Yah so today what did I do.... Well I went to my backyard, got my rims out of the shed, and started cleaning them.

It was like -10 outside. On top of that, since the water lines are shut off in the backyard I had to use a bucket of water.

Well after about 2-3 hours of scrubbing and freezing my *** off I got the rims very very clean. I wasn't cleaning the outside of the rims, I was cleaning the INSIDE of the rims. After 10 years the inside was like black... now it's actually aluminum!

The front ones were the dirtiest, I got them very clean. The back ones, there are some black spots EVERYWHERE that I can't get off. Looks like black paint or something. I dunno, it wouldn't come off and the interior inside of the rim is covered in this stuff. I think it might be undercoating or something, but its on there for good either way.

Then I had to lug 1 rim at a time to my underground garage (dam those things are heavy!!!).

Let's just say I finally got the rims back on my car. everything is fastened... My wheel wells... I painted them black and I must say the car looks so much cleaner now it looks brand new. hehe

Now I gotta go buy a jack from canadian tire tonight so I can put my car back down.

But I gotta say man... Try cleaning your rims outside in this weather. The water kept freezing and my tires were covered in ice every five seconds. At one point my freaken shoe froze to the ground where the water was. Aiee! :hail:

 

Why didn't you do it in the garage?

I guess when you go to the Monday night cruise in Woodbridge, you'll be bringing 4 mirrors to display your handy work ...lol

Also, get some locking nuts at GM, hate to see those wheels disappear after all your work. Ask Santa for a car cover too.

Pacer

 

i have 4 locking nuts don't worry about that

the reason i didn't do it in my garage is this: i live in a townhouse. i park my car underneath an apartment building beside my house...

i don't have my own garage... it's a public garage

luckily it's a very secure public garage.... cameras everywhere... security keys... etc. etc...

 

Theres a jack/jackstand set in Costco for $100..2 jackstands and a 3 ton jack..looks beefy

Daz

 

forget that man

my car is already 4 jackstands... the thing is... the stupid management of the building said i gotta put the car down, and its not allowed to be on jackstands.... since slade is the one who helped jack the car up for me, i gotta go buy a jack from canadian tire. i have my eye on one for $19.99 hehahahaha

whatever does the job man... :P

 

I'm pressed this week, but next week its officially x-mas break, which means more or less I've got a lot of free time till things start up again in Jan. I'll help ya out if you need, just give me a shout.

The stuff the sell at costco is usually seasonal Daz I see them every year stocking more or less the same stuff every year with a few goodies from time to time. I've had a membership there for the last 6 years now. It's changed a lot over the years though in look and feel.

 

Jacks and engine hoists make great stocking stuffers.

 

I tried to grab hold of it but it got away..your point that is..



If you plan on using the jack a lot I would stay away from those tiny jacks.IMO
Daz

 

I think I'll be able to get the car down myself. But just incase... tell me if this is the right process:

1: put jack under front left control arm, boost it up..... take the jackstand out... then lower jack down to the ground...

2: put jack under front right control arm.... boost it up.... take the jackstand out... then lower jack down to the ground....

3: put jack under rear axle... raise it.... take both rear jackstands out.... then lower jack down to the ground....

done....

is that what i should do?

 

No!

 

no what

 

ALex if you put the front jackstands where you were suppose to (under the control arms) then you can't put the jcak ther too. Put the jack under the subframe connectors just behind the tire, they are about 10" in toward the trans. You'll see them jack it up and remove the stands. Better yet, if you have enough room at the front of the car, then just jack it up by the crossmember under the oil pan, that way you don't make the car fall to either side. Try to get it as close to the center as possible., pull out both stands and ptu back on the ground. As for the rear of the car, jack it up under the pumpkin.(the center) of the rear axle take both out and put it on the ground again. I would really put TWO lock nuts on your wheels. I know they aren't cheap but you can still get a rim off with only one lock nut on each wheel.. Get two different one too. SOme good theifs have teh keys to these types of wheel locks so.... HTH

Keiran

 

of course i can put the jack under the front control arms! the jackstand only rests on one part of the control arm, i have more than enough room to jack up one side at a time and take the jackstands out.

