Just installed a lift, what next?

[Mr.N]

So I found a 1979 Lift from personal shop, Gilbarco ATF-8
Gave it a refresh and installed it!

So, what next?

Have a suggestion to make it more efficient?
- Magnet glove box holder?
- Magnet paper towel holder?
- Install a retractile LED shop light?
- Install a retractile extension cord?

So, what do you suggest?

 

[Mr.N]

How are the $200ish 1660/1500 lbs Transmission Jack 2 Stage Hydraulic on ebay?

 

[JohnnyK8]

Get tall jackstands. They're really helpful

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[dirtydrew420]

Definitely atleast one screw jack

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[Mr.N]

Get tall jackstands. They're really helpful

Define tall... I've 4 of the 6 tons, and 2 of the 5 tons...

Tall like 5+ feet?

 

[Buckgnarly]

Get tall jackstands. They're really helpful

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x2 along with....trans jack like mentioned, cordless lights, lisle drain pan with large trans adapter and anti splash pads for both, magnetic towel roll on both columns.....off the top my head favorites!

 

[Mr.N]

Definitely atleast one screw jack

Thanks dirtydrew!
Looks like Northerntool has one.

 

[Mr_fixit]

oil drain?

 

[Mr.N]

x2 along with....trans jack like mentioned, cordless lights, lisle drain pan with large trans adapter and anti splash pads for both, magnetic towel roll on both columns.....off the top my head favorites!

What are anti splash pads? Guess I need to google the lisle drain pan

lmao on the magnetic towel roll on both columns... When you need to clean your hands you need to clean your hands now!

 

[Buckgnarly]

What are anti splash pads? Guess I need to google the lisle drain pan

lmao on the magnetic towel roll on both columns... When you need to clean your hands you need to clean your hands now!

Extras are at the bottom and its way cheaper than list.
https://www.lislecorp.com/lubricati...ion-and-tire-products/8-gallon-oil-lift-drain

I have towel holders EVERYWHERE.....got tired of scrambling and looking and they are like 8 bucks each at HF.

 

[Mr.N]

Extras are at the bottom and its way cheaper than list.
https://www.lislecorp.com/lubricati...ion-and-tire-products/8-gallon-oil-lift-drain

I have towel holders EVERYWHERE.....got tired of scrambling and looking and they are like 8 bucks each at HF.

Ok, now I see... Thanks for the link!

 

[finn]

At least two of the tall jacks. The four post jacks like the OTC are much more stable than the single post, but get in the way a little more. I would opt for one of each.

Transmission jack is handy for more than just transmissions. Makes a good tool holder.

Nearby air and electrical connections, and good lighting. Also a 240v outlet for the welder.

 

[Mr.N]

At least two of the tall jacks. The four post jacks like the OTC are much more stable than the single post, but get in the way a little more. I would opt for one of each.

Transmission jack is handy for more than just transmissions. Makes a good tool holder.

Nearby air and electrical connections, and good lighting. Also a 240v outlet for the welder.

Can you link or define tall jacks?

Love the real world advice, I so could see me using a trans jack to hold tools.

Great info on the rest!

 

[Dragfluid]

Oh my, look at that!! Congratulations!
I have one too. I bought it new in '85 and 6 months later the shop burned down. 2 years ago, after I had the new shop situated, I brought it inside and rebuilt it.
Don't you love how nice and heavy duty it is? The the fact that it's symmetrical and wide?

 

[Dragfluid]

Could you take a couple more pics, please?
One of the safety release pedal, and the up/down rod. And one of the floor plate with the cutout. Just want to see if they're the same.

 

[Skyking1992]

I would recommend a two stage transmission jack. The cheaper single stage jacks are pretty tall when fully retracted. Trying to muscle a trans that high gets old fast. The two stage is quite a bit shorter when retracted and much more usable in my opinion.

And as mentioned above, air, light, and electricity near by (mounted to the post) is nice.

 

[unslow1]

Transmission jacks are also great for gas tanks and differentials. Tall screw jack stands and drain pan are a must.

 

[Dragfluid]

If you want a really great transmission jack, try to find a Gray. Air over hydraulic. Several attachments available. Goes up high, comes down low so you can just slide the transmission right onto the bench or the pickup bed. The most popular one in the transmission trade.
Brand new they are around $1400. Used prices are all over the place.
https://products.grayusa.com/list/id/htj-1000

 

[dlwilson]

I use a combo of a heavy-duty wood bench with big castors, and a Harbor Freight transmission jack. I roll the bench under the car, lower the car within six or eight inches of the jack, and then run the jack up with an electric impact to support the transmission or fuel tank or axle or whatever. Once the part is free, I run the car back up, and the part is sitting on my bench ready for work.

