MX 5 laid up

DiyNutJob said:
Stands are not suitable for all ground conditions. Bad on asphalt, bad on uneven ground. They are also too high for just relieving pressure on tires. Digital platforms like bricks or planks allow easier incremental lift of the car, lowering risk of car tipping off. Bricks or similar is water resistant and more suitable for exterior. Stands also have smaller foot print and a greater risk of tipping over. Not saying they do tip over. I have them and don't like the look of them. Use them if they look good to you. I wouldn't put car on a column of single bricks. If I were to do it, I would want a column of 2 brick lengths by 2 brick lengths. Then a load spreader such as metal plate or wood plank on top. Big foot print usually involves more materials. If it fails, the car can't get through them all.
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Where do you arrange the point of contact with the vehicle? Presumably you place a wooden board on top of the said bricks to make contact with the car bodywork at (I am guessing here) the sides of the car?
 
@chainsaw_masochist arw you proposing supporting a vehicle by its bodywork?

Were it mine I'd support it the same place the wheels do; I'd stack bricks, blanks or axle stands under a suitable point on the suspension supporting the wheel, or at the other end where said suspension components mount to the car body/frame. Preference to the former because it unloads the tyres; with the latter they're still carrying the force the springs exert

Thinking about it, I've often used axle stands, but never stood a car up on its axles on axle stands
 
robinbanks said:
@chainsaw_masochist arw you proposing supporting a vehicle by its bodywork?

Were it mine I'd support it the same place the wheels do; I'd stack bricks, blanks or axle stands under a suitable point on the suspension supporting the wheel, or at the other end where said suspension components mount to the car body/frame. Preference to the former because it unloads the tyres; with the latter they're still carrying the force the springs exert

Thinking about it, I've often used axle stands, but never stood a car up on its axles on axle stands
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No, not really, I was just curious as to the anticipated method being deployed here. From my perspective, I would be following the directives as specified in the workshop manual re the vehicle jacking points - a relatively straightforward endeavour, as I have a double garage. Axle-stands have zero impact on the concrete floor but I can see that somebody might prefer an alternative method rather than effing up the apshalt etc.

Do others have the same picture as I, of the front of Chez Nutty's, what with its exquisitely manicured lawn, fastidiously tended herbaceous borders then finally complimented with a 90's Datsun, sans wheels, perched on a pile of bricks? :mrgreen:
 
On the cup of my garage jack, I have set a piece of wood in place - it acts as both a cushion to avoid damage, and to provide less chance of metal to metal slippage when lifting. When using axle stands, I put a small piece of carpet material in the V for the same reason.
 
chainsaw_masochist said:
Where do you arrange the point of contact with the vehicle? Presumably you place a wooden board on top of the said bricks to make contact with the car bodywork at (I am guessing here) the sides of the car?
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Contacts would be at the usual side jacking points. If you need to distribute weight, you would use a larger board. If you don't need to distribute weight (where there is no risk of the support crumbling), you could used an old style phone book or equivalent. Anything strong but has some yield to it is fine. Then the car will find the right yield it needs.

I use a stack of MDF as jackstand. I have a big foot print and trust it more than I trust the welding of strangers. The car has it's own rubberised jack point buffer. So, I sit the car directly on the MDF. The advantage of an MDF stand is its height range. It goes from 1 inch to 16, or more as needed. I would want a larger foot print for a taller stand. I place removable studs in the stand to prevent planks sliding.
 
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Harry Bloomfield said:
On the cup of my garage jack, I have set a piece of wood in place - it acts as both a cushion to avoid damage, and to provide less chance of metal to metal slippage when lifting. When using axle stands, I put a small piece of carpet material in the V for the same reason.
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Here is one I did earlier. There are axle stands but they are out of vision. No disparaging remarks about carpet, thank you.

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Family heirloom. Despite that I am thinking of placing it in the dustbin as it curls up in the most inelegant way whenever I drive in or out of the garage. Yes, vinyl is much more practical, though, for anything a bit mucky I sometimes use those tarpaulin covers obtainable from that world-renowned epicentre of quality merchandise: The Poundshop.

That said, I would quite like to buy some of that interlocking rubber flooring for the garage, though it seems a bit of an enterprise to install it. You know, you've got to shift every conceivable item accumulated over god knows how many years onto the drive, inevitably in the rain; then lay the stuff and hopefully it fits. Has anyone got this type of flooring in their garage? Was it problematic to install?
 
I have that type of flooring in front of my bench. Fine for standing on but cars just compress the rubber. You dont want it over the whole floor as it can trap damp.

Back to the OP, I would leave it on its wheels, roll it in and out regularly but drive it whenever you get a fine day will be the best way to keep it in good condition. Invest in a dehumidifier and a cheap humidity indicator. Run the dehumidifier whenever the weather is damp and humidity is above say 50%
 
chainsaw_masochist said:
That said, I would quite like to buy some of that interlocking rubber flooring for the garage, though it seems a bit of an enterprise to install it. You know, you've got to shift every conceivable item accumulated over god knows how many years onto the drive, inevitably in the rain; then lay the stuff and hopefully it fits. Has anyone got this type of flooring in their garage? Was it problematic to install?
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There's a Rag n Bone Brown video on youtube showing the installation of such a floor. I believe there are more rigid ones that cope with trolley jacks etc.
 
I have some interlocking rigid plastic type tiles I managed to bag from a factory closure.
very easy to lay and take trolley jack, axle stand weight with ease.
A bit slippery when wet is my only gripe with them, not sure of the brand sorry.
 
freddiemercurystwin said:
There's a Rag n Bone Brown video on youtube showing the installation of such a floor. I believe there are more rigid ones that cope with trolley jacks etc.
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Thanks, Freddy, that's very interesting. He does state specifically that a car will cause no problems weight wise. t is certainly a very thorough job though he will be using the room for storage and a couple of exercise appliances etc.
 
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