This is what I use:
http://www.cimotorsports.net/motor-s...FeaDQgodk2UAzQ

All you want to do is get the front end up a couple of inches. If you want to save yourself some money, just drive the car up onto a couple pieces of wood.

You just need to be able to reach the correct jacking point, but I've used the tow hook as well before which you can reach just fine if your car is lowered.



I've used the pinch welds before, but the jack stands I have are notched. I usually use the frame, which I've been told by two Mitsubishi techs that it's okay to use. You just have to understand that the center of gravity is different due to the jack stands being closer towards the center line of the vehicle.





EDIT: Took some pictures of my jacking points:

Front:


Rear:

 

Thanks, very helpful!!!

For now at stock height I should be fine without using the jack assist ramps, right?

I know you recommended the HF floor jack, but I'm kind of tempted to go with a Omega Blackhawk Low Profile Professional Service Jack or a OTC 1532 2-Ton Capacity Aluminum Racing Jack. I think it would be nice to have a jack that is serviceable. Seems if the HF goes out, you are buying a new one?

 

Stock ride height? Yeah, you should be able to get under there with just about any jack.

If the harbor freight jack takes a ****, I'll just bring it to them to get it replaced or serviced.

 

I believe the warranty on the HF jacks is 1 year. Is HF anything like Costco, in the sense that you could dunk a TV in your pool and they will take it back? I doubt it though.

The only thing holding me back from the OTC is the nearest service center is 45 minutes away, but I guess it could be worse.

I honestly never thought I'd give myself such a headache with these tool purchases..

 

FWIW, I purchased a jack from harbor freight that wasn't what I really wanted. I brought it back a few weeks later after having used it a couple of times and they gave me credit without any questions or hassle.

Go with your gut though man, if you can spend the cash and it works better for you, do it.

 

Yeah I'm almost 100% positive I'm going with:
OTC 1532 2-Ton Jack - $249.61


Hein-Werner 3 Ton Jack Stand Pair x2 - $179.98


I THINK the extra cost is worth the peice of mind they will give me. I invision myself underneath my car with the HF jack stands rushing to finish before the car dropped on top of me...

 

I've never heard of anyone getting crushed by a failed jack stand, but whatever makes you comfortable.



One other thing, once you've got the car on the stands, you can also have the jack gently resting against the jacking point. This can also give you piece of mind. The idea is that if one of your jack stands happens to fail, the jack will support the weight of the car.

You'll be glad you started changing your own oil. It's quick, easy and saves you money. I'm always proud to tell people I work on my own evo.

 

In the comments on amazon, some of the people complain about the welds on the Torin & HF jack stands. I think in one of the comment threads they mention one of them failing. I mean of course you can't believe anything you read on the internet, but there has to be a reason that there are more expensive same weight jack stands. Not just because they are made in the U.S.A.

And I CANNOT wait to start working on the car. On this list:
- Oil
- Brake Pads + Bleed w/ motive power bleeder
- Redline Tranny Cocktail <- Looks strange
- MR Bilsteins
- Clutch Pill Delete

 

I don't have any complaints about the 1.5 ton floor jack from HF. I have had it for a little over a year and have used it countless times.

 

i also have a harbor freight jack never fail yet going on 2 years

 

I took a look at my aluminum jack stands from Harbor Freight and they're one piece. No welding at all, so you might be talking about their steel jack stands, which I cannot comment on. I have cheap AC Delco three ton steel jacks from O'Reilly Auto Parts.

 

Not entirely in keeping with where this thread went but... if you're going to start modding.. and you will. You're going to want a OBDII scan tool. Even a simple one just to read codes and find out if that check engine light is an annoyance or signaling real danger.

It came up in another thread and I thought of this one

 

Thanks, I will invest in one of those soon. Although I will not be doing any of the tuning myself.


I just placed an order for the OTC 1532 jack.

Going to be calling US Jack tomorrow, and placing an order for 2 sets of 3-ton jack stands. Their max height is 17.75" with a base of 100 sq. inches. Here is a link for anyone interested: http://www.usjack.com/products/Jack%20Stands.pdf

They are listed as $88 per set, but according to a guy on garage journal you can get both sets for $140.

 

If you have a smart phone you can pull codes wireless for $20. I've used this with my Android smart phone already once to diagnose an issue with my '07 Cooper S.

http://torque-bhp.com/ $5

$15

Pulling codes is just the beginning, of course. If you look at the app features you'll see what I'm talking about.

 

+1 for Torque w/ OBDII bluetooth adapter