tools, car ramps.

Just realised we don't have a tools section!

Anyway, picked up my gear linkage kit and I have compared it to the haynes manual and think I have it sussed. To get two of the bushings I need to remove the nut to the ?selector shaft? which is right underneath.

So, I am making the most of my new driveway and and I have already bought a jack and some axle stands for my rear bearing replacement.

I get real nervous under cars, probably a sensible self preservation instinct! I have been thinking for this job maybe some ramps would be best, After all I don't need the wheels off.

So, anyone got any reccomendations, some of the ones I have seen look like I would have to take the spoiler off to drive up!

Peter.

Most ramps i have used are fine and clear the spoiler easily as the weel track is wider than the spoiler.

Make sure the ramps are not in a slippery surface as One will break away and you'll drive right over the top  8O

crazyquiff said

Make sure the ramps are not in a slippery surface as One will break away and you'll drive right over the top  8O

Yep - My brother did that. The wheel spat the ramp backwards! Luckily the fact that the car had stiffer springs and adjustable Konis on full hardness saved the sill from sure death as the car rocked on two diagonally opposite wheels!

So stick a heavy object behind it to stop it shooting away!

How much do these ramps cost? Never seen one for sale, but admittedly havn't been looking!

A set of ramps from halfords are ?30ish, good point about the making sure they are secure when you drive up. Seen some plastic ones, they'd zip about unless they have rubber feet.

Peter.

I've always had bad experiences of putting the car onto ramps. And of course, you need the engine and gearbox working to be able to use them. So, for me its a decent trolley jack and axle stands.

Pete - I have a set of the sturdy "plastic" rhino ramps that are very good and especially suited to cars with low clearance at the front like the Mk1 with spoiler.

The nice thing about them is they don't have "rungs" on them like some of the cheaper ones which can make getting the car on to them smoothly a bit of a nightmare.

Personally although there is the odd job that can be done with drive on ramps I think jacking it up and putting it on axle stands is hard to beat.

Otherwise you could always dig a pit in the middle of your new driveway  :wink: .

Cheers,

Chris

Otherwise you could always dig a pit in the middle of your new driveway

You think I haven't thought of that! Got stuck on how I'd drain it though!

Peter.

I'm just in the process of building a pit on the driveway but I'm raising the level of the drive instead of digging down so I can sort drainage pretty easily.  8)

tallpete said

Otherwise you could always dig a pit in the middle of your new driveway

You think I haven't thought of that! Got stuck on how I'd drain it though!

Peter.

   easiest way would be to go a little deaper and have a sump and pump down the bottom, pretty sure that pits have been banned now though due to carbon monoxide poisoning

tallpete said

Otherwise you could always dig a pit in the middle of your new driveway

You think I haven't thought of that! Got stuck on how I'd drain it though!

Peter.

Wear swimming trunks 8)

Last years classic car show at the NEC had a company selling what looked like fibrglass pit liners with all the fittings for lighting / pumping attachments if memory serves.

If you knew someone who was a dab hand with a fairly heavy duty MIG welder I reckon you could put together a manual type ramp like the one I have. The design is very simple, and uses fairly cheap farm jacks at each corner for raising and lowering. I reckon if you fabbed it yourself you could probably produce one for a few hundred quid in raw materials.

Cheers,

Chris

I think a tools section would be a good idea, we can compare, rate and slag off each others tools and working environments!!!

Here are some of my manky offerings!

What a beast …


Ebay press….


…and slightly underpowered MIG…