obligatory LBC content at the end.....
BTDT. .... learned the hard way about the safety of cars on blocks.
As a foolish youth (many moons ago) I thought solid concrete blocks
would work well. They did. The problem was the years of use.
...under a VW beetle one day... I heard a crunching/slow occasional popping
sound. ???
I thought something was going on just outside the garage door.
The beetle was up about 15" off the ground.
I barely finished rolling over to slide out to see what the noise was.
as one of the blocks crumbled. The front suspension cross member
shock tower bottom edge landed squarely in the middle of my lower back with
about 50% of the supported weight of the left front corner of the car sitting
on me. thank goodness a bit of the block remained intact.
I could barely inhale enough to breath. I was pinned there for nearly an hour.
(Main garage door closed... just the normal human door open on the side.)
A house mate, coming home from work noticed the side door was open.
Since the sun had just gone down and the lights weren't on, he was surprised
it was open and walked back to the end of the driveway to close and lock the
door.
He just barely heard me yell to him (no breath) He ended up destroying
a brand new suite freaking out trying to getting me out. the doctors
couldn't believe it didn't crush my spine.
Needless to say, If I'm under a car, each corner has at least two sets of solid
4"x6" wood blocks, as well as a metal jackstand under it before I'll even
consider
sticking any part of my body under it. The hydraulic jack that lifts it into
place
usually stays right where it is as well.
LBC content. A friend working on his Spit, up on blocks (two at each corner
for safety by my suggestion) had a car back into it while under it.
I miss him dearly.
Paul Tegler wizardz@toad.net http://www.teglerizer.com
----- Original Message -----
From: "Joe Curry" <spitlist@gte.net>
To: "Boothroyd, Frank" <Frank.Boothroyd@northatlantic.nf.ca>
Cc: <triumphs@autox.team.net>
Sent: Thursday, November 16, 2000 3:06 PM
Subject: Re: Okay, I'll do it! (was 12 inches)
Frank,
As if you didn't have enough on this subject, I urge you to make absolutely
sure that your platforms are not only capable of supporting
the car's weight, but that it is balanced and secure enough to keep from
tipping and still squishing your body.
Joe
"Boothroyd, Frank" wrote:
>
> Okay folks. The combined wisdom of the list has spoken and I have listened.
>
> I'll do it! I just went out and bought another length of 6"x6" lumber to
> saw off into more blocks to put the car up another 6". I had another look
> at the jack stands at my local Canadian Tire store and still don't trust
> them. So I'm going with good, solid wood. It gives me 1 square foot of
> surface area per corner and lots of support for the frame.
>
> I don't like the thought of being squished under the car from which I am
> removing my first ever bearings.
>
> So thanks again for the advice. And I hope you don't mind some horribly
> basic bearings questions coming your way. (In a related posting, Eric
> Condrad said "I don't know how familiar you are with engines..." The
> answer, Eric, is this: I've heard of them, have a pretty good idea where
> they're located and what they're for... but that's about it.
>
> I'm off now to study my factory manual before the operation begins.
>
> Cheers,
> Frank Boothroyd, BSc, MSc, TR6 (in progress)
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