[hinklejd]

I'll quit doing it then. Jackstands it is.

[matt167]

I have used cinder blocks to raise the height of a jackstand.. of course, just working on front drum brakes, never being under the car with it... thing to remember is, a set of stands used improperly can be just as bad, or worse than blocks.. all it takes is 1 of them to shift the slightest bit and they can all come down on you.. they can also sink in unsturdy ground or tilt in unsturdy ground and give way.. really the best way would be 4 sturdy drive on ramps if the car has to be sitting on the tires

[NEW INTERIORS]

Originally Posted by matt167

I have used cinder blocks to raise the height of a jackstand.. of course, just working on front drum brakes, never being under the car with it... thing to remember is, a set of stands used improperly can be just as bad, or worse than blocks.. all it takes is 1 of them to shift the slightest bit and they can all come down on you.. they can also sink in unsturdy ground or tilt in unsturdy ground and give way.. really the best way would be 4 sturdy drive on ramps if the car has to be sitting on the tires

That's why I use 6 ton jack stands..

[matt167]

I have 4 ton stands, and I use squares of 1'x1' 3/4" plywood under them... also shove tires/ rims under the vehicle with me.. if they do kick out, the tire/ rim will save me... had 1 car fall on me, got lucky and didn't get hurt, but once is enough.. now I also use my 3 ton jack under the vehicles, jacked up to just below the stand height.. it might get a little cluttered under there with so much stuff, but at least it won't come down on me

[NEW INTERIORS]

That's why I bought the 6 ton jack stands.I don't have to put nothing under them..But my cement slab..Don't have to worry.That was money well spent.Plus I can put that car in the air.They have a very wide base on them..They make a big difference when using them... I feel very safe under the cars I do now. Guy's ..don't play around, buy a good set of 6 tons.You won't be sorry you did..

[Mike H]

Originally Posted by NEW INTERIORS

Sorry.. I have to agree with Jetnow1 ..CINDER BLOCKS should ''NEVER'' be used when working on a car.. The thing about Cinder Blocks ''THEY WILL NEVER LET YOU KNOW WHEN THEY WILL BREAK'' And today's blocks are no where's built the way they use to be built.So please don't encourage no one to do that..It may have worked for you 99 times.But sooner or later it will get you..I have seen some break with less weight then a frame.Don't do it..

Just drop one on a corner and watch it come apart.

There was a HS student last year near here that had a truck on concrete blocks the block broke and his head was under the front susp. He lived but was in a coma for about 30 days and has not been the same since.

[NEW INTERIORS]

Originally Posted by Mike H

Just drop one on a corner and watch it come apart.

There was a HS student last year near here that had a truck on concrete blocks the block broke and his head was under the front susp. He lived but was in a coma for about 30 days and has not been the same since.

I know what you mean Mike...That's why I posted ''Not'' to use them Under a car..They do not sell Cinder block's at a auto store or a tool house..There's a reason they don't..

I hope this may stop someone from getting hurt like this poor boy did...

[Mike H]

The first thing I was asked was if that was one of my students and I told them He!! no my guys know better.

I am glad to see you got some paint on that frame it may keep the back from breaking off I had to say it, Mike

[NEW INTERIORS]

Originally Posted by Mike H

The first thing I was asked was if that was one of my students and I told them He!! no my guys know better.

I am glad to see you got some paint on that frame it may keep the back from breaking off I had to say it, Mike

LOL... Thanks.. I made sure to put it on heavy over the weld's on the back end..LOL

[Mike H]

I knew you would figure out how to fix it.

[NEW INTERIORS]

Originally Posted by Mike H

I knew you would figure out how to fix it.

[SinistrV6]

Just an update for anyone who might find this thread later. I only needed about 4" of additional clearance for the crane to fit under the lower chassis. So I took some scrap treated 4X4's and added a short length of 2X4 on top of them which gave me 5" of total rise. I put these under each tire and added a couple of wooden stops to the rear ones (so the chassis can't roll). It serves the purpose even though it's not terribly impressive looking.

I really liked the idea about using the same size material that you use for the risers to slide under the car's low points to check clearance. I wanted something that was as wide as the chassis that I could slide under easily and check clearances. I was out of 4X4's (and they're heavy and hard to move around) but I did have some 3/4" PVC and fittings! I took a piece about 4' long, put 90s on each end added about 2" of pipe to the 90s and then put a "T" on the end of that for a base. Once I adjusted the short "legs" to the correct height, I marked their location, took 'em apart and glued 'em back together so they won't move.

Cheap, lightweight, effective.

[PapaG]

They make cinder blocks and concrete blocks that look basically the same. Concrete blocks weigh a whole lot more and are a lot stronger. You could use solid concrete blocks. These are what they support houses with.

2x6, 2x8, boxes should work. Only use those to get your you truck higher. I have seen wooden car ramps people have made. I have some ramps made out of some composite that I bought somewhere.

Harbor Freight would be a cheap source for some jack stands.
Landscape timbers are cheap too.