: 1991 Firebird Formula
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Transmission: 700r4
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Re: jacking on the pinch-weld - adapter?

I'm guessing you have a lowered car? I guess having the stock ride height certainly makes it easy to jack up, I can angle it in diagonally and lift by the K-member without any trouble. Those pinch weld adapters look pretty neat though, I got one of the rubber "hockey puck" style for lifting other cars which works OK.
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Old Aug 17, 2017 | 11:59 PM
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From: Meriden, CT 06451
Car: 84 TA orig. 305 LG4 "H" E4ME
Engine: 334 SBC - stroked 305 M4ME Q-Jet
Transmission: upgraded 700R4 3200 stall
Axle/Gears: 10bolt 4.10 Posi w Lakewood TA Bars
Re: jacking on the pinch-weld - adapter?

Originally Posted by someone972
I'm guessing you have a lowered car?
NOPE. In fact it is RAISED. I'm not in California, and I don't care what magazines say is cool (lowered). I have to drive the car on real Connecticut roads.
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Old Aug 18, 2017 | 12:08 AM
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From: Fort Collins, CO
Car: 1991 Firebird Formula
Engine: 5.7L TPI
Transmission: 700r4
Axle/Gears: 3.23
Re: jacking on the pinch-weld - adapter?

Huh, wonder why it's so hard for your car and easy for mine. Could be my jack, or maybe because I don't have the side pieces for the air dam on the car. In any case I wouldn't trust the pinch welds on these cars. I think both of mine in the front have been folded over from improper lifting in the past.
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Old Aug 18, 2017 | 12:23 AM
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From: Meriden, CT 06451
Car: 84 TA orig. 305 LG4 "H" E4ME
Engine: 334 SBC - stroked 305 M4ME Q-Jet
Transmission: upgraded 700R4 3200 stall
Axle/Gears: 10bolt 4.10 Posi w Lakewood TA Bars
Re: jacking on the pinch-weld - adapter?

Not my actual car, but similar.
Try to get a jack under this.....
I can't even drive it up on ramps without long extensions.
Attached Thumbnails jacking on the pinch-weld - adapter?-84-ta-convertible-0.jpg   jacking on the pinch-weld - adapter?-4f9e_3.jpg   jacking on the pinch-weld - adapter?-4861_3.jpg  

Last edited by NoEmissions84TA; Aug 18, 2017 at 12:31 AM.
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Old Aug 18, 2017 | 12:25 AM
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From: Fort Collins, CO
Car: 1991 Firebird Formula
Engine: 5.7L TPI
Transmission: 700r4
Axle/Gears: 3.23
Re: jacking on the pinch-weld - adapter?

Yep, those ground effects definitely would make it a lot harder than the standard Formula styled cars.
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Old Aug 18, 2017 | 12:28 AM
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From: Meriden, CT 06451
Car: 84 TA orig. 305 LG4 "H" E4ME
Engine: 334 SBC - stroked 305 M4ME Q-Jet
Transmission: upgraded 700R4 3200 stall
Axle/Gears: 10bolt 4.10 Posi w Lakewood TA Bars
Re: jacking on the pinch-weld - adapter?

Yes, it really makes me want to put a Knight Rider nose on the car, just to be able to get a jack under there, or even just to be able to crawl under.

If I had my choice, I like a Formula much better, and I would want a hard top. T tops always leak.
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Old Aug 18, 2017 | 04:07 PM
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Car: 89 tta
Engine: turbo v6
Transmission: 200r4
Re: jacking on the pinch-weld - adapter?

got a set of the race ramps for my TA they work really well for oil changes, and i use them to get up up off the ground to get floor jack past the intercooler scoop. they don't rub on ground effect either
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Old Aug 19, 2017 | 03:58 PM
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Car: 1991 Z28 Vert
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Re: jacking on the pinch-weld - adapter?

Go out and buy two 8' lengths of 2x8 pressure treated lumbar. Make a 45* cut at 4' another at 3' and the last at 1'
Glue them one on top the other with construction adhesive and screw them together. Screw down a strip of 2x2 at the very front to act as a bump stop. You now have a set of ramps under $20. You will no longer have trouble jacking the car up.
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Old Aug 19, 2017 | 06:11 PM
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From: Meriden, CT 06451
Car: 84 TA orig. 305 LG4 "H" E4ME
Engine: 334 SBC - stroked 305 M4ME Q-Jet
Transmission: upgraded 700R4 3200 stall
Axle/Gears: 10bolt 4.10 Posi w Lakewood TA Bars
Re: jacking on the pinch-weld - adapter?

You mean like this?



This is a good option also.

Last edited by NoEmissions84TA; Aug 19, 2017 at 06:14 PM.
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Old Aug 19, 2017 | 06:18 PM
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From: Meriden, CT 06451
Car: 84 TA orig. 305 LG4 "H" E4ME
Engine: 334 SBC - stroked 305 M4ME Q-Jet
Transmission: upgraded 700R4 3200 stall
Axle/Gears: 10bolt 4.10 Posi w Lakewood TA Bars
Re: jacking on the pinch-weld - adapter?

And now for some entertainment.




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Old Aug 20, 2017 | 11:46 PM
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Car: 88 Firebird Formula
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Re: jacking on the pinch-weld - adapter?

lol lol made my night
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