I have a Challenger pad style car lift in my garage.I was wondering if I could lift the 1969 Dodge Coronet Convertible With the pinch rails. The pad (50 inches) isn't long enough to reach the front and rear frame rails.
Thanks, Kurt

I know this is the general practise on newer cars but I don't think our Mopars are made to be lifted by 2 pieces of sheet metal pointing down held together by spot welds.

Don't think it would take much for that pinch to fold over. Even the frames in these cars are sometimes dented in from the edges of jacks and stands.

The only thing solid under our cars are the rear axle housing, front crossmember, rear spring perches and front control arms.

If your hoist only reaches to the rocker panels. How about notching out some wood. The notch bigger than the pinch weld. Then lift by the rocker panel.



Since there are no leaf springs in my car during this job. I supported by the rockers.

been doing it like this for Many years. this car does have torque boxes.

This type of lift ??

I do have the rubber lift blocks, I should be able to make some to lift from the rocker, Thanks for the answers!

Kurt

Jeesh Stanton, that doesn't look much bigger than my MC lift..

Its a full-size scissor lift - 6000 lb capacity. Reaches front frame and rear axle and is stable. Lifts high enough to "almost" stand under. Its ideal because I don't have the height or floor thickness for a post lift. Sure beats having to bend down !!

I can't argue that, and at 61 I really understand it....

63 !!!

I would make a 2x3 steel fame that would sit on the rubber pads and lift the car by front frame points and under the rear axle, no way I would even lift a brand new in 1969 unibody convertible by just the rockers ...

New cars are designed to be lifted by rocker panel jacking points, our old cars were not ... as far as I know ...

Get two lengths of 2" square tubing long enough to span the front and rear crossmembers (like frame connectors only a little longer). Drive the car on the lift then position the rails to contact the front and rear and lift 'er up.

Good idea. If you support the front end on the convertible (at least my '69 Coronet) at the frame behind the front wheels, the body flex is so bad that I can't open the doors. This did not cause any damage, but not the ideal way to support the car.
You need a way to support the weight of the engine at the K-Member.

Too bad your not closer for "geezer coffee" on weds and sats here...... LOL

LOL !!