Using a lift / jack with a body kit

[alexdog69]

What is the story regarding floor jacks and shop lifts when using a body kit ?

The kit I have in mind is the infamous Wings West RS (it's urethane)....

How do the side skirts not interfere with access to the jack points?

I am going to be using both a shop lift and a floor jack to work on my car but I am wondering how the side skirts will complicate things....

I would appreciate anyone's personal experience with the matter...

[BullShifter]

http://www.automotiveforums.com/vbul...ad.php?t=80327

We usually lift the rear as high as possible with a floor jack, then line up the hoist to the 4 lifting points. Rear is raised using rear lift point - rear tow hook. Body kit can get in the way, in which case we use wood blocks between the body lifts/hoist
http://www.binghamtonlife.com/manual...ges/91-1-6.jpg
http://www.binghamtonlife.com/manual...ges/91-1-7.jpg
http://www.binghamtonlife.com/manual...ges/91-1-8.jpg

[alexdog69]

oki. i am familiar with this procedure and also own the wonderful must-have manual that you have graciously sited

it seems to me that this is the norm for lowered cars in general...
but have you done this with the added complication of side skirts?

If you check out this picture... this is what's bugging me....

http://i6.ebayimg.com/02/i/00/eb/e7/5a_1.JPG

It appears that the side jack points are covered by the kit..!?!?

[BullShifter]

Thats why you put a block of wood between the jack/hoist & body lift, so it doesn't ride on side skirt. We have lowered/kitted cars in the shop a lot and never had a problem getting one in the air yet.

[alexdog69]

ok cool i get it.. so you are saying the lift point is still accessable behind the skirt? you just need the spacer on the lift/jack to get enough height to hit it before it touches the skirt... ... ahh sorry if i misread i have a fever so im a bit braindead at the moment... heh..

[BullShifter]

If the stock lifts points aren't available then use the frame, suspension, or other structural pieces.

[CZ-R]

I have the Wings West kit on my h/b and have no trouble at all using a standard floor jack. There's a good 2" between the lift point and the inner edge of the side skirt. The only issue I have is the car being too low to get the jack underneath. In that case I just drive the car up on a 2x4 which raises it enough to get the jack underneath.

[amy@af]

Originally Posted by CZ-R

The only issue I have is the car being too low to get the jack underneath. In that case I just drive the car up on a 2x4 which raises it enough to get the jack underneath.

or what i do is use the stock jack on the side of the car to lift it up enough to get the floor jack underneath up front. don't have to jack it up too much on the side....about as much as a 2x4