How can the car get up without ramps?

[matty193]

I want to do any oil change, but because my car's lowered it can't get up the ramps without hitting the panelling.

I tried reversing it up the ramps, but it's not raised enough at the front for me to get under.

I'm not about to work under the tyre jack, so I'm wondering if anyone has any great ideas?? Would one of those heavy duty jack things be the go? Cheers!

[motors405]

get a trolley jack of someone... you can even pick them up for under $50 these days. Also get some chassis stands not usually too expensive (you cant rely on the jack alone)

[AirStrike]

I know the felling I cant jack mine up either. Drive on wheel on to a decent size piece of timber to raise it a little the use a trolley jack to get it up, and slap it on some jack stands.
AirStrike

[Bax]

When I did the conversion I jacked the car up.. Pushed the ramps under lifting the wheel and pushing the ramp in. then reversed / drove it the rest of the way up. Then used stands for the front.

[matty193]

Alrighty then, I think i'll be able to manage it.

Just wondering if someone can point me to the location of the sump plug...
It's probably sticking right out at me, but I can't seem to differentiate one screw from another. :b:

[ExPrEsS]

Its under the cover plate under the motor... You can try and get to the sump plug without taking off the cover, although its gonna be a bit hard, and it might get a bit messy. Or u can take the cover off by undoin the 4 bolts that hold it up.... Just be careful, cos that plate is a bit heavy, so when you're undoing the last bolt, make sure your holding it up, otherwise it can fall and hit u on da head...

[matty193]

Gotcha, thanks!

[Boonz]

u could try to jack the car up onto the ramps ???
haha ok maybe not such a bright idea but it could work.....a trolly jack could be handy right now dont u rekon???

[vsv8berlinawag]

Though my dunnydoor is not lowered, it still scrapes the paint off the bottom of the front bar when you begin to drive up the ramps, so I use a couple of bits of pine, approx 500 x 250 x 20 and put these before the ramp. That way when you drive on the pine it gives you that extra bit of height to allow the bar to clear the ramp. Don't know if this will help you ? You might need to use thicker pine and perhaps angle back the edge to help get up.

[matty193]

Thanks for everyone's help.

I ended up building a staircase of bricks, just high enough for me to slide under.

I finally managed to do the oil and filter change, after taking ages to find the right screw.

If anyone if going to give it a go, and is not so mechanically-minded like myself, if you're looking straight down the bonnet standing up, it's on the right-hand side of the big grey thing, and with the right tools you should haven't to take of the tray cover thingo.

[aa23]

The scary thing about this thread, is that i didn't know they had a cover plate. Mine hasn't got one, and I didn't know they came with one. I'll have to look into getting one.

[vsv8berlinawag]

Wood's safer than bricks man, because bricks can break and crumble under 1400 kgs of car !

[hako]

aa23 - the plate is not standard and is sometimes fitted as an option.
Unless you bush-bash you won't need one as all they do is add weight IMHO.

[Macca177]

there is a a jack designed for lowered cars, its basiclly has the the head(???) of the jack counter sunk with the sides of the jack, allowing u to slid it under and they are usually long handled so u can jack it up without smashin things. but this is probly a expensive item, but u will keep 4eva

[TranslucidusW]

I've had the same problem and finished up buying an 8 foot jarrah sleeper and cutting it diagonally to make four ramps about four inches high - the ramp is cut at a shallow angle so the body doesn't foul and the four inch height is enough to work under. The jarrah timber is strong enough for the car.

Also if your car came with a cover under the sump then it is to control air flow around the motor. VX V8's onwards must have these these covers (or the genuine sump guard which is much stronger) to adequately cool the motor. Part of low air pressure behind the radiator / high in front to have enough air flow through the engine bay etc

[hako]

Just drive one wheel up over the gutter and you can easily slide under in complete safety. This works especially well if the road has a high crown.

[maginoodle]

Just drive one wheel up over the gutter and you can easily slide under in complete safety. This works especially well if the road has a high crown.

that definately works

[Reaper]

I used a forklift when my VY had a flat this morning

Reaper

[=Calais v8=]

haha use a pallet jack.