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Garage Ramps vs Mechanics Pits #1611521
14/11/2017 12:04
14/11/2017 12:04
Joined: Apr 2015
Posts: 575
Ayrshire
ScouseCoupe Offline OP
Enjoying the ride
ScouseCoupe  Offline OP
Enjoying the ride

Joined: Apr 2015
Posts: 575
Ayrshire
Right, I have just moved house and from a former double garage with flat roof and with a mechanics pit ( 4m Long x 1m Wide x 2m Deep ), to a larger than normal single long garage with a pitched roof, but no pit.

Should I dig a hole and have the lining done for a new screed lined pit / plastic moulded pit or should I consider a scissor lift or something else.

Any opinions / recommendations ?


1999 Rosso Corsa 20VT ( Restored )
2000 Rosso Alfa 916 Spider 2.0 T.S Lusso ( Under Restoration)

Re: Garage Ramps vs Mechanics Pits [Re: ScouseCoupe] #1611522
14/11/2017 12:16
14/11/2017 12:16
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 6,783
In the coupe.
magooagain Offline
Club Member 259
magooagain  Offline
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Posts: 6,783
In the coupe.
http://sm-t.co.uk/ Have a look at this site. I am hoping to buy a four ton four post lift with jacking bench in the spring.

A pit without an escape route is dangerous imo.



Re: Garage Ramps vs Mechanics Pits [Re: ScouseCoupe] #1611523
14/11/2017 12:25
14/11/2017 12:25
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 3,609
S. Wales. Way beyond my means
Gripped Offline
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S. Wales. Way beyond my means
The trouble with a pit is having to climb in and out of it each time you want to get a different tool... not to mention the other risks like falling into it !

Once day .... one day... I'll have a garage big enough to get a proper post lift.

Re: Garage Ramps vs Mechanics Pits [Re: ScouseCoupe] #1611525
14/11/2017 12:47
14/11/2017 12:47
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 33,520
Berlin
barnacle Offline
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Berlin
I too will have some kind of powered lift, one of these days.

I don't like holes in the ground; apart from anything else (like proper draining, venting, escape routes etc) they're no use if you want to take four wheels off for suspension, braking, or driveshaft work.


[Linked Image]
Don't get no respect! Coupe Fiat 1994-2000 - an owner's guide <-- clicky!
Re: Garage Ramps vs Mechanics Pits [Re: barnacle] #1611528
14/11/2017 14:21
14/11/2017 14:21
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 5,244
Watford, Herts.
H
Hyperlink Offline
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Watford, Herts.
Originally Posted By barnacle

I don't like holes in the ground; apart from anything else (like proper draining, venting, escape routes etc) they're no use if you want to take four wheels off for suspension, braking, or driveshaft work.


This. There is a reason garages used lifts over having a pit.

That said make sure you have enough space to use the lift without putting the car a through the roof!

Re: Garage Ramps vs Mechanics Pits [Re: Hyperlink] #1611529
14/11/2017 14:28
14/11/2017 14:28
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 13,200
england
C
came2dance Offline
I AM a Coop
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Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 13,200
england
also don't forget where you are where you are if you are ever stood on the lift. Stepping back to admire your handiwork is not recommended when you're 6 feet in the air! crazy


[Linked Image]www.chrisdoyle-photography.co.uk

Re: Garage Ramps vs Mechanics Pits [Re: ScouseCoupe] #1611532
14/11/2017 14:53
14/11/2017 14:53
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 6,783
In the coupe.
magooagain Offline
Club Member 259
magooagain  Offline
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In the coupe.
A pal of mine has an L shaped pit. It works well for him as he says he Allways has an escape route.



Re: Garage Ramps vs Mechanics Pits [Re: ScouseCoupe] #1611561
15/11/2017 11:28
15/11/2017 11:28
Joined: Apr 2015
Posts: 575
Ayrshire
ScouseCoupe Offline OP
Enjoying the ride
ScouseCoupe  Offline OP
Enjoying the ride

Joined: Apr 2015
Posts: 575
Ayrshire
Don't get me wrong, the former pit in the garage was immense and a quality build as previous owner had a fleet of hire classic prestige Rollers and Bentley's. It even had a fire suppression system, bilge well and jack lift girder over the pit!

Scissor lifts look like a PITA in confined space, 4 post lift ideal, but need the width of a domestic garage to fit I think. I see that these moulded pit liners with eazi slide chairs seem popular with the classic cars mob.


1999 Rosso Corsa 20VT ( Restored )
2000 Rosso Alfa 916 Spider 2.0 T.S Lusso ( Under Restoration)

Re: Garage Ramps vs Mechanics Pits [Re: ScouseCoupe] #1611575
15/11/2017 15:05
15/11/2017 15:05
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 8,960
west bromwich
C
coupedummy Offline
Je suis un Coupé
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Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 8,960
west bromwich
I would love a lift, problem i have is height. I have a concrete double garage but the roof is made of bolted trusses etc so unable to rasie the coupe maybe 2-3 feet higher from the ground.


[Linked Image]
Re: Garage Ramps vs Mechanics Pits [Re: ScouseCoupe] #1611581
15/11/2017 17:33
15/11/2017 17:33
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 16,603
Corridor of Uncertainty
J
Jim_Clennell Offline
Forum veteran
Jim_Clennell  Offline
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Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 16,603
Corridor of Uncertainty
We had a scissor lift for work. It was a Strongman Tamar 2.8 ton model. It cost about a grand new on eBay.

It was fine, but we found we never used it, so sold it for what we paid.

The problem with a scissor lift is that it doesn't give unrestricted access to the underside of the car, so it means you can't always get to the exhaust, for example.

Re: Garage Ramps vs Mechanics Pits [Re: ScouseCoupe] #1611603
15/11/2017 21:00
15/11/2017 21:00
Joined: May 2011
Posts: 2,388
Caston, Norfolk
Blueboyracer Offline
Competition Level
Blueboyracer  Offline
Competition Level

Joined: May 2011
Posts: 2,388
Caston, Norfolk

Re: Garage Ramps vs Mechanics Pits [Re: Blueboyracer] #1611816
19/11/2017 04:11
19/11/2017 04:11
Joined: Apr 2015
Posts: 575
Ayrshire
ScouseCoupe Offline OP
Enjoying the ride
ScouseCoupe  Offline OP
Enjoying the ride

Joined: Apr 2015
Posts: 575
Ayrshire


Nice and good idea. What do you think the cost would be if a steel fabricator mimicked your design?


1999 Rosso Corsa 20VT ( Restored )
2000 Rosso Alfa 916 Spider 2.0 T.S Lusso ( Under Restoration)

Re: Garage Ramps vs Mechanics Pits [Re: ScouseCoupe] #1611848
19/11/2017 16:47
19/11/2017 16:47
Joined: May 2011
Posts: 2,388
Caston, Norfolk
Blueboyracer Offline
Competition Level
Blueboyracer  Offline
Competition Level

Joined: May 2011
Posts: 2,388
Caston, Norfolk
Thanks - this was the best solution given my garage, its height, its base and its location.

The steel cost me just under £400 all cut to size.

The ancillary parts like clamps, bolts and jacks etc cost just under another £100.

The welding took ME about 3 (maybe 4) solid 8 hour days of welding and I have a family friend who spent 18 welding for a living who said he would have charged me £15 per hour if I hadn't done it myself - so that would have been about another £400 or so.

So maybe £900 in total - but a fabricators may charge more than £15 an hour I suppose.


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