 

Oops daz I think my mind was on another post of yours saying you got the last engine hoist setup or something...

 

OK, but even though it is a bit safer to jack it up by the crossmember under the engine, to avoid the car from dropping when doing it one side at a time. Trust me I have seen it happen when someone has the front of the car on jackstands. they try one side at a time and BOOM! down the car goes. Not good. Unless you have alot of expierence lifting and dropping cars with a jack, I would really be carefull or wait for someone who's good with a jack..And by no means am I trying to say you don't know how to do it, but you don't want to drop you nice car and break something do you????

 

Easy...I say dont skimp on a Jack....you do work on your car right? So pony up and purchase something a little better than the 19.99 one. Trust me it will pay off!

 

why would i do that

the 19.99 one lifts up to 4000 pounds and raises about 40 cm... lol

 

I dont have an exact answer to be quite honest, but I know that the ones with the quick pump are definatly alot nicer putting things up, and with some of the better jacks you have more control dropping them vs. the cheepest jacks you can find on the market....I don't know about you but jacking up a car is not one of my favourite things to do....so anything which makes it easier I am all for it!

....why would you do that??? well look at it this way .....why would anyone beef up their suspension or anything else in their cars??? Although something can handle xx its always nice to have something which is a little better than what you need...but that's just me and my 2cents.

 

...............

A good underbody glow kit goes further than a good jack....lol

Pacer

 

speed jack from princess auto $99.00 i got one in the summer....its awsome and i have to totally agree with tanager don't skimp out.

 

Ya know guys.... I work at Costco here in London and if ya wanted I could keep ya updated on anything automotive if you'd like??? Anyway lmk.

 

If you buy junk you have to go back later and buy the stuff you should have got in the first place. Same is true for tools.

Edit: - RegaPlanet - I was referring to the $19 jack - didn't see your post until after mine went up.

 

Alex! Trust me buy yourself a decent jack, not only for quality, but for strength! You can buy a half decent one for $100. Trust me, you won't regret it like you will buying one of those small cheapys. But it's your money.

HTH Keiran

 

Ya you best investing in a good quality jack, afterall its hard to operate a cheapy while yer melon is pinned to the ground by yer body kit. I borrowed a cheap one from a "friend" and the damn thing let go. It was by no means over maxed, just crap. It did a nice job on my front kit as I was just puttin my jackstands in place and BAM! Lucky to still have my empty head, and arm.

 

Wouldn't it be better to set the rear on the ground first? That way he won't have to worry about the front GFX hitting the ground (there's more clearance at the back for when the car is tilted), and with the rear down and the parking brake set there's less chance of the car falling off a jackstand when he drops the front.

I'd definitely invest in a decent jack. I have one of the Wallmart $50 sets (two tonne jack and jackstands) and while they do work, the jackstands creak a bit when the weight is set on them and the jack is actually starting to bend sideways a bit. Of course, most of the damage to the jack was from when we (I) got my truck high-centred in the middle of a mud pit when we were alone (long story).

 

That is a very good point SBlackfoot. Depending on the ride height of Alex's car yes he probably should do the back of the car first. I'm so use to doing my Monte now. Don't have that prob. yet. Eibachs soon to come though. Hmmm????

 

hm.... sounds interesting bringing down the back first... but.... when me and slade put it up... we did the back first, and then the front? so i just assumed i would do the exact same reverse...

 

Yeah. Tha's just it Alex. Depending on your ride height the front GFX could hit the ground scratching them up some. But if you had no real probs' going up , down should be alright too as long as you go slow. Don't let it bounce down fast or you may hit bottom. But seriously...ALex buy a decent jack. Don't cheap out on this one...you'll regret it.

 

Careful Alex, I did the back first solely because it was easier to reach. Remember I brought down some big rocks to keep the front tires from rolling.

The rear should come down first and in gear and parking brake on AND something to stop it from rolling should still be in place when doing this.

Parking brake is not always reliable and when a 3500 lb car wants to roll back it will...

 

Opps, I should've mentioned that. I guess I considered wheel chocks to be a given.