I need suggestions: Moving a car without front suspension!

[alankulwicki7]

I'm in a slight dilemna here: When I parked my 69 Fairlane and 17' boat in my new garage last fall, I rotate the car and boat so they are parallel to the garage door.

Now I want to rotate them back so I can get the boat out (it's towards the back of the garage)
I did this because my garage is 4' longer than it is wide and it gave me more room on either side of the car and boat.
The boat is on a trailer (obviously) and has a tongue jack with a caster so that won't be a problem to move.
The problem is my car: I started to replace all of the front suspension components about 4 weeks ago so it is sitting on jack stands. I have the front suspension completely off the car so there is no control arms, coil springs, steering components or anything. Basically, if I remove the jack stands, it will be sitting on the frame of the car.

Does anyone have any suggestions as to how I can SAFELY support the front end of my car and yet still be able to move the car a few feet to get my boat out?

BTW: I do have one good floor jack and 2 sets of car dollys and the rear suspension has not been touched.

 

[Bradley Miller]

Hmm -- that's a good one. I don't know exactly how well it would work, but I'd find a good place to put some 4x4 (or larger!) wood posts and put them on the car dolleys with and lower frame down on that. Then I'd run around to the rear and jack the rear up with the floor jack and pull it around (???). Maybe I'm too used to moving my Morris Minor by lifting up on the rear bumper and sliding it across the floor.

 

[DavidL]

What type of dollys do you have? Maybe you can you put the dollys under the jackstands with the car on top?

 

[the intimidator]

i would put the dolly's under the frame up front if needed put a 4x4 or or smething on it to gain more height then ratchet strap the dolly/4x4 to the frame so it wont slide off and then jack the rear up under the pumpkin with your floor jack and you will be good to go

 

[poncho62]

Floor jack............

 

[alankulwicki7]

Thanks for the advice. I'll give it a shot tomorrow and let you know if I succeed....

 

[GearHead_1]

Floor jack............

2 floor jacks! I've done it many times.

 

[Uncle Buck]

Two floorjacks, or an engine hoist will easily do the job. My vote would go to the engine hoist though, I think it would be much easier.(assuming you have a decent concrete floor)

 

[Just A Beginner]

I made an insert that fits into the pivot hole of the floor jack pad. This insert has the ability to allow me to chain the cross-member to the insert. Once the insert is securely attached to the cross-member i can move the frame around without worrying about the frame falling off the floor jack.

Food for thought.

Tom V.

 

[nova65ss]

You could always buy some trailer jacks and make a mount to attach them to your frame. I had some on my car when I changed to a mustang II suspension. I just made a plate that would allow me to mount them up to my cars frame rails. I'd recommend tying them together so they don't split apart if one gets hung on a crack in the floor.

Jimmy

 

[4t64rd]

You could always buy some trailer jacks and make a mount to attach them to your frame. I had some on my car when I changed to a mustang II suspension. I just made a plate that would allow me to mount them up to my cars frame rails. I'd recommend tying them together so they don't split apart if one gets hung on a crack in the floor.

Jimmy

Don't put the jack stands on the dolleys... don't ask me how I know... one bump and the inertia of the car moving with cause the jack stand to tip in everyhting come down with a thump... and hopefully you'll be able to keep the car off your feet/legs/torso.

I double ratchet strapped a 2x6 to the frame and ran a 3/4" bolt through a hole drilled in the center of the board and the hole in my floor jack. I've also moved the car about 3 miles by getting similar 2x6 with a hole drilled in the center, bolting it to the top of my 4x4 flat utility trailer on the ends, and putting about 4 washers in between the boards so it can swivel. and getting some magnetic taillights, since the car was almost gutted, it was light enough to travel that way.

 

[Pony-boy]

First post.
If you don't want to do roll it on jacks.
I have seen some cool tire jacks that you put on each tire to roll the car whatever direction you want. We used a 6x6 block under the frame of a fullsize bronco to move it around. They may cost a few bucks but they
save you a lot of hassle and are very stable.