Ramps or a pit ?

[rob67gmc]

Had the car up on jack stands a few days ago. My wife came into the garage for something and said I needed "one of those hole thingy's" in the floor. I told her that I was going to build a set of ramps because I thought she would kill me if I cut the floor for a pit but she said it sounded like a good idea.

What are your opinions? Ramps or pit?

[goldz28]

Are you talking about a hydraulic lift? If you are I think one of those are nice. A pit would have some nice things to. You don't have to worry about the car falling on you. But if you have kids you would have to keep it covered. I would go with the ramps or lift.

[wrightz28]

ramps are good for a variety of things. Only thing is when shopping around make sure:

A- they are plenty wide enough to accomodate a variety of tire widths

B- The platform stops are high enough to stop the tires from going over when a spotter is not available, such as what I almost did last weekend.

[ZL1power69]

don't forget that ramps are a lot cheaper that a lift or pit. just make sure you get a set thats well built.

[goldz28]

Dylan what kind of ramps do you have? Pic?

[rob67gmc]

A lift is not an option for me. Besides, I don't like a lift or a ramp that's too high because you can't work with someone under the hood and someone under the car at the same time. I know a pit would be a lot of work. I can build ramps myself, they just have to be able to be moved out of the way when not in use. I have an idea of how I would make the ramps but does anyone have any plans or pics.
Maybe I could install a drive-on lift over a pit and have it all. LOL

[balls_to_the_wall]

One thing you have to be sure about with ramps is that your able to acutally get your car on them without ripping up the front end. A guy I went to school with in HS made some ramps for his '98TA, they turned out to have to much of a rise in them and the car couldn't go on.

As for making them, start with a piece of paper and a pencil and just draw some out. Make sure to have bracing, to much is better than not enough. Then get some steel and a welder.

[goldz28]

sounds like a lot of work to me. lol

[balls_to_the_wall]

Originally Posted by goldz28

sounds like a lot of work to me. lol

Yep, just use a jack and some jackstands.

[2.2 Straight six]

Originally Posted by rob67gmc

A lift is not an option for me. Besides, I don't like a lift or a ramp that's too high because you can't work with someone under the hood and someone under the car at the same time.

i'd go with 2-post lift. they're not actually that expensive. two of my mates live together and their garage has 3 5-ton lifts in there. and when they need someone working underneath and somone you can get a platform with step-ladder on castor wheels. i've used the one my friend have. you just get it in place, lock the wheels and work away.

http://www.americasprideonline.com/9...1-.ViewProduct

that can hold 9,000lb and only costs $1,295. lifts are far better than ramps because you lift the car by the chassis/monocoque instead of the tyres, so removing wheels and working with the drivetrain is a lot easier.

if that's not an option, then like the others said, jackstands. you can get low jackstand, 2ft jackstands, 12-ton jackstands.. and with that you can get under the car easily, and someone can work on the engine from the top easily too.

[wrightz28]

Originally Posted by goldz28

Dylan what kind of ramps do you have? Pic?

Got em from a old mechanics garage sale, overall standard driveups, but are capable of handling small trucks and the ramps detach from the stand for space saving storage

[89Firebird2.8]

I have ramps and have used them, but they didn't really lift it high enough to do much, i could barely fit under to change the starter. When i backed off, they tore the ground kit off the passenger side in front of the wheel. That was a PITA to bend back and reattach. I've used my friend's pit and i LOVED it. He could look down through the hood and i could be down there working, made things nice, especially for changing oil. and filters.

[Savage Messiah]

Ramps are very FTW

[ikeyballz]

one thing to thinka bout pits.. what if it rains? what if you drain oil into it.. O_o...

here in hawaii..what if you hit groundwater?! lol jk :P

[89Firebird2.8]

Who drains oil straight into the pit? Everyone i know, including me, uses a bucket.....oh, and yeah, i have a neighbor who has some really bad scarring on his face from being in a pit and having a spark ignite the grease and gas fumes down there. Lucky to be alive. He's really healed up quite a bit though. Would be odd seeing an outdoor pit.... Only ones i've seen are indoors, thank god, because the wind is a mofo where i live.