2 post v Scissor lift

[SimonBrown]

Looking to purchase a lift for my home garage. It is 3.8 x 5.5metres with a 2.5 metre ceiling height.
I don’t know whether to go for an Automotech AS7630 scissor lift or an AS230SP short height 2 post.
Portability of the scissor lift appeals, but height from the floor doesn’t. I don’t particularly want to sink it in to the floor.
Any advice to help with my decision would be much appreciated. Does anyone have any experience with either of these?
Thank you

[politeperson]

My vote is a 2 post.

Scissor lift as a complete Nause on an E-type.

I have both!

On a scissor lift, it is very difficult to get the lifting pads in the correct location because the E type is so low, narrow and the distance between the correct lifting points is so long.

Also the exhaust and gearbox is inaccessible as the scissor platform is completely in the way.

The while front of the car hangs over the front of the lift, the balance looks just wrong.

Also they are marketed as potable but they weigh the best part of a tonne and they are not really.

They are cheap and reliable though.

With a 2 post Life becomes a breeze and a bit safer too.

[ALAN COCHRANE]

Simon

I would recommend a third option-a four post lift. If you couple this with a hydraulic jacking beam then you can do everything a two post lift can do without the dangers.
The jacking beam allows the car to be raised off all four wheels at once-one axle on the beam and the other on axle stands sitting in a suitably robust tray. In my case two L shaped steel cross arms from an electricity pole.
Both sitting between the two runners.
No worries about shifting centres of gravity when removing major items like the engine and gearbox.
In addition you can stack one car above the other if roof height allows.

[madjack4]

With your height restriction in the past i used a two post ramp with a shallow pit dug out between the posts to give you a decent working height works well
Regards

[abowie]

I have a 2 post. For the reasons above I would avoid a scissor lift.

I'm not sure that you have enough roof height to use one though.

You're only going to get the wheels a maximum 1200mm off the ground before the top of the car hits your ceiling.

I suppose that's better than nothing but it really limits your access.

[Stevejaguar]

I have a 4 post lift purchased from my cousin when he sold one of his TVRs. Best single purchase ever (except of course for my E type).

Doesn't allow unrestricted access to all areas but so far I have not found any major difficulties.

If you are buying new you can get one custom made to suit your available space. Mine just happened to be the right size.

Steve

[mgcjag]

Have you tried to remove the IRS or engine useing a 4 post lift.....very awkward.....if you have plenty of room at the rear and sides then not too bad but in a standard size garage then its very difficult.........Note that with all these lifts when you want to let the car down from its raised position you first have to lift it a bit to release the locks before you can lower it down.....so take this into account on low ceiling height spaces....Steve

[dxke38]

I have a scissor lift thats recessed into the floor of my garage. It's ideal for removing the rear axle complete and does have other benefits when working on suspension, brakes etc, but if I were buying now it would definitely be a two post ramp having used a friends to remove engine gearbox unit.

[ALAN COCHRANE]

Removing the engine and gearbox using a 4 post lift is very straightforward. You just place a trolley underneath, disconnect everything and raise the car leaving the engine and gearbox on the trolley. Another advantage to this is that the bonnet and radiator can be left in situ.
I haven't removed the IRS yet, but using the jacking beam will raise the car sufficiently off the lift to allow the IRS to be removed-again onto a trolley which can then be rolled along the lift runners and on to the garage floor.

[JagNorton]

Looking to purchase a lift for my home garage. It is 3.8 x 5.5metres with a 2.5 metre ceiling height.
I don’t know whether to go for an Automotech AS7630 scissor lift or an AS230SP short height 2 post.
Portability of the scissor lift appeals, but height from the floor doesn’t. I don’t particularly want to sink it in to the floor.
Any advice to help with my decision would be much appreciated. Does anyone have any experience with either of these?
Thank you

Did you ever purchase a lift? I’m considering the AS230SP but I’m not sure if it will work with the etype. Would be good to hear from anyone who has successfully used it.

[TGN]

I’ve got an automotech two post lift, which copes fine with my car. You do have to be perfectly in the centre as the arms are at full extension to pick up the front jacking positions. I’ve got a catslide roof so can’t get it to full height with this car on it, but I wouldn’t be without it.

[JagNorton]

I’ve got an automotech two post lift, which copes fine with my car. You do have to be perfectly in the centre as the arms are at full extension to pick up the front jacking positions. I’ve got a catslide roof so can’t get it to full height with this car on it, but I wouldn’t be without it.

That’s encouraging. Do you know which model you have?

[TGN]

AS-235SB 3.5t It’s about 12 years old so not sure if it’s a current model

[andrewh]

I restored my first E type on a AS 7530D scissor lift. It is a help for sure but its always a work around and frankly it feel dangerous and claustrophobic when working under neath . I would say its only really good for wheel stations, although with much care I was able to fit the engine and gearbox from underneath. Since I purchased a full height 2 post I have never used the scissor and really must get around to selling it I suppose. In terms of it being movable, yes it is but its a hell of a weight and takes some moving.

[JagNorton]

AS-235SB 3.5t It’s about 12 years old so not sure if it’s a current model

Thanks for this. Yes it is indeed a current model and actually now I've measured it, it looks possible that I could get it in. Automotech aren't all that helpful if you ask them a question that isn't in the drawing, or manual.
The problem I have is that it's going into a garage with a hipped roof, so height is lower the further out towards the edges I go.
I know the height of the uprights is 2860mm, but the drawing doesn't show how far apart they are from outer edge to outer edge. the width measurement is 3370mm but that includes the flanges that sit on the floor.
If you get a moment, I'd be very grateful if you could measure the posts from outer edge to outer edge to see if I can just about get away with it.
If it fits it seems like the best in their range for an etype, and it's also quite cheap! :-)

[TGN]

I’m surprised the moderator's haven’t pounced on you yet and demanded your inside leg measurements, name, location, and car derivative.
If you’re local you’re welcome to come and look at it.

I hope you’ve got a forklift for delivery, I had to plan ahead to get them to keep it at the haulage yard and use their forklift onto my car trailer. Removing it from its transportation frame and moving the parts individually isn’t for the weak and feeble.

[JagNorton]

You’re not all that far from me, maybe I’ll take you up on that. Its going to be a tight fit, although I think if i can establish that one dimension I’ll be able to work it out.

[abowie]

I have a 2 post hoist with roof height about 2800mm at its lowest.

I do all of my work on the car sitting on a chair or stool so you don’t need to get it up so high that you can walk under it.

If you can get a 2 poster in at all then it’s what I’d go for.

Also once it’s in you can use it to lift your new lathe and mill off the trailer. Much easier than using the engine crane I had to use to set up my hoist in the first place.

The other fun thing is drilling the holes for the bolts. If you do the maths, with 100mm square 5mm reinforcement mesh and drilling 3/4” holes you have a 53% chance of hitting the mesh with every hole. So having a drill bit you can use to cut through the mesh is useful. I also used a piece of 3/4” bar and a sledge hammer on a couple of them.

Make sure you have good concrete. I think you need 32mpa minimum 100mm but ideally at least 125mm in my experience. Depends on the type of fixture you’re using.

[mgcjag]

Have you considered a 4 post....I think they are a lot more usefull than a 2 post...even with low ceiling height you have the added benefit of storage for another car underneath....Steve

[JagNorton]

"I do all of my work on the car sitting on a chair"

Thanks - this is useful. I think I have 150mm of concrete, although struggling to remember now, it was about 8 years ago I built the garage. Good point about the mesh!