Literally!!!

So I got my Cobb DP which I ordered directly from Cobb in Austin on a business trip. I want to install it myself and be comfortable, but I don't have access to a lift. So what do I do? Jack and jackstands? Nah, make my own ramp good for underbody work. Saw it on a Corvette website... Currently, I'm mid-build (cutting materials) and should have my DP installed tonight or tomorrow.

I'll add pics when I get to my computer.

 

Well.... It's a start, but I got most of the pre-work done. I spent a lot of time cutting while redesigning my design on the fly. I also waited a while getting more lumber and waiting for my cousin with his MS3 which at least had foldable rear seats (Home Depot is like less than one mile so the drive is only through residential areas).

The original design I saw was made of 2 ramps with 10" width by 10'9" long and ~15" high. I'm making 4 sections 11.5" x 6' x 15" high. I'm thinking I'll reinforce the areas underneath the wheel and jacking points for more vertical support.

Tomorrow will be drilling and assembly of the 4 main sections, design and build a ramp, test and refine if needed. If I can get through all of this, I'll see if I have time to install my DP (I fly out on Monday for business for 2 months or so). Also, the kicker is that I need to renew my registration in August and I'm not sure if I have to do smog, so I may very well leave it off until I get back (in which case, there might be a set of ETS IC piping waiting when I get home).

 

X-bracing is critical. You don't want it to diamond and collapse.

 

I hope that holds. I don't like the design of stacking the two boards length-wise with that bracing as it is. I see the boards popping out.

 

why wouldn't you just build the solid 2x10 or 2x12, stacked design?

The "mustangworld ramps" that every forum references.

Mustangworld Ramps

 

Looking forward to seeing the finished product!

 

please dont put your car on there and get under it

 

I should have explained the pictures a bit... The mock up pics of the stand shows it on its side. The front and end caps are solid 2x12x12. The long pieces which look stacked make the plane which the car will roll on to. The side pieces of plywood will also act as a stress skin which can distribute some of the load vertical and horizantal loading.

It's been done before but not this particular design. Hopefully my engineering skills which I learned in college will pay off.

BTW here's what I'm modeling after.

Corvette C3 Ramps

 

hrmmm..... I'm not an engineer, but I have seen braced wooden designs fail.

I'd never trust those personally and I'd build the Mustang World ramps for sure before getting under a car on those. FWIW, I originally saw the MW ramps on the corvette forums...

 

Well at least yours look wider than the Corvette ones. Not sure if I would trust myself driving a old Corvette onto skinny rails like the pictures show in the link. Hopefully you have a test car to test your ramps out. Good luck and post pics when done.

 

This is a nice design.





If I trusted my carpenter skills and had a driveway that would make this easy I would go for it.

As is my driveway goes up hill into my garage.

 

So what are the advantages to building your own ramps as opposed to jack with stands or cheap ramps from the parts store?

 

much easier to just drive onto the ramps then spending time to jack up car.
also on low cars jacking the car up now becomes a more involved task

cool design, but im just not sure about how much id trust wood to do the job

edit: how much in materials did this cost you? just curious

 

I'm back on the build but gotta make another run to Home Depot. Once I finish, I'll post up the raw material costs.

 

No friggin way would I trust the ones you have built. I would only trust the stacked design.