Scissor style lifts and engine removal
 

Usual introduction for type of thread, I am taking out my engine, I see myself doing lots of work on the car (and others) in the future. One of my main concerns is a lift that allows engine removal.

2 Post lift (max jax is my top contender for this group) seems ideal but my garage is a bit tight and there is a large crack going across the middle of the concrete, I don't think I trust it.

So I am focusing on mid rise style scissor style lifts but my main concern is whether or not the engine can get out since it is a mid engine and I am hoping someone can confirm or deny based on personal experience. I have found threads discussing them as good options for 911's but I have not found anything for cayman/boxster yet. I have found threads mostly here talking about 4 post lifts and cutting a notch in them. The required width discussed was 37". Most of the "open" style scissor lift designs I have found have around 700mm or 28" between the ramps but since they end around the jack mount points I am hoping it will still work.

Here are some examples:
Plain scissor style: https://www.bendpak.com/car-lifts/mid-rise-scissor-lifts/md-6xp/
Open scissor style: https://www.bendpak.com/car-lifts/mid-rise-scissor-lifts/mds-6lpf/

Any brand suggestion welcome, I just used bendpaks as an example..

Look at getting a quickjack. There is enough room to pull the engine & transmission and half the price of a midrise. I have 2 of them (one is still in the boxes). It goes to the track if my son is going so he can do all the heavy lifting.

Dont get me wrong. I would go with a MaxJax and almost did myself but their price has almost doubled and now just isn't worth the price I think.

Any midrise would be next on the list, brand doesn't matter in my opinion. HF brand used to be cheaper then everyone else, but it too has seen it's price go way up to be now up there with Bendpak and others.

And no matter what they say, these lifts, even the quickjack, aren't really portable or movable. Not as easy or as fun as what they make it look. These beasts weigh a ton.

Some success and some uncertainty
 

I have been considering the quickjack but the lack of height compared to the mid rise and not a big price difference (with the ~2500 mid rise ones) had me focused there.

I think i found confirmation with more time put in with google, this post: http://986forum.com/forums/249158-post10.html from this thread: http://986forum.com/forums/boxster-general-discussions/29203-who-here-has-lift-home.html

I think they have this lift: https://www.atlasautoequipment.com/products/lifts/scissor-lifts/td-6mr

I also found an image of a 981 belly on a scissor but it actually concerned me, that lift support at the top definitely covers the front of the engine. This lift is a Dannmar 6XL, a 6000LB here is a link to the image: https://www.planet-9.com/attachments/20170223_165330-jpg.183969/

from thread: https://www.planet-9.com/threads/help-with-choosing-lift.218313/#post-1977169

Both of those lifts are the non-open style with the rolling base.

you can get the slx5000 for around $1100 shipped. mid rise are going to be more, plus shipping (dont forget you need a truck with a lift on it to get it off the truck).

A mid rise is by far better cause you get more lift but you pay for that amount of lift too.

Many people do mods on the mid rise to cut out the rear bar and make it removable. Doesn't impact the integrity of the lift.

I can attest though you can remove the engine out of a 996 & 986 with the quickjack. I would prefer a mid rise, but I'm cheap and didn't want to spend the extra money.

Now, if you have the height for a 2 post, it is still the best route to go. If concrete is a concern you could just cut out some of it for just the posts. Even if you have someone do it for you, shouldn't cost more then $500 I bet to do it right. Of course with a 2 post, it's also best to have someone do the install for you. You could also do the same for a maxjax but by the time you buy it, lift truck, concrete you would be looking at $3k.

One thing to keep in mind with a midrise & Porsche. Underbelly trays. Will be pretty difficult to get these off with a midrise. Forget about trying to replace the fuel filter or the coolant lines cause they go through the middle of the car also.

Now, when a quickjack comes out with about 6" more lift...that will be a big thing. It could be done but might not work for many cars due to the engineering.

You make great points, especially given the low "logistics" plug and play aspect of the quickjack. I do have a question though on the height the slx5000 says max height (with truck adapters) is 23.75".. It is my understanding I need 26" (I think with the bumper off but maybe that is the difference).. How do you set it up to get engine out? Do you do engine / trans together or separate? (and would that make a difference or are both possible?).

This is interesting to me, the style that I am most interested in from my research at the moment is the open center ones but I think these are the most likely to be a problem for the engine because they do not have the arms that extend to the lift points as the traditional scissor styles do like the atlas I linked.. I am going to keep reading


Good points here as well, 3k is not outside what I am willing to pay to get it done so that I can use it for next 10, 20 years or more (hopefully). The space still is tight though the side of the 2 car I want to put it on barely has any space on the door side and the other post that I would remove is between the cars and even though I can remove that one, I see having the car up for long time in my future as I take apart the engine. Also storage is an issue when the other post is out.

Thank you for all the feedback, it has been very helpful.

The lift itself goes up to almost 24". the pads the car sits on gives another inch or so. You can also stack the pads to give more lift but will need to have the car up on some 2x10's to get more ground space. The space also comes down to what you put the engine on to pull it out. I just put it on cardboard and pulled it out.

