03-03-2012, 01:41 PM
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#1
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Registered User
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: Canyon Lake, Texas
Posts: 801
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4 post lift for engine/transmission work
Gents,
I've got the lift I want picked out and decided on a 4 post "storage" lift for a number of reasons. What I'm wondering is if engine and transmission work can be performed without much fuss on a 4 post. Mainly, can the transmission be removed if needed?
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03-03-2012, 01:45 PM
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#2
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Registered User
Join Date: Feb 2010
Location: Phoenix, Arizona Baby
Posts: 495
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Sweet idea and your in San Antonio so whatever you get is fine by me. Its a short drive if I ever need to park/work
Congrats and I wish I had the room for one.
__________________
2006 Hummer H3 - RED 76k mi - LIFTED - 3rd row custom seating on 35's and a manual tranny.
1997 Boxster Guards - RED 86k mi - 19" Lobster Claw Wheels on Conti's , Porsche side decal for extra "speed", manual tranny -signed by Hurley Haywood
Phoenix, Arizona
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03-03-2012, 02:08 PM
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#3
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Registered User
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: It's a kind of magic.....
Posts: 6,603
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Quote:
Originally Posted by stateofidleness
Gents,
I've got the lift I want picked out and decided on a 4 post "storage" lift for a number of reasons. What I'm wondering is if engine and transmission work can be performed without much fuss on a 4 post. Mainly, can the transmission be removed if needed?
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Depends upon the design of the lift.
__________________
“Anything really new is invented only in one’s youth. Later, one becomes more experienced, more famous – and more stupid.” - Albert Einstein
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03-03-2012, 02:17 PM
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#4
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Registered User
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: Canyon Lake, Texas
Posts: 801
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03-03-2012, 03:12 PM
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#5
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Registered User
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: Madison, Georgia
Posts: 1,012
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I prefer to do suspension and gearbox work on a two post lift. Can it be done on a four post, yes but it is harder than on a two post. You end up ducking under the damned thing all day and you will hit your head.
Next to nothing it is pure luxury but when you have a two and a four post the four post gets used for general inspections and oil changes. Everything else happens on the two post.
People like a four post because it seems safer but I have seen cars almost roll off of the four post. You can dump a car off of anything but once you get used to it a two post is better for working, a four for storage.
__________________
2001 Boxster S 3.6L, Zeintop
"Calling upon my years of experience, I froze at the controls." - Stirling Moss
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03-03-2012, 03:18 PM
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#6
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Registered User
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: Canyon Lake, Texas
Posts: 801
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I agree, but this one will be used for storage when not in use (914 needs to sleep somewhere lol  )
there's additional hydraulic lifts that can lift the car off the 4 post if needed, so that's my "suspension" work solution when it comes to it. I like 2 posts, but they require mounting the lift and an adequate slab for mounting.
i decided on the 4 as i wont necessarily need to mount it (portable) and my dad's shop has the slab for that one.
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03-03-2012, 03:28 PM
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#7
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Registered User
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: Madison, Georgia
Posts: 1,012
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We have the air powered scissor lifts for the four post which allows us to raise the wheels front and rear and they work fine. A little scary when you are leaning under to let them down. The good thing for the boxster is you can hit the lift points pretty easily with them, they have extensions you can use as well if stuff is in the way like headers.
Like I said it beats the hell out of jack stands and if it serves all of your needs then I am sure you will be happy with your choice.
A word of advice, always chock at least one wheel, I had a truck with a bad park pawl that almost rolled off the end of our four post, I just about crapped myself but was able to stop it before disaster struck.
You will love having your own lift!
__________________
2001 Boxster S 3.6L, Zeintop
"Calling upon my years of experience, I froze at the controls." - Stirling Moss
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03-03-2012, 08:30 PM
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#8
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Registered User
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: Worcester
Posts: 57
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I have a 2 poster for storage and working, in my home garage. it takes up less room but it did require floor mounting.
I tried the 4 post in the past but my garage was not wide enough, the 2 post fits in easy, we did build the roof high for it to fit!!
You can just see another car above on the ramp in storage
Last edited by Splitpin; 03-03-2012 at 08:33 PM.
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03-03-2012, 08:54 PM
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#9
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Registered User
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: Canyon Lake, Texas
Posts: 801
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mini fetish? lol
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03-04-2012, 12:34 AM
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#10
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Registered User
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: Worcester
Posts: 57
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5 in total
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03-04-2012, 10:54 AM
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#11
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Registered User
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Oregon
Posts: 49
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One word of caution. If you go with a two post lift you need to be absolutely certain of the quality of your floor. Builders around here throw all sorts of debris in the garage floor and driveway when they're being poured so they won't have to use as much cement. Not structurally sound at all. No way I'd put a two post lift on any of those floors.
