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4/16/2025 7:42 PM  #1


Car is stuck on the lift

My 66 has been on the lift for a month trying to get all the front end work done and new TCP rack installed. Today, I finally got it all done. I went to lower the car so I could finalize the job by tightening down the steering column.

Oops!   Piston blew a seal on my four post lift and it will not move upward so I can undo the locks to let the car down. Stuck in mid air!!!

I really don’t need to be manhandling that big cylinder, so I am calling a lift repair guy to fix it. Anybody had this done recently?   Wondering how big a bill this is going to be.


Money you enjoy wasting is NOT wasted money... unless your wife finds out.
 

4/16/2025 9:00 PM  #2


Re: Car is stuck on the lift

Pretty sure Bullet Bob recently had the same issue.


Bob. 69 Mach 1, 393W, SMOD Toploader, Armstrong  steering, factory AC.
 

4/16/2025 9:34 PM  #3


Re: Car is stuck on the lift

My guess is $100 parts, $1400labor for two guys 1/2 day with travel time.

 

4/16/2025 9:54 PM  #4


Re: Car is stuck on the lift

Bentworker wrote:

My guess is $100 parts, $1400labor for two guys 1/2 day with travel time.

Hope NOT!!!


Money you enjoy wasting is NOT wasted money... unless your wife finds out.
     Thread Starter
 

4/17/2025 5:04 AM  #5


Re: Car is stuck on the lift

Probably, considering the over a barrel surcharge. 

 

4/17/2025 6:55 AM  #6


Re: Car is stuck on the lift

That's a bummer.  I never thought about a car getting stuck on a lift.

 

4/17/2025 7:04 AM  #7


Re: Car is stuck on the lift

last year, it was 700 dollars with me taking it off and driving over to a shop that work on equipment hydraulics. 

 

4/17/2025 7:33 AM  #8


Re: Car is stuck on the lift

Seems like a new cylinder would be cheaper.   $700 to repair sounds awfully high.


66 Vert.  4.6 DOHC, 4R70 Auto, Heidt's M2 frontend
 

4/17/2025 8:10 AM  #9


Re: Car is stuck on the lift

If you decide to go the replacement route “ bench test” the new one before installing it.
You never know!🤬


Good work ain't cheap, Cheap work ain't good!   Simple Man
 

4/17/2025 3:38 PM  #10


Re: Car is stuck on the lift

Try to get a root cause for the issue from the repair service.


1968 T-code Coupe with a 302.  Nice car, no show stopper for sure, but I like it.
 

4/17/2025 6:55 PM  #11


Re: Car is stuck on the lift

Kinda parallel topic.

MS:  I thought you already had a power TCP rack.  What gives?  Was the old one manual?  Or is there a new piece from TCP?

I changed my manual TCP to power some years ago and I like it, but it is not as solid as the manual was.


Original owner - 351w,T-5, 4whl disks, power R&P
 

4/17/2025 7:47 PM  #12


Re: Car is stuck on the lift

lowercasesteve wrote:

Kinda parallel topic.

MS:  I thought you already had a power TCP rack.  What gives?  Was the old one manual?  Or is there a new piece from TCP?

I changed my manual TCP to power some years ago and I like it, but it is not as solid as the manual was.

My power TCP rack was 20 years old and started leaking. They wanted $600 to rebuild it plus shipping.
I wanted the big block mounts so it would clear my oil pan. The existing one had the boots rubbing the pan.
I bought a new power rack with big block brackets and am using the center link bar from the old small block rack. New one sits about 5/8” lower. Clears pan 3/8”.


I noticed Chris Alston Chassis Works no longer has these racks for Mustangs on their web site, and CJ Pony has them on sale.  I wonder if they are stopping production?


Money you enjoy wasting is NOT wasted money... unless your wife finds out.
     Thread Starter
 

4/17/2025 7:48 PM  #13


Re: Car is stuck on the lift

Rufus68 wrote:

Try to get a root cause for the issue from the repair service.

A professional rack repair guy is coming out Monday to fix my lift.  Will let you guys know what happens.  Meanwhile… should I set up a GoFundMe account?


Money you enjoy wasting is NOT wasted money... unless your wife finds out.
     Thread Starter
 

4/18/2025 1:04 AM  #14


Re: Car is stuck on the lift

MS wrote:

Rufus68 wrote:

Try to get a root cause for the issue from the repair service.

A professional rack repair guy is coming out Monday to fix my lift. Will let you guys know what happens. Meanwhile… should I set up a GoFundMe account?

Let me know how that works, MS. I may need one of my own - just had to drop $4000 on having five dangerous trees removed on my property. Ouch!
 


68 coupe - 351W, 4R70W, 9" 3.25 -- 65 convertible - 289 4v, C4, 8" 3.00
 

4/19/2025 6:34 AM  #15


Re: Car is stuck on the lift

When my Direct Lift cylinder crapped out last year I was able to pull the cyl with a little help from a friend.  Fortunately the lift was also in the up position but empty.  Local outfit that does lots of hydraulic repairs for the local mining industry resealed it for $500.   Pricey.  From what I could find, new would be $700 +.

Good luck MS.


"you get what you pay for, good work isn't cheap, and there are NO free lunches...PERIOD!"
 

4/19/2025 11:57 AM  #16


Re: Car is stuck on the lift

As BB says"you get what you pay for, good work isn't cheap, and there are NO free lunches...PERIOD!"   Hopefully you get good service from the professional


67 Coupe, 5.0 EEC IV Fuel injected. T5, 3:70 rear
 

4/21/2025 5:09 PM  #17


Re: Car is stuck on the lift

The repair guy came and removed the hydraulic cylinder today.  He said he would be back in 2-3 days to reinstall it after they rebuild it. He quoted around $900

This is a good opportunity to install zerk fittings on all the dry shaft pulleys he had to remove.  I can’t believe they don’t grease those things when assembling the lift.


Money you enjoy wasting is NOT wasted money... unless your wife finds out.
     Thread Starter
 

4/21/2025 6:33 PM  #18


Re: Car is stuck on the lift

Nice!  That is very reasonable for a couple trips to your home and the repair itself.

 

4/21/2025 7:05 PM  #19


Re: Car is stuck on the lift

MS wrote:

The repair guy came and removed the hydraulic cylinder today. He said he would be back in 2-3 days to reinstall it after they rebuild it. He quoted around $900

This is a good opportunity to install zerk fittings on all the dry shaft pulleys he had to remove. I can’t believe they don’t grease those things when assembling the lift.

that would make it smoother


Its really me....I fixed my caps lock .
 

4/23/2025 8:13 PM  #20


Re: Car is stuck on the lift

$926 and it now has a rebuilt ram installed. Works great!

One thing they suggested that I had not thought about:
Change the oil in case any blown seal debris was in the old oil. I had them change it before pumping any oil back into the system or ram.

They said if a ram lasts eight years, it had a good life span.  Mine would be eight years in September.


Money you enjoy wasting is NOT wasted money... unless your wife finds out.
     Thread Starter
 

Board footera


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