For those who don't have a four post lift......

[Eccentric Old Guy]

What works best for you?

Ramps or jack stands?

.....of course, a creeper.

Pros and cons?

Suggestions?

[nkaminar]

I just take my car back to the Ford dealer where I bought it.

[HDowse]

I use a combination of ramps and jack stands. If I’m working on the rear of the car, I jack up the front, slide ramps underneath and let the car down on the ramps. Then I jack the rear, fit the jack stands and lower the car onto the stands, axle or frame depending on what I'm doing. The car seems more secure with the ramps on one end.

[marty in Ohio]

To Nkaminar.
What Ford dealer would you take your model A to? Our dealer in town would ask "where do I plug the computer in."
Marty

[old ugly]

it starts with a GOOD floor jack. something like a blackhawk, all though that will be a bit expensive it will last you a lifetime and it will be stable. then some good stands that go high enough to support the car at a height that is easy to get under.

i have made a variety of holders/clamps that fit on my floor jack to hold transmissions for removal and install. as well, for the more modern rear end pots like 9" ford centre. the floor jack does a lot more than just lift a car up.

i made my own wheel stands, not really ramps, 2x4" rectangular steel that i put under the wheels. i mostly use them to support the car for engine removal . they hold the car secure and just high enough to get at things under the car and then i can use the floor jack to lift the transmission. i don't like the flimsy tin ramps and they are not the right height for my type of work.


ou

[katy]

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Jack stands and 8"X8" wood blocks.

[Bob Bidonde]

Jacking the car is not the problem. Making my 79-yeqr old body get up from the floor is! Also, I thank God for magnets & Tylenol.

[Patrick L.]

Originally Posted by nkaminar

i just take my car back to the ford dealer where i bought it.

lol. :d

[5lugnuts]

To get my 79 year old body up from the floor more easily, I put a jack stand alongside the drop cloth I lay on to get under the car. When I shimmy out from under the car, I roll to one side and put one hand on top of the jack stand and the other hand on the floor, then push myself up. Having one hand higher than the floor makes it much easier to get up. I put a rag on top of the jack stand for a softer grip and to wipe the grease off my hands when I stand up.

[CarlG]

Are we all 79 years old?

[51504bat]

these are what I normally use although I do have 2 sets of 6 ton jack stands.

[jerrytocci]

Bob nailed it .

[SwampLedge]

Originally Posted by CarlG

Are we all 79 years old?

No, but at 66 I know exactly what they are talking about, and hope that If I make it to 79, I’ll still be able to do that, even though it’s bound to hurt a lot more then than it does now.

[nkaminar]

The best thing about being under the car working on the engine with pan off is the oil dripping on my face and hair and the grease everywhere I touch. Take it easy, go greasy.

[40 Deluxe]

Originally Posted by Bob Bidonde

Jacking the car is not the problem. Making my 79-yeqr old body get up from the floor is! Also, I thank God for magnets & Tylenol.

What do you use the magnets for?

[steve hackel]

Based on the initial question and some of the responses, I'll toss in 2 cents worth of opinion , and your mileage may vary..... As dealerships and used car lots close with some regularity, often times there are the " drive up ramps" sitting in their lots - often times fir sale and cheap.
A few years ago our area went through this business model transformation and there were ramps at most closed and or vacant facilities.
I contacted several and also went to the village hall, and for my efforts I located 4 sets available.
My friends bought 2, and I myself bought 2-1/2 sets. My ramps are about 15' long x 18" wide and stand 22" tall, and can be used for modern vehicles and also my A' and my 34. If your vehicle does not run, a cheap harbor freight winch will easily pull anything up the 2 removable ramps to work on the cars.
My second - half set - was cut and modified to act as an additional lift that can be added to the existing 22"tall platforms, and the remainder of cut offs were used to lengthen and raise the removable ramps to fit the talker platforms.
I stack and store them behind my garage, but only need help stacking them if my cherry picker is not available. True, somewhat bulky for many, but a club might look into this. They can be transported by any landscape trailer, and will also work inside any garage with an 8' ceiling if you want to work under the car. So they're not for everyone , but just another suggestion to think about. �� cost wise. I invested $200 and some saws-all blades, some mig welding and an afternoon of measuring and fitting. For me, it was less than the cost of a name brand floor jack and 4 tall jack stands: the versatility is amazing and limited only by your imagination ��

[kawagumby]

I use two floor jacks for even lofting, with jackstands to follow. I slide around under the car on large sheets of cardboard - works so much better than a creeper!

[redmodelt]

Jack the car up and use jack stands. Forget the creeper, hate those things, cardboard or piece of carpet. Not a fan of ramps, never seem to get the tires in the right spot. Not on far enough or on too far! LOL

[katy]

Originally Posted by CarlG

Are we all 79 years old?

I think I was a coupla years ago.

[chap52]

I call my agile adult son. At 75 I am as agile as a wooden pencil. I know people say do some gentle stretching exercises first. Then I am too worn out to fix whatever it was that I had already forgotten needed to be fixed. Who has issues? Enjoying the adventure... Chap

[Bob Bidonde]

Hey Deluxe 40,
I drop a lot of ferrous things such as nuts, washers, bolts, cotter pins, Woodruf keys, springs, grease fittings, brake pins and tools. A magnet or two on a telescoping shaft is one of my prized possessions.

[Chris Haynes]

I use my two post lift.