I got my lift last year after wanting one my whole life, and it truly is a game-changer. It's the best tool I ever bought.

A couple years ago I replaced the gas tank in an El Camino on jack stands with a creeper. It was a hard dirty job that had me rolling out from under the car every few minutes for a different tool, and culminated in me bench pressing the tank back up in place. Yesterday I dropped the tank to change the pump on a different El Camino, using the lift, and it took about an hour. And it was easy.

 

[Ilikeike]

Besides jacks and an oil drain can,
I use the outlet/extension cord mounted at the leg a lot, also air.

 

[59 wagon man]

a small rolling cart for your tools. just my .02 but the trans jack for a tool holder is nuts. big wide base small top on which the trans sits with no real edge to keep y our tools from falling off. my trans jack gets used maybe once a year so it mostly collects dust but i can't imagine using it to hold tools

 

[finn]

Can you link or define tall jacks?

Love the real world advice, I so could see me using a trans jack to hold tools.

Great info on the rest!

Just tall tripod or four leg jack stands. Probably a little over four feet, with a rubber saddle and screw adjuster on top.

They really stabilize the car or truck that’s hanging in the air. I usually put it under the trailer hitch receiver or cross bar.

I have a single post for the front, but it’s not nearly as stable.

Pretty sure real mechanics don’t use them, but the added stability they give at least gives ma an added sense of security standing under a six or eight thousand pound truck or a rusty old project.

 

[finn]

I would recommend a two stage transmission jack. The cheaper single stage jacks are pretty tall when fully retracted. Trying to muscle a trans that high gets old fast. The two stage is quite a bit shorter when retracted and much more usable in my opinion.

And as mentioned above, air, light, and electricity near by (mounted to the post) is nice.

I agree. Mine is an inexpensive Astro, if I recall, single stage. It would have been worthwhile getting a two stage, as long as the footprint doesn’t grow.

I thought the trans jack would be a one time use tool to get the plow mount on an F250, but I use it all the time .....fuel tank removal to replace straps or service the fuel pump, tool platform, holds the oil drain pan, etc.

 

[finn]

a small rolling cart for your tools. just my .02 but the trans jack for a tool holder is nuts. big wide base small top on which the trans sits with no real edge to keep y our tools from falling off. my trans jack gets used maybe once a year so it mostly collects dust but i can't imagine using it to hold tools

Just put a magnetic pan or even a steel tray on top. My jack has a relatively small footprint, and I already have it, so it’s taking up space wether I use it or not.

 

[brewchief]

I would get a trans jack with the foot pump, i was using a friends cheap one with only the hand pump/release and it was a PITA to balance a np205 and operate it.

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[Mr.N]

Oh my, look at that!! Congratulations!
I have one too. I bought it new in '85 and 6 months later the shop burned down. 2 years ago, after I had the new shop situated, I brought it inside and rebuilt it.
Don't you love how nice and heavy duty it is? The the fact that it's symmetrical and wide?

Could you take a couple more pics, please?
One of the safety release pedal, and the up/down rod. And one of the floor plate with the cutout. Just want to see if they're the same.

So great to hear you've one too!

Get this, I call the place that sold it... they were still in business!
They guy scanned in the manual, I think 1984 version, and email it to me.
PM me your email and I will shot you a copy.
Yeah, I've a lot more pics and the original pamphlet.

 

[Mr.N]

I would get a trans jack with the foot pump, i was using a friends cheap one with only the hand pump/release and it was a PITA to balance a np205 and operate it.

Yeah, you know my language... thank Brewchief

FYI, that is my Brother.

 

[Dragfluid]

So great to hear you've one too!

Get this, I call the place that sold it... they were still in business!
They guy scanned in the manual, I think 1984 version, and email it to me.
PM me your email and I will shot you a copy.
Yeah, I've a lot more pics and the original pamphlet.

Thanks, but I still have my original manual! Hard to believe, but it's in great shape.
I see you have one column missing the covers. Do you have that? Mine are both off yet, waiting for me to sand and prime/paint. That will get done yet this winter.

 

[Dragfluid]

Here's a couple pics of mine.

 

[LVIIIR]

Looks great! Ahh I need one!

 

[Mr.N]

Thanks, but I still have my original manual! Hard to believe, but it's in great shape.
I see you have one column missing the covers. Do you have that? Mine are both off yet, waiting for me to sand and prime/paint. That will get done yet this winter.

