Jacking points on a Vintage / Best Jack?

What are the most stable jacking points on a VS? Mine is based on a 71 bug. Also, I need to get a jack for it. I am thinking a small scissor type with a flat contact surface (jack to car). Any recommendations? I'm thinking there must be a million laying around junk yards.

Other ideas?

Thanks.

pretty much any car in the wreckers will have a scissor jack. i paid a whopping $20 for a 125 tire and scissor jack. make sure you stick some tools with the jack (and a garbage bag cause you won't fit your flat tire anywhere but inside the fancy-pants interior.

jacking points - it's pan based, so front of rear suspension.

anywhere on the beam will lift the for end no prob.

i like the cast torsion base on the rear. there is a perfect lip for a jack stand. this is good for one side at a time.

when i lift the whole rear up to swap engines / etc, i lift from the trans mount between the frame horns (between the engine / tranny.

it can get a little scratched up, so i use a small 2x4 piece so it's wood on metal.

i'd hat to think how many times i jack my stoopid car up. it seems like it's up on jackstands more than on the ground.

I would recommend a good quality rolling floor jack. I have one with a 22" lift height and that will really let you get the car way up in the air to make working underneath so much better.
Remember, at least 2 quality jack stands under the car after you jack it (lower the car on the stands) or don't go under there, not even for a second.
The front can be jacked all at once on the cross beams, might use some padding. The rear can be jacked all at once, as mentioned above, using a 2x4 to spread the load. Cut a 2x4 the right length and then wrap it with several layers of good duct tape. That way when the wood splits it won't come apart so much.
You'll hear of people jacking the rear under the engine case. Why risk fracturing it when there are better places to jack.
These cars are so low to the ground, if they fall on you, you won't get a second chance to correct your mistake. Safty first: buy top quality jacks and stands and use them wisely.
Have fun, Blake, 2010 VS.

Bob:

I'm afraid that I can't help you much on your Beck Speedster because the chassis frame requires a slightly different approach than a pan based car, but after being involved with VW's since 1964 I can tell you that I would NEVER jack one of these cars up by placing the jack under the torsion tubes. Those tube walls are about .040" thick and jacking in the middle of the lower tube is a sure way to bend it.

I have a pan based car, and I'll jack up the front right under the Napolean hat in the front (the forward bulkhead of the footwell), and just forward of the front transmission mount in the rear. NEVER under the engine or transmission. For individual wheels I get a jack right under the lower shock mounts, and a Ford Windstar scissors jack fits nicely.

There was once a diagram on here showing Speedster jacking points. I'll search around and see if I can find it.

gn

Bob!

Let me offer you a all aluminum Porsche 944 scissors jack that I have on the shelf gathering dust. Lightweight too. I just have not looked at the jack pad.

Is this for in the car - or home use? If its something your not going to have in the car then I agree with the above post on smallish roll around hydraulic jack. They can be had CHEAP over at Harbor Freight in East Peoria. They are also mostly aluminum and are real low profile. You could feasibly carry it in the car (the handle is removable). Its called a "racing jack" or "low profile jack". They are good for 5 years of use with my guys before we go get another. You may be able to use it forever!

Then lastly lets get the car up on a lift & I will show you the nice jacking spots we use. We can even mark them for future use.

Ditto on the Harbor Freight aluminum racing jack. Lifts 3000# up 17". It's not particularly light though at 36#. Should fit up front just above gas tank --- but strap it down so i doesn't become a missile when you brake hard. There's always a $59.99 coupon for it. They also have scissor jacks for $20 (use a 20% off coupon). Pick up a pair of plastic wheel chocks too.

Gordon, I think Bob is asking about a Vintage, not a Beck. On a Beck, you can place the jack anywhere along the frame rails, depending on what you want to elevate. You can also jack from the front beam as long as you are between the frame rails.

90 ish or newer Honda civic. Toyota corrola and camery and even the Chevy Geo tracker , use the same sissor jack.

On my VS the pan rear corners have jack plates with a hole perfect for a jack post that can be added to those type jacks.

The rear swing axle cap plate with the 4 bolts is also a good place to weld on a lift point under it.

In my opion the best place. It will lift the intire side of the car nicly..