side car

[rpcee]

My next door neighbour, a retired welder, suggests tipping my Maestro over to facilitate some underneath welding. It doesn't have to be a full 90deg apparently. We have the space and padding to do it but I've never heard it suggested before, what do people think?

[MG MAL]

This is a common practice used by mini owners.

I have used this method several times on other smaller cars and vans.

I'm not too sure on a larger car, but I used a couple of rear seat bases, to "cushion" the car once tipped to the required angle to help prevent damage the the lowest side of the car.
You must ensure that the car is well supported, and that if tipping it to access the passenger side of the floor, that the fuel tank is almost empty.(dont want fuel spilling everywhere.)

Other than that , it is straight a forward procedure to "tip" the car.

These days you can actually buy a "Tilt Frame" that mounts onto the hubs of the car, which enables you to tip the car a full 90 degrees. Some of these frames can be quite expensive, but are often advertised in the back of magazines such as Practical classics.

HTH

Mal.

[e692wtt]

They had these 'car tilts' for sale at Tatton Park Classic Car Show last weekend (a few hundred quid with free delivery), they are very easy to use (bolt onto the wheel hubs, I seem to remember) and very controllable.

One thing that would concern me if tipping a car over on 2 wheels as I think you are suggesting, is how you would support the car for the welding and then control its descent back onto 4 wheels after you have finished the work. Wouldn't like to hear about you or your helpers getting seriously injured, put it that way...

It's a good idea, if you can be sure it is safe for everybody concerned :thumbup: .

[E_T_V]

Just don't go doing anything like this:

http://premium1.uploadit.org/Jchallis//Car_Jacks.jpg

When doing something like this you'll need to have as little fuel in the car as possible. Also you should remove the battery (acid leaks :horror: ) and depending on how far you are going to tip it you might need to drain the oil too (to stop it leaking through crank seals)

[Rich]

Surly, tipping a car like that has to damage the tyres, rims, and what about the hubs?

I could see that side turning into somthing of a clown car whn you drive off!

Rich

[B18 GPC]

Most i have personally done is put one side on those little drive up ramps .. and the otherside off them , and the rear of the car on axle stands..

[pinback2001]

Furthest I have gone is to put the wheels on one side of the car up on a high kerb and crawled underneath! There's enough access for small jobs, but wouldn't like to spend too much time in such a restricted space.

[SimonR]

I've seen other cars tilted on their side buy getting a dead set of alloys, turning them round on the hubs so that the outside face is bolted onto the hub. Basically, bolt them on backwards and then tip the car onto the protruding rims. All you have to do is protect the top of the car's side.

The benefit is that you et a full 90 degree tilt.

[ben rawlings]

Surly, tipping a car like that has to damage the tyres, rims, and what about the hubs?

I could see that side turning into somthing of a clown car whn you drive off!

Rich


dont worrie...its only a seat in the picture

[rpcee]

Thanks, having thought about it and with my 309 celebrating it's 200K with an unexpected straight through mot, the car is now at a real welders, I'm not sure tipping cars is the ideal for someone who's new to all this - though I reckon I could've incited some of the local youths to come and roll the car I'm not sure they'd do the gently back again bit.