how long can I leave my 72 on blocks, doors open or closed?

[Randall K.]

Have placed my car on concrete blocks with 3x4 lumber between the frame and the concrete blocks so that I can work on my brakes.

How long can I leave it like this, and should the doors be closed or open?

Thanks
Randy

[Dick W.]

Re: how long can I leave my 72 on blocks, doors open or closed?

Leave the doors closed and don't worry about it. I have had cars on the lift as much as six months at a time with no problems

[Russ S.]

Re: how long can I leave my 72 on blocks, doors open or closed?

If you do need to open the doors (on a coupe) take note whether the top rear of the door (the little tab that goes in under the body fiberglass) has cleareance between it and the body. Often without the cars weight on the rear wheels the rear will sag just enough that this tab when re-closing the door will interfere with the body and damage one or both of them. This can also happen to a convertible if the top is up.

[Paul J.]

Re: how long can I leave my 72 on blocks, doors open or closed?

Have placed my car on concrete blocks with 3x4 lumber between the frame and the concrete blocks so that I can work on my brakes.
Randy

Randy, you know that you should'nt be using concrete blocks. I've never seen one fail under a car personally but it's one of the very few "Chicken Little" things that I agree with. I've laid thousands of blocks and you don't always see the cracks. Use jack stands or wooden blocks. I have some 6"x8" (actual, not nominal) wooden guardrail blocks that I like to use, even though we have several pairs of jack stands in the shop.

Paul

[Gary R.]

Re: how long can I leave my 72 on blocks, doors open or closed?

I had my 72 on jack stands, no suspension or drivetrain for 7 years. I worked inside as well and the doors work as good as they always did but I did see some spider cracks in the paint after that much time but not enough to paint the car.

[Tom L.]

Re: how long can I leave my 72 on blocks, doors open or closed?

I see you have a big block, similar to my '72. When I put the car on stands for an extended time I visually check the door gaps, put the car on stands, then use a bottle jack under the crossmember to lift the nose a bit so the door gaps are close and then support it with a 5th jack stand. The doors can then be opened and closed and the car has a 5th leg to stand on. Good luck!!

[Michael D.]

Re: how long can I leave my 72 on blocks, doors open or closed?

...Randy, you know that you should'nt be using concrete blocks...

I agree.

...I've never seen one fail under a car personally...

I have. My advice would be to be extremely careful.

[Randall K.]

Re: how long can I leave my 72 on blocks, doors open or closed?

Ok, fine, shame me into another support method...

Halfway done - waiting for my DeWalt to recharge so I can get these new blocks under the front end as well. I don't think this block setup will go anywhere unless I get swarmed by termites... 6x6 treated lumber, stacked crossways, and pinned together with 1/2 inch rebar segments!
P3023311.jpg

Cost a whole $32 for materials, plus a new drill bit.

Thanks all for the input.

Randy

[Bill H.]

Re: how long can I leave my 72 on blocks, doors open or closed?

I agree.



I have. My advice would be to be extremely careful.

I have too.
It's not that the blocks will go anywhere, it's the one stress crsck in a block that will hurt you bad.

[Paul J.]

Re: how long can I leave my 72 on blocks, doors open or closed?

Ok, fine, shame me into another support method...

Halfway done - waiting for my DeWalt to recharge so I can get these new blocks under the front end as well. I don't think this block setup will go anywhere unless I get swarmed by termites... 6x6 treated lumber, stacked crossways, and pinned together with 1/2 inch rebar segments!
[ATTACH=CONFIG]37846[/ATTACH]

Cost a whole $32 for materials, plus a new drill bit.

Thanks all for the input.

Randy

Looks good, Randy. We don't want loose a faithfull Corvette owner. You're right that that setup isn't going anywhere. I've used cribbing blocks to hold up houses, ferry boats, and everything from 7,000 lb trucks to 700 lb Harleys. They're also infinitley adjustable by adding additional 4x, 2x, and 1x blocks. As for the $32, don't forget that these blocks can be used over and over and that if you store these under cover they will still be here when you and I are long gone. The guardrail blocks that I use I obtained in 1980, and they're still in excellent shape.

Paul