At home I put my jack under the front and rear torsion bar tubes. But the typical lift in a commercial garage can’t do this. While the lift’s pads can be placed properly at the rear, finding a spot for them at the front is a problem as they can’t reach the tube.
So where is the best place to put the lift’s front pads?
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Here's what CMC VW pan sub frame looks like (other pan based use similar) - I'd catch the strong areas note.
Under a 2x6
You don't want to bend the thin metal floor up in back were it is recessed or break the spot welds there.
Bill Prout posted:Under a 2x6
Where do you place the wood?
The body/cockpit curves inwardly just at the rear of the wheel wells. If you feel under the corner at that point, just ahead of the door and behind the front wheel well, you will find a couple of bolts right in that corner holding the body to the pan. That corner is part of the “Napolean Hat” (that’s what it looks like) that forms the front gusset of the forward bulkhead (the vertical body panel just in front of your feet).
Either place the lift blocks under those two corners, or hold a 2” X 6” board under those corners and across the underside of the body, right under the Napolean Hat, and lift against the plank.
I have a diagram of lift points on the pan, but I’ll have to find it on my laptop (I’m on my phone right now) and post it (unless someone else has it).
Diagram would help. Thanks.
OK, here you go.
This shows locations for jack stands, not a lift.
So for a lift that lifts the body, not a drive-on that lifts under the wheels, swing the front arms around to just under the front of the cockpit floor at the corners (see the two bolts in the corners just at the left of the floor panels and to the right of the left "X"s?) The naked metal arm is OK there, better still if the arm end has a rubber block.
Then at the back (right in photo), place the arms/blocks under the torsion bar end mounts, just outboard of the "X"s on the right. there are cast iron castings there holding the ends of the torsion bars - just bring your lift blocks right up under them and lift away. DO NOT lift under the axles or anywhere on the engine. You may lift under the lower shock mounts at the rear, but under the torsion bar caps is better.