Steve
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03-04-2012, 12:35 PM
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#13
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Registered User
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: Worcester
Posts: 57
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Agreed I laid the floor slab myself and ensured its reinforced and nearly 500mm thick where the ramp sits
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03-04-2012, 02:25 PM
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#14
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Porsche "Purist"
Join Date: Aug 2003
Location: Wisconsin
Posts: 2,123
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Quote:
Originally Posted by stateofidleness
Gents,
I've got the lift I want picked out and decided on a 4 post "storage" lift for a number of reasons. What I'm wondering is if engine and transmission work can be performed without much fuss on a 4 post. Mainly, can the transmission be removed if needed?
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As long as you can lift the rear wheels and still be able to remove the front bolts of the diagonal braces. Should be OK.
__________________
1998 Boxster with 7.8 DME, 2005 3.6 liter/325 hp, Variocam Plus, 996 Instrument panel
2001 Boxster original owner. I installed used motor at 89k.
1987 924S. 2002 996TT. PST-2
Owned and repaired Porsches since 1974. Porsche: It's not driving, it's therapy.
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03-05-2012, 05:40 AM
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#15
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Theoretical propagandist
Join Date: Dec 2011
Location: Pacific Northwest
Posts: 793
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If you have not pulled the trigger, take a look at mid rise lifts. I just received my from Gregg Smith Equipment. Easy to drop and engine and tranny, enough room to get to all the critical points, 6600lbs lifting capacity and to boot...its portable (well sort of...as 1060lbs of lift can be).
Four days from date of order to my home.
__________________
When life throws you curves, aim for the apex...
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03-05-2012, 06:44 AM
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#16
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Registered User
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: Georgia
Posts: 117
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I've had 8 lifts in total. (owned an import shop for 8+ years.) 4 post, 2 post and scissor lifts. Even had a mid lift I got from an old Volvo dealer years ago.
The best by far, if your floor will support it is a 2 post lift. Either a Rotary or Bendpak. Best quality lifts I've ever bought. They just give you way more room to move around under as well as better access to the car your working on. If you do decide to get a 2 post make sure it's an open floor model. As the "hump" that is on the floor of the non open floor models make it a bugger to move a loaded jack stand over!
Even if your not sure on the floor and good contractor can come in a cut and pour in a good base into your existing floor.
Now there is a 2 post portable lift if you want to be able to move it. It's the MaxJax. It requires anchors to be put into your floor but it can be rolled out of the way after you use it. Great little lift. A buddy of mine has one at his home and loves it.
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03-05-2012, 10:00 AM
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#17
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Registered User
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: Worcester
Posts: 57
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How high is your roof??
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03-06-2012, 06:34 PM
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#18
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Registered User
Join Date: Feb 2012
Location: 1000 Islands NY
Posts: 22
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Eric G
If you have not pulled the trigger, take a look at mid rise lifts. I just received my from Gregg Smith Equipment. Easy to drop and engine and tranny, enough room to get to all the critical points, 6600lbs lifting capacity and to boot...its portable (well sort of...as 1060lbs of lift can be).
Four days from date of order to my home.
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With an 8' ceiling in my garage, I was looking at the mid-lifts myself.
What jobs would I NOT be able to do on my Boxster with one of these?
Weird thought: for the jobs that the mid-lift would be in the way, would I be able to lift the car then lower the car onto jack stands & slide the lift out of the way?)
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03-06-2012, 06:54 PM
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#19
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Porsche "Purist"
Join Date: Aug 2003
Location: Wisconsin
Posts: 2,123
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I have yet to find anything I cannot do...
About $1400 from Greg Smith.
__________________
1998 Boxster with 7.8 DME, 2005 3.6 liter/325 hp, Variocam Plus, 996 Instrument panel
2001 Boxster original owner. I installed used motor at 89k.
1987 924S. 2002 996TT. PST-2
Owned and repaired Porsches since 1974. Porsche: It's not driving, it's therapy.
Last edited by Paul; 03-06-2012 at 06:56 PM.
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10-31-2012, 12:13 AM
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#20
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Registered User
Join Date: Oct 2012
Location: Fresno, CA
Posts: 1
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As you know that the weight of the engines is very heavy so it requires a very heavy lifters to lift the engines to repair. It requires a very high quality lifters which are made of high quality material. If you want to buy good quality lifts then you can get it from any company easily.
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four post lift
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