Just got my first F-body ('89 GTA) and I love it. I have not had a car in years (mostly 4WD vehicles over the last 6 years) and I have never had a car this low. Naturally, it didn't take too long to come upon my first issue - how the hell do I get to the oil drain plug . Basically, I have a set of 6-Ton Jack stands that I am sure are just too tall at their lowest setting to get the car up. So I could go for lower ones (like a set of 2-ton ones). So what I am thinking is that I will just put the car on 2 ton jack stands with the rear stands slightly higher than the fronts (the oil pan has the drain plug at the front). However, that still leads to another problem - jacking the car up. It looks like wherever I put the jack, the side opposite is going to crunch the ground (i haven't tried anything yet though). Also, I can't really find the frame of the car with the ground effects in the way. Of course, I may have just missed it as by the time I decided to jack up the car I was aready annoyed with the scenario and didn't put much thought into it after that. Anyway, any tips will help keep me from breaking anything on a pretty good car.

Thanks!

 

Slide a small floor jack under the crossmember, and lift the car. Put a small set of jackstands (2 ton) under each side, chock the rear wheels for safety, and climb under and change the oil. Easy as that.

 

There is not frame to jack on. Jack on the from engine crossmember, cradle, and the rear differential case.

 

If you cannot get the jack under the ground effects than drive the car up on a couple of 2x4's and procede as Mr Leigh and ljnowell outlined.

 

That's the answer I was looking for. Guess I really will have to buy 2-ton stands.

Thanks everyone.

 

I thought I might include this just in case you were wondering where to place your jackstands once you got it jacked up.

Props to Vader for the picture.

 

Invest in ramps... they are fairly cheap and make life easy with these cars. You can even get extensions for them if the car is REALLY low

 

I might add that I had a set of those erector set-looking ramps collapse once -- not on me, thankfully, but they were all bent up and looked really scary. Definitely look into a set of Rhino Ramps.

 

I have troubles with ramps (even the rhino ones). The nose just sticks out to far and hits the ramp before the tire gets to it. That is the only thing that I hate about lowered 3rd gens.

 

I built some ramps from plywood and 2x4's. They hold trucks, vans, and my car.

Made them long and gently sloping so as to alow for low vehicles to ride up them.

Been using them for years, never had a problem.

:lala:

 

That diagram shows a "stand point" under the stabilizer bar bushings; I've seen more than one car with those collapsed from doing that.

Best thing is 4 of pieces of 2x8 to drive the car up onto, arranged like a couple of stairs on each side; floor jack under the center of the K-member, being careful not to let it contact either the exhaust or the steering center link; then the stands under the ends of the K-member or the control arm bushings, immediately to the sides of where the floor jack will be.

I also have trouble with the ramps. The front ground effects hits them, and if they're on a slick surface like a garage floor, they slide when I try to drive the car up on them. They have to be on relatively rough pavement in order to work. Plus, once you get the car up on them, now you have this big thing right behind the front wheels, right exactly where you need to be able to crawl under there yourself.

 

That's why you're supposed to put pieces of wood behind the ramps to keep them from sliding. Its never failed. I don't like ramps because I'm always scared I'll go up and over them But it hasn't happened yet, and won't if you're careful enough. Aside from that, I do like using ramps.

 

I agree with RB, I never liked ramps either. FOr two reasons, one they are in they way. You cant take the wheel off with them. The other reason is that I saw one collapse one time. Very scary.

 

ramps are scary, I usually either drive with two feet (faster braking) or jack the car up from the k member and then put the ramp under the tire and use it like a jack stand, reverse isn't so scary with them and it saves you from having to jack the car back up to remove the stands.

 

Low profile aluminum jacks are your friend.

 

Ive put my car on ramps once it was in the air but Ive never been able to drive up onto them both. You could turn the wheels and get one up possibly, that would be enough to change the oil but wouldent be too safe. With my bird I cant even get to the front of the K-member thedamn airdamn is too low.

 

Thats what the extensions do... they make for (initially) a lower angle to drive up, so you don't scrape on them.

 

yea, in order for me to jack from the k member, i kinda have to come in on an angle from the front to avoid the air damn, which in turn makes throwing jack stands under there a bitch.... such is life.

 

I am going to try
another solution to jacking the car up..
I am going to try to
transfer the load to a 2x4 or 2x6 by 1 or 2 feet in length
center the wood at the notch jacking point placing the wood
vertically under the GFX.


for extra piece of mind while under I will take off the tires
and place them under the car just in case .