[novaskilling]

I’m in the process of building mine, but the frame is sitting on torque tubes on all four corners that have been turned into stands

[PalAl]

Originally Posted by Bob Bidonde

Jacking the car is not the problem. Making my 79-yeqr old body get up from the floor is! Also, I thank God for magnets & Tylenol.

Thanks Bob, I'm glad to know I'm not the only one that uses a short step ladder to get off the floor while making strange grunts

[40 Deluxe]

Originally Posted by Bob Bidonde

Hey Deluxe 40,
I drop a lot of ferrous things such as nuts, washers, bolts, cotter pins, Woodruf keys, springs, grease fittings, brake pins and tools. A magnet or two on a telescoping shaft is one of my prized possessions.

Got'cha. Didn't think about that angle!

[redmodelt]

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Originally Posted by Bob Bidonde

Hey Deluxe 40,
I drop a lot of ferrous things such as nuts, washers, bolts, cotter pins, Woodruf keys, springs, grease fittings, brake pins and tools. A magnet or two on a telescoping shaft is one of my prized possessions.

LOL, like that idea. I dropped one of the wing nuts for the battery hold down in the grass under my 48 F2 Sunday. Laying on the ground, I could not see it, so I dropped a shinny object (wrench) next to it from the top where I could. Was easy to find then.

[31a]

did not like using ramps Used 6 ton jack stands have a 2 post lift now

[Swingle]

What I like to use us my kwik lift system.


It is a pair of long ramps that you drive up. Once all 4 wheels are on the ramp, you use your hydraulic jack to lift the lower part of the ramp off the ground. When the ramp is at the correct height, you pull the legs down to support the ramp and then remove the jack.

Check the website for complete details https://www.kwik-lift.com/

[77Birdman]

Not a model A, but I will use jack stands but only many at a time in case one or two fail. I have gone to cribbing I made out of some scrap 2x material I had. I bought a low profile jack from Harbor Freight which is pretty nice and has good reviews.

2020-07-02_10-50-57 by Kerry Grubb, on Flickr

[Chris Haynes]

[QUOTE=77Birdman;2068739]Not a model A, but I will use jack stands but only many at a time in case one or two fail. I have gone to cribbing I made out of some scrap 2x material I had. I bought a low profile jack from Harbor Freight which is pretty nice and has good reviews.

Not much good when you are working on brakes or suspension.

[P_Moore]

Jack stands and a decent creeper

[Ramman]

2X Post #22.

[marty in Ohio]

A few years ago I happened upon an old political campaign sign that was made out of a corregated plastic. It was a 4 X 8 sheet and I cut it into 4 pieces. Lay that on the floor and slide under the car. Works great. The only drawback is that nobody liked the candidate. LOL.
Marty

[Oldgearz]

Originally Posted by CarlG

Are we all 79 years old?

Heck no. I'm 78. I sse cardboard to lay on after jacking car up and sliding ramps under the wheels. Getting up and down off the floor is the hardest work I do. But I still love doing it!

[brake1000]

I use the Harbur Freight magnet, pull on the center handle dumps everything right in a can

[Gold Digger]

Cardboard with printed signs on it makes me slide better.

[woofa.express]

Originally Posted by Bob Bidonde

Hey Deluxe 40,
I drop a lot of ferrous things such as nuts, washers, bolts, cotter pins, Woodruf keys, springs, grease fittings, brake pins and tools. A magnet or two on a telescoping shaft is one of my prized possessions.

Why haven't I thought of that? When next going to town my first stop will be at the engineering supply shop. Thanks Bob

[ModelA29]

Originally Posted by nkaminar

I just take my car back to the Ford dealer where I bought it.

So you are either real old or own a Shay......

Originally Posted by 5lugnuts

To get my 79 year old body up from the floor more easily, I put a jack stand alongside the drop cloth I lay on to get under the car..

I always figured it's why Henry put running boards on the A.


I want a 4 post lift but @ 73 I doubt it would be a wise purchase. I have some 20' lengths of 6" I beam. I'm thinking of building one of those tilting type stands dealers had to display cars - drive up and when you go over center the thing tilts so the car is level. I'll make it just high enough to work under comfortably. I've always used cardboard on the cold garage floor or driveway now I'm finding it easier to roll under on a creeper.

[dave in australia]

Originally Posted by Gold Digger

Cardboard with printed signs on it makes me slide better.

I second the cardboard bit. I've found I slide easier on cardboard than a creeper rolls on my floor, plus the extra height, albeit a few centimetres makes a difference. Also, i can't rollover my fingers, or have something roll under the creeper.

[Bob Bidonde]

40 Deluxe,
Thank God that most of the Model A's mechanical parts are steel because I have a track record of dropping a lot of them. So I use magnets on telescoping shafts to retrieve the parts I drop.

[Rusty Karz]

Is it only open at midnight during a full moon? The rest of the time it just looks like an abandoned Ford Garage?

[31a]

one old guys opinion do not buy a 2 post lift you will regret it. It is not worth the time and effort to get the A on the lift.

[Chris Haynes]

Originally Posted by 31a

one old guys opinion do not buy a 2 post lift you will regret it. It is not worth the time and effort to get the A on the lift.

What time and effort? You lay on the floor and line up the lift to the frame and lift it.

[Jim Brierley]

Originally Posted by Bob Bidonde

Jacking the car is not the problem. Making my 79-yeqr old body get up from the floor is! Also, I thank God for magnets & Tylenol.

At age 86.2, I don't have that problem, although it does take me 5 minutes to get down on the floor, and 10 minutes to get back up! Thank God for helpful neighbors and friends!!!

[fastroadster]

Use my pit in the shop...