Jack Stands ...In Honor & Memory of Ethan Allen (yourfriendethan) (Page 1/5)
Fiero Vice AUG 01, 01:48 AM
Just few days ago on July 27, 2021, Ethan Allen (yourfriendethan) passed away while working under his Fiero, just a year after finding one that he has always wanted for more than 20 plus years... to have his life ended when his Fiero somehow fell on him & crushed him underneath. That's a terrible way for one's life to end like that and one of the saddest days on Fiero Forum.

The first thing that comes to mind is SAFETY which isn't always very clear on this forum when it comes to placing floor jack & jack stands underneath the Fiero... when it comes to changing the brakes, control arms, bushings, sway bars or taking the engine out & etc.

We should update that famous map picture of the underneath the Fiero that we all seen from the manual books, with clear words that says "Floor Jack" or "Jack Stand" along with colors to show where it should go. And if possible, get clear pictures from Fiero enthusiasts' projects to show how it was done right.

I found few threads on Jack Stands... which is located in Technical Discussion & Questions area where people don't often visit. Those threads weren't very clear. I've seen pics & videos from YouTube where people made mistakes with their floor jack & jack stands.

So, to honor Ethan Allen, I think we should start this thread in the general area, in hope of getting more attention to address safety issues when it comes to floor jack & jack stands.

Ethan's link

[This message has been edited by Fiero Vice (edited 08-02-2021).]

Fiero Vice AUG 01, 02:06 AM
To start off, here's that famous map picture from the manual books I was referring to.

I have taken the liberty of adding more words to the map, with "Floor Jack", "Jack Stand" and "Lift" in order to make it clear for general purpose.

For each situation, we can modify the map picture in each post. Hopefully, that will help people to feel confident to do the job without putting their lives at risk just because they are afraid to ask dumb questions.

No question are dumb when it comes to safety & your life. It's always better to ask those dumb questions & do it right so you can live another day & enjoy your Fiero.

[This message has been edited by Fiero Vice (edited 08-01-2021).]

Fiero Vice AUG 01, 02:16 AM
From Theogre, The Ogre's Fiero Cave on Safe Jacking, here's the link.

It has useful information you should read about safe jacking.
Fiero Vice AUG 01, 07:41 AM

See those four red circles? That's for LIFT.

As seen in Map Picture, Four YELLOW squares around the gas tank is for lift. I took the liberty & wrote it down "LIFT".

I remember one student from automotive school was lifting his Fiero at the edge of the car which is NO-NO, right near where coolant lines are.

I was surprised no one mentioned it so I jumped in there & told him that I believed he was lifting it the wrong way.

Now, to be clear, see that yellow circle? Is that where you use floor jack to lift the front end so you can set up jack stands?

Can anyone please confirm if that's how they jack up their front ends?



More pictures are coming.
Fiero Vice AUG 01, 07:47 AM

Lifting from the rear, see those four yellow circles. That's how it's done.

Now, does anyone use that spot where green circle is located for jacking up from the rear?


Fiero Vice AUG 01, 07:53 AM

One of the safest way to life your Fiero... by using ramps.

In the past when I was young, I've had a bad experience trying to get my first Fiero onto ramps, I've decided to just lift the Fiero up with floor jack & put the ramps under the tires before lowing it. It's one of the most safe ways to work under the car.

Now, always inspect your ramps for rust if you have metal ones. If any, find the time to sand it down & paint.

How about you guys?

(Not my fiero. I copied it from elsewhere. )
Fiero Vice AUG 01, 08:00 AM



I know I've posted few lift ones. I will post more jack stands that most of us often use.

But I want to point out the error from this picture. Not mine. Someone lifted their Fiero with front end on the floor support which is NO-NO.

It needs to be on the bar where yellow Xs are shown.
Fiero Vice AUG 01, 08:04 AM


As I mentioned earlier about a student from automotive school, this is exactly where he made a mistake by lifting the front end by the edge which is No-No.

See where the orange circles are? That's the correct place to lift a Fiero.

Remember, everyone makes a mistake including me. The most important thing is we all learn from it so it doesn't happen to anyone with good source of safety on lifting.

[This message has been edited by Fiero Vice (edited 08-01-2021).]

Fiero Vice AUG 01, 08:12 AM



(Not mine)

Finally, some pictures on jack stands.

See how those jack stands are set up for the front end?

Is it correct or not?
Fiero Vice AUG 01, 08:17 AM



Jack Stands for when the engine was dropped.

Is it correct?

Most people would often say that it's best to use thick wood across for a better support.

And the front end should be on ramps and tied down with ratchet straps.

If you don't have one, invest in one. It will pay in dividends over & over.