13 replies to this topic

[Jayme 1275]

Hi im wondering is the bottom of the gearbox strong enough to jack th car up on I've seen a few pics in mini magazine and mini world of this and I'm just wondering is it safe?

[mini13]

its not nice...

[maggies_minder]

not the best idea, especially if you mounts have seen better days stick to the subframe where all the suspension and front wheels join on.

[samsfern]

its not so much the gearbox being strong enough, its your engine mounts, theyll be put under a huge amount of strain, jack it up under the subby, i normally go on the tiebar bracket.

[MRA]

Simply NOT safe !!!

You are relying on something not breaking, which is never a good idea

[Big_Adam]

You don't jack the gearbox bar for a few specific times. Like jacking the engine up to get the last bolts out of the flywheel cover.

Even then you stuck a big ol' bit of wood under it.

But you shouldn't jack the box normally, as it might crack.

[Jayme 1275]

I see some one mentioned jacking it up by the subframe which part you use the bit infrint of the gearbox

[mini13]

no, to the left and right of the enine where the bottom suspension arm mounts.

[Cooperman]

"Not many people know this", but in 1959 when the Mini was introduced, there was a special piece of wood with a BMC part number which went under the sump for jacking. It was soon deleted due to the engine mountings failing and resulting in warranty claims.

[connor_cooper]

Go under the subframes for jacking the car, but if you want to raise the engine a little from the bottom when you're taking it out i would have thought the gearbox would be ok, just make sure you use a hefty piece of wood!

[TopCatCustom]

"Not many people know this", but in 1959 when the Mini was introduced, there was a special piece of wood with a BMC part number which went under the sump for jacking. It was soon deleted due to the engine mountings failing and resulting in warranty claims.

I wonder how much those bits of wood are worth now to mk1 concours car owners!

[MRA]

Ive got loads of bits of genuine old wood... maybe they are worth something

But like all things "special" they probably would be worth a fair amount...

[Carlos W]

There's a big difference between jacking the engine up, (ie supporting the weight of just the engine on a jack) and hanging the whole car from the engine mounts!

You certainly wouldn't get me under a car which was jacked up on the engine!

[charie t]

Do not jack it under the engine. As said you risk cracking the sump/gearbox casing and/or destroying the engine mounts
Front or rear, jack it under the widest flat part of the subframe. Narrow headed jacks such as the draper model, can put excess pressure oin one area and bend the subframe so a decent peice of wood is adviseable to spread the load. Also protects your nicely painted subframes

Edited by charie t, 10 May 2011 - 10:18 PM.