Mark C5

I've heard that putting a coupe on a pedestal type lift can crack or damage the roof panel. I've heard it suggested that when using a pedestal lift the hood be opened, the doors opened, the hatch opened and the roof panel removed. I see no warnings or precautions mentioned in the owners manual or the FSM. Has anyone experienced damage from putting their car on a lift?

Aardwolf

Mine has been up, down, and all around on all sorts of lifts, no trouble with everything closed. I have opened and closed everything while on lifts to with no trouble.

JimW3470

I had a 77 coupe and when I would put it on that type of lift I could see the doors move a little and the interior light would come on because of the door movement but never had a real progblem. My 96 has been on one several times and have never had any problems with that but I have always wondered if it could pop the roof or break, good question, wonder if anyone has ever had an issue.

Corvette Kid

When it comes to the C4 at least, I will state unequivocally that this is complete and utter

ITHZ

Mine has not been on one since I have had it.But I agree with Corvette Kid.I have put hundreds of cars on this type of lift,never had a problem.

ZRWON

Between my wife and me we've owned ten C4s ('84, '85, '87, '88, '89, '90, 2 '91 ZR1s, '93 zr1, and a '96) and have heard that tale for years...never did we ever have problems with whatever kind of lift those working on our Vettes might have used. All of these C4s with the exception of the '88 annv model, one of the '91 ZR1s, the '93 ZR1 and the '96 CE were "my work cars"...driven hard where ever I needed to go. They were serviced as needed at dealers, and any other convenient place.
I did learn early on however that the glass top goes on easier and tighter if the car is parked on flat, lever ground during top installation. Maybe it was just fool's luck but I'm too old to change my ways now!

CentralCoaster

I always open all my doors and hood and roof when driving my vette to prevent any body panels from cracking. Visibility can be challenging though driving with the hood up.

My car has been jacked up more than Mike Tyson.

shakedown067

I always thought it was just with the clear tops that you were to be cautious. The standard tops take it like a champ!

BBBAD94ZR1

The roof does provide support for the car, I would not put my cars on a lift with the roof off. Just my 2 cents. The cars don't seem to handle as good with the roof off either.
Ray

rocco16

Urban legend.

If raising the car on a center-post lift would damage it, imagine what driving it on the road, or entering an angled driveway, or changing a flat tire would do to it.


Larry
code5coupe

___________
Often wrong, never in doubt....

Impala Balko

I went to a local tire chain up here in MA (Town Fair Tire) and the one guy which i think was a rookie drove it in the bay and was going to lift up the car when his co worker stoped him and said because its a corvette you have to open the doors and hood because the body flexes and could mess it up...

zr1fred

Aardwolf

I have the clear top on mine, no problems. The car does not handle as well without the top.

I tried to negotiate a slope last year and drove up it diagonally, I heard an odd grinding noise, the left rear tire was off the ground and spinning above the gravel after it dug a slight depression. The car was balanced off the ground on the diagonal, you could rock it in the air back and forth slightly. There isn't THAT much flex!

aboatguy

Shoot my vert is so stiff I've had three or four wheels off the ground when I was only trying for two.

Mike

BigBirdGreenwood

Um, no--just no. My 94 has been on so many lifts on its way back to the street its not even funny. There is a old article I have the recommends NOT pulling the roof panel with the car lifted. As "ZRWON" wrote, it is recommended to install or remove the top on a level surface.

jimmers

I was told that when I bought my car from the dealer, but I have never done it yet.

deerra

I put Vigara in the gas tank. It makes the whole body stiff.

shortcut96

We have a winner best line of the day....

enventr

When I was younger,I believe a C2 owner came into the service station to change the oil.He told the mechanic to open the doors to prevent the body from stress cracks.I never knew if it was fact or fiction

quickcat

This happened to me too at a tire shop. I went out to the car to get the wheel lock key for the guy and saw that my doors and hood were open. I asked the manager if they were checking something under the hood (I didn't want them in there). He told me that the C5 and C6 Vettes had to be opened up prior to lifting and figured mine did too. I told him thank you for looking out and asked him nicely to shut the doors and hood because they do not need to be open (and running my battery down).

I would imagine that the car would be slightly stiffer with the doors closed if at all.