need ideas to lift model a on 2 post lift

[charles=fla]

has anyone made a adapter so as to lift a model a by the 4 wheels,using a 2 post lift..i really don't like lifting the A,using the frame,and have the front en rear axle hanging down..i hope some thinkers out there have figured it out.)..thank you//Charles..)..

[Mitch//pa]

I have no problem lifting by the frame using 1ft adapters.. A quality lift is essential for stability... Buy a 4 post if it is an issue for you

[charles=fla]

...I am looking for a idea on how to lift the A ,using a adapter, using a 2 post lift..anyone have any ideas..or experience??thank you..Charles..)..I saw a old posting where a old garage lifted the A by the front and rear axle ,instead of lifting by the frame..or the wheels..gotta try to sleep en think on that..)..

[Mitch//pa]

I think I posted that old time picture your talking about.
Good luck

[Joe31]

I took a 1 3/4" x 14"x 14' long Micro-lam. 1 for each side. drilled 3" holes to sit on lift arms to hold in place.
Plenty strong just drive your A right on. No longer have that set up so I cant give you pictures. Joe

[tbirdtbird]

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The term 2 post lift means something different now than then.
Then it was two large hydraulic cyls in the ground. One was moveable fore and aft. You lined up the stationary rear cyl to the rear axle, and using lever controls moved the front cyl underneath the front axle, and then lifted the entire car by the axles.

The EPA banned all buried hydraulic cyls, so now the cyls must be above ground.
So today a 2-post lift means one on either side of the car with the lift arms to the frame. Using the tall adapters you can get by the brake rods, muffler, etc. An A is not a heavy car and is safe to lift this way. Have hoisted countless hundreds of cars of all vintages this way with no problem. Of course you always check your arm positioning once you make contact with the frame and you always try to wiggle the car once in the air about a foot to check for stability. These are common sense rules of lift usage for any car

[charles=fla]

good idea.....where could I find this Mico-lam and look at it ..like the idea about a 3"hole..tomake it stable..thanks..)..

[jbond]

How about something like this?

[Joe31]

micro-lam or also known as LVL can be bought at lumber yards there used for framing longer spans than lumber. Joe

[charles=fla]

..jbond..now that's a idea, I was hopin for..thank you..)..I was a=thinkin about using those 4 little wheel wheel dollies.and mod. them to fit on the end of the arms..hummmmm...

[Mitch//pa]

Click options and accy's link on the site
http://www.mohawklifts.com/wp/automo...lifts/system1/

[fiftyv8]

Two post hoists are great for space saving and swing away arms etc, but too precarious for some tasks and older body cars IMHO.
Firstly, it is a long way down for a car to fall if it slips and secondly, I sure would not want to be under one when it fell.

I think the danger is with 2 post hoists if you lose sight of its capability and start getting to vigorous with a job that is not working out, I definitely see an accident waiting to happen.

Although in saying all that, I've never heard of a car falling, but maybe I just live a sheltered life...

[tbirdtbird]

"Although in say all that, I've never heard of a car falling,"

exactly.

jbond's idea is also good for those who cannot get under the car any more to set the arms

[fiftyv8]

Yes, I totally agree, that setup is a great idea.
I've never seen anything like it being used, which kind of surprises me.

[Keith True]

I have two 10' pieces of 12" wide mobile home frame I set on each pair of lift arms .I intended to use them under the A's,but it is really way more bother than just setting the standoffs in the right places.It takes more time to put a Ford Ranger on the lift than the A does.I need the wheels hanging free for almost everything I do on A's anyway.If it goes on the lift it is because I need to get at the rear or front end,transmission,brakes,clutch.I won't bother with the lift just for greasing or oils.I have a Gilbarco single post in-ground drive on lift that I haven't installed yet.I got it from an outfit that still services in-ground lifts.The owner told me that he does very little of it anymore,it doesn't take much service work to surpass the price of a new above ground lift.He said the in-ground lift is not illegal,but you HAVE to convert it to peanut oil.He said that has been the bulk of his work in the last few years,changing oils.

[Tom Wesenberg]

"He said the in-ground lift is not illegal, but you HAVE to convert it to peanut oil. He said that has been the bulk of his work in the last few years, changing oils."

Oil came from the ground, but we can't put it back in the ground.

Just before I started working at the GM dealership, a guy was fired for sloppy work. He was carless with setting the hoist arms. We had all in ground hoists and he had a large plumbing cube truck in the air and not well balanced. Just minutes after everyone went to lunch the truck fell sideways off the hoist and knock the next two cars off the hoists also.

[Keith True]

I have no idea how many in-ground lifts are still in use around here.the guy the services them knows of about 200,but he didn't know of the six that I do near me.I know of one from the Model A era that is still in use.The old Ford garage burned close to 50 years ago,but the lift wasn't hurt.The man that bought the property had a VW salvage yard and built a building right on the old concrete.It was a perfect lift for old VW's,it was just two H-beams that you drove over and stopped.On the A's the axles rested on them,on the VW's the flat bellypan sat on them.You almost didn't even have to look under first.I have no clue if he's ever had to repair it or not.When I bought the Gilbarco I still plan to use a drum of peanut hydraulic oil(it;s not just peanut oil)was about $40.more than plain old hydraulic oil.I really don't have a problem with that,I have one well just outside of my garage,and another in the inside corner of another garage.I keep one A in a shed with a well right under it.I'm pretty careful where my anti-freeze drips in that one.

[Bob C]

Originally Posted by fiftyv8

Two post hoists are great for space saving and swing away arms etc, but too precarious for some tasks and older body cars IMHO.
Firstly, it is a long way down for a car to fall if it slips and secondly, I sure would not want to be under one when it fell.

I think the danger is with 2 post hoists if you lose sight of its capability and start getting to vigorous with a job that is not working out, I definitely see an accident waiting to happen.

Although in saying all that, I've never heard of a car falling, but maybe I just live a sheltered life...

Check out the YouTube link. https://www.youtube.com/results?sear...ling+off+hoist

Bob

[1931 flamingo]

When I worked at a small garage in the 60's we had 2 of the in ground lifts as in post#17. One night a car was left in the air. Over night the front post dropped about 4 feet, luckily the car was still on the lift.
The shop I work at now has about 7 of the modern 2 post lifts.
Paul in CT

[katy]

Years ago I had a '41 Mercury convertible, one time a shop raised it on a single post, in-ground, 4 arms hoist under the frame. The car sagged so much that the tops of the doors opened up about 3 inches.