Auto Lifts

2863 Views 10 Replies 6 Participants Last post by RAGs, Oct 8, 2007

dalv

Discussion Starter · Sep 17, 2007

I did a search but didn't come up with much on this subject - thought I would ask.
I have a '88 Spider Veloce bought it in great shape and have done numerous weekend improvements with ideas from this forum. I need/want to do suspension upgrades this winter and currently have a bad leak from the rear end (driveshaft seal?).
I plan on installing a 2 post auto lift in my garage. I have 11' ceilings and plenty of room.
Have done research on the net and have a call into a local lift supplier for used units. I wondered if anyone here has any experience with these type of lifts and would be willing to share info.
I guess I'm tired of the creeper and dirt in the eyes - also a 19 yr old son in Auto Program at a local community college so it would come in handy for his project car.
Any suggestions or experiences would be appreciated - Thanks

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Panalfa

· #2 · Sep 17, 2007

reply to your Spider Veloce'88

Dear Dalv
Great as it sounds. I am happy to hear to maintained that piece of power house.
I am an automotive technician and was a student studying and trained by Alfa Romeo principal engineers from Milano. We do have sales, service and assembly plant of Alfa Romeos those days here in Malaysia.
I was a assembly engineer for Alfa Romeos for about eight years. Your model was used to be CBU units(completely built-up) in here.
Yes, you can have a 2-pole hoist in your garage or on your home groung floor. Understanding a clearance of eleven feet should be sound enough BUT you have to adjust the limit switch to a height when the roof of your vehicle( if only meant for Spider Veloce) is about a foot below the ceiling.
On the 2-pole hoist certain job are not recommended such as clutch change or gearbox removal. Because you tend to push and pull the vehicle body while disassembly or assembly operations.( the 2-pole is not steady like the 4-pole hoist.)
Now before I go any further on to your suspension < I wish to inform you that I am a newely enrolled member of this club so I do not know whether my email will be received or not. So I would be happly to receive a reply from you to go further in detail. Please understand me and I hope to give plans about your son project ideas.
Thank you
Hope to hear from you soon. Have a nice day
Thomas Roche

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geh458

· #3 · Sep 17, 2007 (Edited)

dalv said:
I did a search but didn't come up with much on this subject - thought I would ask...........

I too did a search and found this thread: http://www.alfabb.com/bb/forums/showthread.php?t=25231&highlight=auto+lifts

which as it turns out, I contributed to. The key to using the search feature on the AlfaBB, as with any search utility, is putting in the right word or phrase. I typed in on the search box, auto lifts, and came up with these eight threads that mention them in one form or another: http://www.alfabb.com/bb/forums/search.php?searchid=871947

Searching for, auto lift, came up with these 43 threads: http://www.alfabb.com/bb/forums/search.php?searchid=871956

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RAGs

· #4 · Sep 17, 2007 (Edited)

Be mindful ...

..of the foundation in the garage!

The is usually a minimal thickness requirement for the 2-post. I recall the the studs being anchored at least 8" on one a friend of mine did. Check the requirements first.

Good luck.

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dalv

Discussion Starter · #5 · Sep 17, 2007

Thanks for the replies.
geh - I could only get one of the links to work... I will try the search ideas you mention.
Pana - your enthusiasm is great! I appreciate your interest. My son just graduated from UTI at Auto Tech School and did real well - decided to continue on to get a degree to got with it. He has quite a bit of experience with the lifts as he used them in school. His project is a '81 Toyota MR2 - should be fun!
Rags - good thought. As I am a mason by trade and I built the shop the floor is 6" thick with 1' stone subase - more than enough for the load.

Now I just have to decide on a brand and supplier - alot out there. Hoping to do business with the local supplier. I did a school bus garage last year and he supplied the lift ($50K) so he knows lifts. He often repos lifts from shops and I think I can get a good deal - plus he can backit up with service...just got to get a good price.

I will let you know what I decide and how it goes in and works. Keep the ideas and suggestions coming.

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geh458

· #6 · Sep 18, 2007

dalv said:
Thanks for the replies.
geh - I could only get one of the links to work... I will try the search ideas you mention......

That's realy weird, they worked last night when I posted them, go figure.

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John B.

· #7 · Oct 5, 2007

Why not consider a 4 post drive on lift like this one?
http://www.superlifts.com/sr7h.html I've had one of these for 4 years & my only regret is that I didn't buy it 20 years sooner. Instead of tying up floor space it actually doubles your parking space when not being used for repairs. Your 11' ceiling height is on the low side for under car work, 13' would be ideal so be careful when raising the car as Thomas mentioned.

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60sRacer

· #8 · Oct 5, 2007

Because of the load, a two post lift will probably need a new footing, I doubt that a standard garage floor slab is strong enough. You would cut two square openings in the slab with a diamond saw, dig a deep footting, add rebar to code, and pour new concrete, then bolt the lift posts to that.

Four post is easier. With no torque load (off balance) it just sits on the slab.

Robert

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RAGs

· #9 · Oct 5, 2007

Question ...

How does the 4-post work when you need to remove the wheels once the car is raised??

(brakes, suspension etc.) The ones I've seen so far require you drive on the ramps and the lifting occurs at the wheels vs. jackpoints.

Any thoughts?

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John B.

· #10 · Oct 5, 2007

RAGs said:
How does the 4-post work when you need to remove the wheels once the car is raised?? (brakes, suspension etc.) The ones I've seen so far require you drive on the ramps and the lifting occurs at the wheels vs. jackpoints.

Any thoughts?

Along with the ramp which has enough space for you to use the factory jack the lifts come with jack trays. http://www.superlifts.com/4postoptions.html
The jack tray sets on the ramp lip between the 2 ramps & slides back & forth. This allows you to place jacks at any point under the car. Most lift mfgrs will offer a package deal which gives you the lift w/accessories at a very good price. My lift came with 3 jack trays, 3 drip trays, the caster kit which allows you to move the lift & I had it built to drive off either end.

Being able to move the lift comes in very handy. I can load a car on the lift, move the lift forward & drive or push the car onto a stationary raised parking platform I built. It also came in handy when I had to install a new hanging gas heater. I loaded everything onto the lift, rolled it into position, ran it up to ceiling height & hung the new heater.

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RAGs

· #11 · Oct 8, 2007

Thanks ...

...that makes sense.

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