I just recently read that it is an enormous no-no to jack up your Corvair by the differential do to possible engine/trans mount problems.I have been using the diff or the bellhousing as a jack point for years. Ok, so where do you guys place your floor jacks to raise rear of car for jack stands? Obviously if you use the factory jack points it only raises one side and then no place to set your jack stands.

Frankford, De., eight miles north of Ocean City, Md.
1966 Corsa convt.

I did it for years with no issues. Now I either jack up under the control arms or the pinch welds.

Joel
Northlake, TX
5 Ultravans, 145 Corvairs and counting...

One side at a time. That's all you can do.

On a late model, there is a pinch weld seam that runs the length of the rocker. Just ahead of the rear wheel well, there is another seam that comes in at an angle, forming a triangle ahead of the wheel well. Jack on that joint where the the seams come together, and place your jackstand in the triangle as close as possible towards the front end of the car. This jacking point will raise both wheels off the ground.

Place the other (front) jackstand under the "frame" rail that comes back from the front end and goes under the floorboard, but on the spot where there is also a cross beam across the front part of the toeboard.

If jacking only the front end is desired, jack only on this frame rail or the middle of the suspension crossmember.

An early model is similar but a little different.

-Mark

Mark, If I place the jack on the triangle point, there is no way I can put the jackstand in the triangle. I use a 2.5 ton floor jack and 5 ton jackstands.

I guess I need to use the Corvair jack and smaller jackstands!

I have used a different version of what you said for years, using the support points you said.

Frank DuVal

Fredericksburg, VA

Frank,

I use a standard 2 ton floor jack and some small jackstands. I angle the floor jack so that the triangular leg set of the stand snuggles up against the side of the jack just behind the front wheel. Admittedly it's a tight fit, but with a bit of practice and maneuvering it's do-able. The car's triangle area is big enough that it all works out somehow.

The point to remember is that that triangle seam and area are the strongest point on the side of the body and the three seams' intersection is a perfect balancing point for raising both wheels.

And above all, do NOT jack on the rocker panel itself!! Only on the pinch weld seam.

-Mark

I use a 4-post lift and if I have to jack the car up, I use the rolling jack on the suspension points, front or rear lower control arms. The GM engine cradle hugs the oil pan and you lift the car with that to remove the engine. I don't believe that there is any stress on the transmission mounts when you jack up the car under the differential. It is rare that we ever hear about a transmission mount failure. If they should fail it is most likely from old age than anything else. I just examined the transmission mounts from my 1962 and the only fault that I can see is the rust on the bare steel.

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Quote
Mark
the triangular leg set of the stand

That's what I thought, I got rid of my three leg jackstands 40 years ago and went with more ton rated 4 leg stands since I work on a variety of cars. I mostly use my wood platform framing blocks, though. They also work on dirt/gravel, where any metal jackstand does not.

Most three legged ones do have a rating sufficient to hold a 2500 pound Corvair.

Frank DuVal

Fredericksburg, VA

I jack it up side to side using a 4 step process to get to the 3rd pin position on the jackstands.
I use 4 leg jackstands with ratchet notches on the rear, the notch on top fits the triangular chassis part. I use 3 leg jackstands with the pin on the front, the flatter top fits the sub-frame rail.
Once it's all the way up I lower the front if desired.
I jack on the pinch weld along the rocker and use a 2 x 4 or something if they're crunchy. I should probably make a piece of wood with a saw kerf and use it all the time. I'll have to use a Skil saw since the table saw is piled up with crap.

Jim Brandberg
Isanti, MN
CorvairRepair.com

Reminds me to be thankful for my lifts. I'm spoiled.
When I buy new Corvairs I backup to the shop and use a small trolley jack on the control arms to fix flat tires before I unload the vehicles.

Joel
Northlake, TX
5 Ultravans, 145 Corvairs and counting...

If you look in the manuals you will see the jacking points that also include the front and rear bumper brackets on the EM and LM cars, and only the rears on the FC's but not the fronts, in the old days cars bumpers were lifting points and shops had air/hydraulic bumper lifts that fit under the bumper brackets, I still have and use one all the time.







1960 4dr sedan caveman car
1961 Rampside (Chetside)
1962 Rampside (Barnside)
1962 Short Rampside (Shortside)
1962 Monza 700 Wagon
1963 Monza 900 coup (General Nader)

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Rust Free Lancaster Ca