How can you get under the damn car? 89 gta is so low to the ground. Without a lift it's hard. I have rino ramps and can change oil but....stupid question anyways. I was running amsoil for 4 years and put 5k o. The car

 

Press the "lift" button under the dash. Close to the hood release lever.

 

Thanks. Backyard mechanic needs advice.

 

Buy a low-profile floor jack and some jack stands at Harbor Freight. That's how I do it...

 

I have two approaches to this.
1: I bought two sets of ramps and had them made into a one set with a rather flat profile, so I can clear them with the from air dam and bumper. They have a jack at the end, so I can lift the car up to about 50cm above ground, I think.
2: Two jack stands plus a low profile movable jack which at least reaches the differential casing from the rear and is able to clear the hose pipe around the cat-area.
I could combine those and lift the car up evenly and securely that way.

 

I have a longer nose low profile jack to lift my '84 T/A on the passenger side to get under the cat converter. I lift that side up just high enough to get another jack under the driver side. I do not use the "lift points on the rocker cover area as designated by GM. then jack each side as evenly as possible to lift the car until I can get two small jack stands under the engine cross member.

 

Low profile or small jack that can reach the crossmember is key then jack stands. I installed UMI subframe connectors they also help with jack points.

 

Drive the car onto a couple 1.5" X 10" boards first. Jack goes right under the crossmember then. Works the same for the diff.

Like this:



This works for me with Sportline springs and pretty bad ground clearance.

 

That's what I did before getting my low-profile jack. 'Got tired of doing it that way, but it does work...

 

^This^. Fast, easy, safe....and you don't need a bunch of crap taking up space in your garage. Different car, but same process....2 minutes.

 

The long reach low profile floor Jack is a must. I have also stacked a couple of scrap 2x12s (stepped) and then put my Rhino ramps on top of those, so it adds an extra 4 inches.

 

I start mine on some rhino ramps, then jack it up with a craftsman low profile floor jack. I don’t have the ground effects to deal with, but the jack won’t clear the air dam.