Yeah I have the covers, just want to paint them before the install.
However, I am liking it with them off.

Question, are your post full of grease? I am not sure if this was the previous owner who did this, or they came this way. No where in the manual does it show to cover the posts in grease.

 

[Mr.N]

Here's a couple pics of mine.

So that is what they look like with nice paint.

 

[Mr.N]

Well, how does this look for a jack stand?

https://www.harborfreight.com/2-ton-capacity-underhoist-safety-stand-61600.html

 

[zmotorsports]

Well, how does this look for a jack stand?

https://www.harborfreight.com/2-ton-capacity-underhoist-safety-stand-61600.html

I prefer the single pole style with the acme thread. Those are $85 from HF but I purchased some nice Sunnex ones from Summit Racing for only $10 more each and they are nice 1500 pound capacity pole jacks.

I actually went one step further and cut two of them down for doing suspension/chassis work when the lift is at half lift. This is especially helpful when doing things like ball joints in live front axles so I can tilt one side up at a time to keep the oil inside of the differential housing as well as have a solid placement to avoid the "springy-ness" of the suspension. The cut down pole jacks work amazing and I wonder why I didn't do that about 10 years ago.

Also to add to your list, I'd go oil drain bucket for certain. I also use my air hose reel that's mounted on the lift column the most of about any hose drop in my shop.

Congrats on the lift. They're a game changer.

 

[Mr.N]

I prefer the single pole style with the acme thread. Those are $85 from HF but I purchased some nice Sunnex ones from Summit Racing for only $10 more each and they are nice 1500 pound capacity pole jacks.

I actually went one step further and cut two of them down for doing suspension/chassis work when the lift is at half lift. This is especially helpful when doing things like ball joints in live front axles so I can tilt one side up at a time to keep the oil inside of the differential housing as well as have a solid placement to avoid the "springy-ness" of the suspension. The cut down pole jacks work amazing and I wonder why I didn't do that about 10 years ago.

Also to add to your list, I'd go oil drain bucket for certain. I also use my air hose reel that's mounted on the lift column the most of about any hose drop in my shop.

Congrats on the lift. They're a game changer.

This is gold, along with the other advice everyone has given here!
Thank you.

Off to search Summit Racing
My thoughts with the HF tri pod was to install retractable casters.

 

[astroracer]

You should have 220 coming to the lift motor so wire in a welder plug and a multi gang outlet with 110 and you will have plenty of power. I know the welder outlet is handy.
Air is a good add as well.
Mark

 

[Dragfluid]

Yeah I have the covers, just want to paint them before the install.
However, I am liking it with them off.

Question, are your post full of grease? I am not sure if this was the previous owner who did this, or they came this way. No where in the manual does it show to cover the posts in grease.

No, the columns were never coated in grease. No reason for that. Someone must have thought they were doing good. I would clean it off.

To those that have suggested mounting things to the columns, no you can't do that. The carriage goes up and down on them. And then if the covers are on, they aren't strong enough for a hose reel, or really anything else for that matter.
And the 240 power going to it is probably not large enough for a welder outlet. I've got 12ga going to mine. It's all that was needed, and it's on its own circuit. Not sure what the OP has running to his.

But N, I think you should paint your covers and put them on. It looks really nice with them and it's safer, too.

 

[hasco]

Don't forget Rockauto Magnets on the Columns !

 

[Mr.N]

No, the columns were never coated in grease. No reason for that. Someone must have thought they were doing good. I would clean it off.

To those that have suggested mounting things to the columns, no you can't do that. The carriage goes up and down on them. And then if the covers are on, they aren't strong enough for a hose reel, or really anything else for that matter.
And the 240 power going to it is probably not large enough for a welder outlet. I've got 12ga going to mine. It's all that was needed, and it's on its own circuit. Not sure what the OP has running to his.

But N, I think you should paint your covers and put them on. It looks really nice with them and it's safer, too.

Thanks for confirming!
Yeah, The lift also has some witness marks from falling down... Now during install or when a vehicle was on it I can't get out of the previous owner.

I have 6/3 cable with a 50 amp circuit so I could use it for welding.
Per the book, only needs 25 amps.

Totally agree it would be saver with the columns... however if I clean the posts and paint them we'll see how it looks.
I was looking at moving the lift engagement levers to about 5'5" to child proof the lift.

 

[Mr.N]

Don't forget Rockauto Magnets on the Columns !

Now that is an Awesome reply