DIY Low Profile Ramps - great for changing oil on lowered g's
 

I had these "Rhino Ramps" made by a company called Blitz. I bought them at Autozone years ago so I could easily change my oil on my old lowered Dakota R/T. Trouble is that the G couldn't even fit on the ramps before I lowered it.

http://i51.photobucket.com/albums/f3...G2567Large.jpg

Now there are a lot of companies out there who make low-profile ramps but the only ones I found that would give me the same height as these rhino ramps cost over $300. The rhino ramps are only $30. So I came up with this setup. The boards are made from 2x8" pieces of pine wood. You could use wider pieces of wood say 2x10" or 2x12" but its not necessary. The lower boards are 50" long and the shorter ones screwed on top are 26" They are cut at 45 degree angles to make them easier to drive onto.

http://i51.photobucket.com/albums/f3...G2562Large.jpg
http://i51.photobucket.com/albums/f3...G2563Large.jpg
http://i51.photobucket.com/albums/f3...G2564Large.jpg

This is a 3"x3/8"carriage bolt that I have used as a locating pin to help hold the wood to the ramps. The hole it goes into is a hole that comes in the ramps from factory.
http://i51.photobucket.com/albums/f3...G2565Large.jpg
http://i51.photobucket.com/albums/f3...G2566Large.jpg

There you have it. A great way to change your oil or do other related tasks where you would need ramps.
http://i51.photobucket.com/albums/f3...G2561Large.jpg

Total cost ~$45. The ramps are about $30 now and I used about $15 in hardware and wood



Note to moderators: Apparently I don't have permission to post in any of the DIY areas so go ahead and move this if you wish

So I guess either no one ever looks at this section and/or most people don't change their own oil seeing as this thread still says 1 view

Thanks for the great write up! I found it to be extremely helpful. I was actually considering buying some of those expensive ramps.. Not any more!

Its in the detailing section, people who want to change there oil look here on how to do it.

This section is for detailing as in washing the car and waxing polishing it. And care wise with cleaning.

The Tech Area under Engine might be better place to put it.


btw what rims are those?

yeah I debated between putting it there or here but an oil change is caring for your car so I stuck it here. Ideally it would have been in the DIY sections but like I said I am not allowed to post there.

As for the wheels. They are just ASA's I think they are called AR9 but I don't remember for sure. They were on the car when I bought it

i am using a very similar setup..:)

whats the bolt up front for?

Nice setup man!

Read much kenny??

haha oops. no i dont i guess

Nice. In theory, depending how you made the wood part, you could use any ramp now?

Yeah I suppose. Just take out the bolt used as a locating pin. Also they can be used without the ramps if you only need it up a few inches

I had problems with the air dam scraping on my 300ZX when I used Rhino Ramps. Also, the car would push them forward, rather than driving up on them. I saw a guy at a car show in Las Vegas that used Race Ramps to get under a lowered Corvette, and he had no problems. So I bought some in the two-piece version. I can drive right up onto them without the air dam hitting (see the attached picture), and they don't slide. :biggthumpup:

doesnt the oil get rushed to the back of the engine?

Yeah those race ramps are really nice. I just couldnt justify the $200 and up that they cost. The rhino ramps used to slide on me too, but with the planks of wood attached with the carriage bolt they sure dont move anymore.

huh? what are you suggesting the car shouldn't be able to go up steep hills like parking garage ramps? The ramps only raise the front up about 7-8 inches. Sure the car is angled up but its a safe angle. Besides the back of the pan is where the drain bolt and the oil pump pickup are anyway, that's where you want the oil to go.