Another in ground scissor lift install

[youngfg]

You may remember this thread by my friend Paul, well here is the right way to put in a lift

Back in October of 2008 I had decided to get a MaxJack lift, while Paul was looking to import a in-ground scissor lift. Paul was going to import his lift at the first of the year, I said I will have my lift before you, MaxJack says they will be selling their lift in time for Christmas. Well we February came around I still didn't have a lift so Paul and I decided to order two sets of lifts from China.

Here are some pictures from the install. The rest of the pictures are here

 

[JakeD]

Very nice. Are the bases of the lifts anchored into the concrete below?

 

[youngfg]

Yes, there are four 5/8" anchor bolts per lift.

 

[Paul Bird]

BTW, the car on the lift is an 1,800 lb., 100% carbon fiber bodied Merkur XR4ti. Has to be the only one in the world.

 

[BigRed390]

^ Thought that looked a bit funny for sheet metal and paint. Care to divulge any more details? Great looking install, btw.

 

[stick004]

looks like something someone in China would do... LOL

But it looks good, nice install. really nice car.

 

[e-tek]

I'd bet these lifts are going to quickly become the rage and replace any other lift. IMO, they are more "stable" and more "out of the way" than 2 or 4 post lifts respectively, have great height and clearance and are out of the way when not in use. Love it.

 

[babzog]

I was pumped about your buddy's install and am equally pumped about this one! These are perfect for the attached garage that has no room for a two (let alone a four) post lift while allowing two daily drivers (incl munchkin transport) to park inside, not be in the way and not be in the wife's way (very important). Perfect for getting work done and then just park the daily drivers right on top of the retracted lift. It's a great (possibly the only), zero-hassle solution out there for many people.

How'd you manhandle the lifts into the holes? Same forklift?

Someone asked in your buddy's thread but didn't get a reply. What, if anything, did you do for drainage in the holes? I can easily imagine them accumulating water, not only (but particularly) when snow melts off the cars in the winter, but also during the rest of the year when you pull in after getting the car thoroughly soaked in the latest t-storm.

 

[youngfg]

I used the same forklift to get the lifts in the hole that Paul used. I had made my forms a little small, so I had to grind on the concrete to get the lifts to fit in the hole.

For those that are interested there are more pictures of my car on my website.
http://www.sirscca.org/gene/

There isn't any drainage for my lift holes, but I don't park my daily driver in the garage very often. To keep water out of the lift, Paul and I have talked about putting a gasket around the hole to seal it. There isn't much of a gap and I think you could get a good seal if you tried. Or you could put a small lip on the concrete to keep water from running in.

 

[VHF]

How did you install the conduit for the hydraulic lines to the control unit under the floor? I see a gray PVC conduit leading away from one of the forms, but it doesn't look like you cut up the existing floor to install the conduit... ?

 

[youngfg]

I pushed the PVC condiut through the dirt to the cutout where the control panel is.
You start with a short piece of pipe and pound it into the ground with a hammer until it fills with dirt, then you pull it out and shake the dirt out, then repeat until you get the pipe where you want it.

 

[brittlediabetic]

Youngfg: Can you tell me a little bit about this scissor lift like how much it costs, how high it lifts and where it is sold? Thanks

Brittlediabetic

 

[Jack Olsen]

Awesome install. That's the only kind of lift I'd consider. No compromises for floorspace at all.

Mind telling us what one costs?

It's hindsight now, but the same hammer-and-conduit drill trick could have gotten you an exit line for a small sump pump for water.

 

[youngfg]

Pricing and lifting info are posted in Paul's thread that I listed in the beginning of my post.

 

[twinturbosupra123]

very nice looking man

 

[mrmri]

Very very nice. Great craftsmanship.

 

[mechamunch]

I really have to say, I'm impressed as all hell by this setup.

 

[Stuart in MN]

Any more pictures/info on that XR4ti? It's a pretty cool looking car.

 

[youngfg]

There are more car pictures on my site.
http://www.sirscca.org/gene/

 

[STClurker]

how is access under the car? it looks to me like that lift is only good for brakes and tires.

 

[youngfg]

Under car access is fine. About the only thing you can't get to underneath is the rocker panels.

 

[Paul Bird]

how is access under the car? it looks to me like that lift is only good for brakes and tires.

Access is excellent and even the rocker panels can be accessed by shifting the car to the side.

This might help:

 

[STClurker]

wow, that is pretty good. thanks for the pic

 

[modernbeat]

Wow, the first time I saw that car and garage, they looked like this...

 

[ersatzs2]

All I can say when I see a car build like that is man oh man it's a big world and this is a wonderful country!

 

[swharris]

I'm sure you have a good reason you installed it shifted so far over. Looks like you'll have to shuffle a car into position. Is that due to the yellow pole or maybe a photographic illusion??

 

[dulmer]

I know what I want for my wife's birthday.....lol

 

[youngfg]

It's an illusion, you can drive straight in and get on the lift. The yellow support pole is a giant PITA, It breaks the garage is half making it seem a lot smaller than it is.
Thats the number one reason I am planning on building a 48' X 66' shop.

 

[JMURiz]

Cool project, that CF Merkur is probably the raciest thing in Ownesboro outside of the Haydens' garage.

 

[swharris]

LOL. Are you seriously corner balancing the 300?? You should put the 3.8T in the Merkur... hehe.

 

[JBAUTO]

How much are these lifts and any info on them links and what not? I am very interested.

 

[youngfg]

Look for Paul Bird's thread, "In ground scissor lift install", it has a lot more pricing and ordering info in it.

 

[Photo]

JBAUTO,

The other thread is here: http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=35433&showall=1

I just bought one and had it delivered to Edmonton. It is currently patiently waiting to be installed in my garage. So far, it has cost me ~ $2230.00 Cdn to get it to my house.

PM me if you have any questions about getting it into Canada.

Lane

 

[jcd58fleetside]

Hi Lane.
I'm seriously thinking about this lift for my Sania Ontario garage.
Did you deal directly with China, or are there any Canadian dealers ?

John.

 

[Richard D]

Any more info, such as a U.S. distributor, or better yet, a comparable U.S. manufacturer? I am currently reading Paul Bird's thread.

 

[Y2KFirehawk]

Any more info, such as a U.S. distributor, or better yet, a comparable U.S. manufacturer? I am currently reading Paul Bird's thread.

What he said and ditto! Love the installs.

 

[Budice69]

What he said and ditto! Love the installs.

Distributor is Holden Engineering
Www.hei-lifts.com
407-574-5757
[email protected]

Current price is $3,499 including shipping East of Mississippi River

 

[Chad D]

I know this is an old thread, just looking to get your feedback after using this lift system for the past few years. Anything you would change about the unit and or install?

 

[evildky]

LOL. Are you seriously corner balancing the 300?? You should put the 3.8T in the Merkur... hehe.

Z31's are far more balanced than people would think. No need for a 3.8 when the Z31's Turbo 3.0 is capable of 400 whp on stock internals. That particular car is not a turbo but all the bits bolt right in. The problem is the semi trailing arm suspension *****, similar to the design used on E30's but the geometry isn't as good and the spring rates are terrible so the car squats and looses traction due to camber and toe gain. Subframe swaps and solve that issue.