Yes take the bumper off along with exhaust and pulling both together is one way but is heavier.

Nice thing about low rise, mid rise & quickjack is you can just drive over them so no need to worry about storage.

I went through everything you are going through so I know the pain in deciding. I work on multiple types of cars from the 986, 996, Corvettes, to Miata's, parents mini van and various kids cars. I haven't used it to lift up the Wrangler yet, but those are just easier to lift up and put on jacks and means I dont need to get the suv extenders. I have the SLX 5000 so I wont be able to lift our Jeep Commander, but that's easy to just use with jacks if I need it up in the air.

These are the ones I am most interested in but have found the least detail on for mid engine porsrche removal:

The stratus: https://stratusautoequip.com/stratus-sae-ms7000e-commercial-grade-open-center-portable-mid-rise-automatic-release-scissor-lift/. (the have residential lift gate delivery not to much $$)
and Twin Busch (looks like a quality unit, long wait for it though): https://www.twinbusch.com/product_info.php?products_id=8

I found this thread discussing the Twin Busch, positive reviews: https://rennlist.com/forums/928-forum/1143172-twin-busch-s3-10e-scissor-lift-3.html
I posted there to see if anyone has used it with a boxster / cayman

I looked at both of those and they are both good lifts. Trying to find one of the other ones I had liked let me see if I can find it.

https://www.bestbuyautoequipment.com/bendpak-mds-6ext-extended-mid-rise-scissors-lift-p/bendpakmds-6ext.htm

https://www.bestbuyautoequipment.com/atlas-6pl-ali-low-rise-scissor-lift-p/ap-6pl.htm

That company has some other lifts to look at.

Here is another popular one if you have a low ceiling:
https://www.bendpak.com/car-lifts/two-post-lifts/gp-7lcs/

Not cheap though, but it's a good lift.

I have the two-post Twin Busch and in the midst of an engine swap, I can't imagine doing it without. I also paid less for that the one you linked--by about $900!
If you have the vertical room, I wouldn't fool with anything but a two-post.

On anchoring: they want 6" of concrete. I only had about 3, so I cut out two squares and dug down about two feet. I filled with 6-bag concrete reinforced with rebar. It does not move. Drilling for the mounts is the hardest part. Assembly is really easy, but you'll need some help raising the posts to vertical.

I have 105" to the sheetrock.. would have to cut it out to see if i could get the extra inch and 1/2.. but that does not take into account my garage door opener.. good option though.

When you do decide on a style of lift check other brands besides Bendpak. Triump is another brand to look at as well as Challenger.

I have been hearing good things about the twin busch units on the web.. I know the twin posts are ideal, and I agree I can address my concrete and bring it up to spec.

But the space is also an issue for me.. I only have barely 24" on side of the boxster to the garage wall and ~42" between the cars. Here are some pics, you can see the crack in the floor in the last one.

http://986forum.com/forums/uploads02...1622325537.jpg

http://986forum.com/forums/uploads02...1622325581.jpg

http://986forum.com/forums/uploads02...1622325619.jpg

My thought is that the open style scissor would be a good option, just park over it.. I really like the Twin Busch one I linked, but not if I cannot get the engine out.

yea a mid or low rise is going to be your better option.

Keep in mind with those lifts you can always put the car on it the opposite way. turn the lift or car 180 degrees. You could also turn it 90 degrees and do it that way.

I dont see you having much difficulty getting the engine & trans out with the lifts. Again many have made the rear bar on the regular scissor lifts removable and it doesn't impact the lift or it's integrity. There are write up's on garage journal if you go this route. But I can tell you, the quickjack will give you enough room to pull the engine. I have done it on both a 986 & 996.

I got a good look under the car today with the plastic shroud off. I do not think the engine will clear the platform style scissor lifts we discussed, I think from the ones we linked only the "traditional" scissor style will work with the swinging arms (like the atlas). The engine is ~7 inches forward of the rear jack points. As best I can tell with a flashlight and a measuring tape on my back the engine is at least 34-35" wide between the jack points. The widest open center in the platform style I have found sold in the US so far is the Twin Busch s3-10e which is 32.9" wide.

There is still hope however for that style however, I found a video recently released from twin busch where there is a s3.5-10e model. This model holds an extra 1000 lbs or so (the 3.5 is 3.5k vs 3.0 on the other) but more importantly it is also 20 cm (about 7.87 inches) wider between the drive over platforms. This would make it ~40 inches wide and it should be enough. The only catch is that I see no evidence it is available in the US (not listed on the website). Given the holiday, I am going to try calling them on Tuesday. Fingers crossed, if it is available I think i will pull the trigger on it.

One more update..

I had PM'ed a forum member (Jager) who I noticed had a Twin Busch and he had the good sense to point out it might work with the transaxle out first..

So, will call and see about the s3.5-10e (fingers crossed) but even if not, I still think it is the right way to go. I know I will figure something out.

Will update with a conclusion when I have one incase anyone ends up here with the same question, I think it will be 6-8 weeks till it could get to me though..