Question about putting car up on jack stands, et. al. Options

[Cevan]

That's my car in the avatar. It hasn't been run in 2-3 years, according to the PO. I'm hoping to get it running this weekend and confirm that the engine, tranny, brakes, electrical, etc work sufficiently. Assuming I can make the car go forwards and backwards and at least slow it down, I want to start repairing the rust.

I have a few questions I'm hoping someone can help me with:

1. Where is the best place to put 4 jack stands in order to do this work?

2. Should I put the doors back on the car in order to be able to see if the car is sagging once I start cutting? Is there some other/additional measures I should take? Some of the inner rock needs to be replaced. The inner logitudinal looks good on both sides.

3. There are two black plastic flaps connected to the rear end of the floor pan. I want to remove them in order to clean/check for rust. They appear to be attached with plastic bolts, but the heads are round with no slot. How do I remove them?

4. I have the interior removed. Do I need to remove the sound deadening tar paper in the floor pan? 95% of the floor pan looks sound.

5. From the inside, the area behind the seat pad is rust-free. Should I remove the firewall blanket inside the engine compartment? I realize some may have to be pulled away to get at the hellhole. I'm afraid I'll breakoff those metal strips that hold it on once I lift them up.

6. Some of the inner rocker is rusted through and some is solid. Should I cut out and replace the whole thing? Is it better to be able to check out the heater tubes and clean around in there?

I'll post some pictures tonight. I'm just not sure where to start. I'm afraid of cutting too much and messing up alignment of the body. Thanks.

[dr914@autoatlanta.com]

That's my car in the avatar. It hasn't been run in 2-3 years, according to the PO. I'm hoping to get it running this weekend and confirm that the engine, tranny, brakes, electrical, etc work sufficiently. Assuming I can make the car go forwards and backwards and at least slow it down, I want to start repairing the rust.

I have a few questions I'm hoping someone can help me with:

1. Where is the best place to put 4 jack stands in order to do this work?

depends on where you are doing the work. the chart is good although we use boards under the stands to distrubute the weight

2. Should I put the doors back on the car in order to be able to see if the car is sagging once I start cutting? Is there some other/additional measures I should take? Some of the inner rock needs to be replaced. The inner logitudinal looks good on both sides.

absolutely always attach the doors with glass and the top unless you weld supports between the doors after assuring yourself that the gaps are correct. the factory manual has a measuring chart

3. There are two black plastic flaps connected to the rear end of the floor pan. I want to remove them in order to clean/check for rust. They appear to be attached with plastic bolts, but the heads are round with no slot. How do I remove them?

easy self tapping 8mm headed bolts in from the top of the flange

4. I have the interior removed. Do I need to remove the sound deadening tar paper in the floor pan? 95% of the floor pan looks sound.

only remove what is not stuck

5. From the inside, the area behind the seat pad is rust-free. Should I remove the firewall blanket inside the engine compartment? I realize some may have to be pulled away to get at the hellhole. I'm afraid I'll breakoff those metal strips that hold it on once I lift them up.

always remove it when you are in that area. could catch it on fire and there may be rust holes under it

6. Some of the inner rocker is rusted through and some is solid. Should I cut out and replace the whole thing? Is it better to be able to check out the heater tubes and clean around in there?

one at a time and remember that the inner rocker goes under the front door post so would be complicated to remove as a whole. We often cut up rust repair panels and use only what we need. cleaning out and coating of the inner longitudinal is certainly a good idea. we use the por 15 rust paint

I'll post some pictures tonight. I'm just not sure where to start. I'm afraid of cutting too much and messing up alignment of the body. Thanks.

you are right cut just a bit at a time!!!!!