4-post lift & other garage toy questions

[cbrsurfr]

I know at least on some of the 4 posts you can get slidable jacks that mount to the ramps so you can still get all 4 wheels in the air. It's more expensive. A neighbor of mine lucked out and bought a 4 post for like 75% off because some people were moving and wanted it gone. He also has the nicer garage design with an extra 2-3 feet of ceiling height vs mine.

I've wanted one for a long time just haven't pulled the trigger. I do enough work with the racing events I do and having an old Ford to justify one.

 

[cbrsurfr]

But what a luxury it would be....

This had me doing a double-take. Did you use a cherry picker to lift the car off of the engine?

 

[JCH13]

This had me doing a double-take. Did you use a cherry picker to lift the car off of the engine?

For an MR2 you jack up the car, drop the engine onto some dollies with an engine hoist, then lift the car up with said engine hoist to roll the engine out.

 

[jlee]

This had me doing a double-take. Did you use a cherry picker to lift the car off of the engine?

Yup.

I want a lift.

 

[exdeath]

^ yup @ MR2, along with evolving 3 additional elbows and inventing new ways to use tools in various ways never intended by their manufacturers.

 

[Howard]

Air tools are AMAZING. Just discovered them, but it requires a good compressor. Compressors are expensive. Seriously, having a good air gun is a HUGE time saver - but you gotta be careful to not overtorque if you use it to put bolts/screws on. I use it mostly to dismantle. If you can find a good compressor at a garage sale somewhere, grab it up - something with high CFM rating... like 5 @ 90PSI at least. This will also open the door for possibilities with painting - which is difficult but fun.

Gear Wrenches will save your knuckles.

Get quality ratchet/wrenches. Cheaper stuff doesnt seem to fit bolts very well and they tend to slip or round bolts easily.

I'm looking myself for a decent set of flex-head reversible ratcheting wrenches. Those ones you linked are pretty nice, but sometimes the flexible head comes in handy. Then there are the regular flex-head type but sometimes you can't flip the wrench to reverse the direction...

 

[franksta]

Did someone mention a lift?

Don't let anyone tell you that you need a 2-post to do brake work, it's a lie.

I have the HD9XW. I also got the optional caster kit so it can be rolled around. My driveway back to this garage is gravel and I never had any intention on moving it out there. Just around the garage as necessary. I got mine with a 240V motor but they also have 120V ones available. Other than that it does require compressed air to release the locks so it can be lowered. For the delivery a forklift to remove it from the truck (or tiltbed trailer or rollback truck to pick it up yourself from the freight depot), 2 people, 2 floor jacks with a 20" rise, a Northern Tools or Harbor Freight furniture dolly, and a few hours are required.


My cabinets are Baldhead brand. Expensive and steel. I'd consider aluminum ones too as they would be much lighter and easier to install.

Depending on your budget for the air compressor there's high-end Saylor-Bealls and Quincys or less expensive Harbor Freight ones. The air tools' flow requirements would determine what you would actually need. I'm eventually going to end up with a 5HP 80 gallon. Really liking the Saylor-Bealls at this point but still a few years away from a decision.

 

[Kaido]

Ah, that's the one that inspired this thread! I remembered someone had a beetle with a 4-post lift in their garage :biggrin:

 

[JCH13]

I'm looking myself for a decent set of flex-head reversible ratcheting wrenches. Those ones you linked are pretty nice, but sometimes the flexible head comes in handy. Then there are the regular flex-head type but sometimes you can't flip the wrench to reverse the direction...

GearWrench makes every flavor of ratcheting wrench you could want, including a ratcheting open end, which sounds cheesy, but is incredibly awesome for flare nuts and hard-to-reach or low-clearance situations.

Edit: I have one set of almost every style GearWrench makes, they are indispensable.

 

[franksta]

Ah, that's the one that inspired this thread! I remembered someone had a beetle with a 4-post lift in their garage :biggrin:

Feel free to PM or stop by if you're in the southeast US if you want to see it in person.

 

[Howard]

GearWrench makes every flavor of ratcheting wrench you could want, including a ratcheting open end, which sounds cheesy, but is incredibly awesome for flare nuts and hard-to-reach or low-clearance situations.

Edit: I have one set of almost every style GearWrench makes, they are indispensable.

I checked their site earlier and could not see any reversible flex-head wrenches.

 

[JCH13]

I checked their site earlier and could not see any reversible flex-head wrenches.

With flex-head wrenches you just bend the end back and flip it over to reverse...

 

[Wuzup101]

GearWrench makes every flavor of ratcheting wrench you could want, including a ratcheting open end, which sounds cheesy, but is incredibly awesome for flare nuts and hard-to-reach or low-clearance situations.

Edit: I have one set of almost every style GearWrench makes, they are indispensable.

I have to admit, I was a bit skeptical at first, but I agree - GearWrench has some nice stuff. I have a set of the flex head x beam wrenches... and they are awesome.