Open Door when the Z is on a Jack?

[Zrush]

While perusing a few other Z sites, every once in a while I'll see a Z on a jack with a door or both doors open. I've always been under the impression that's not a good idea with a unibody car. Whether using the standard issue Datsun jack or even a regular floor jack.

True, False

Vicky

[Fun_in_my_z]

My cars was rusted out. And with no rockers or floors i took the doors off. Its up on ramps.

No sagging and the doors went back on straight so i would say false.

Bill

[Zrush]

Ramps and lifts are different, all 4 wheels are still on a solid surface. For example when you've got the Z up on a Datsun jack to change a tire or something. Better explained maybe would be when only 3 wheels are on the ground, even just 2. Seems there would be a little stress on the body.

Vicky

[kingdavid280]

Yeah I whould have to agree with bill here i had my z up on blocks for a while with one door missing, so I whould say false.

[26th-Z]

Hi Zrush!

Having the car supported equally on jack stands and jacking it up on one side are two different things. It is not such a great idea to open the door on the jacked side during the operation. It's not a big deal, but yea, the car is stressed unequally and keeping the dorr closed helps. Try it. You'll notice the door doesn't open or close as well.

CW-

[Dans240z]

Hi Zrush!

Having the car supported equally on jack stands and jacking it up on one side are two different things. It is not such a great idea to open the door on the jacked side during the operation. It's not a big deal, but yea, the car is stressed unequally and keeping the dorr closed helps. Try it. You'll notice the door doesn't open or close as well.

CW-

I have noticed the same thing, the door didn't want to close easily. I haven't put the doors on since that, I'm guessing that they'll be fine.

[sblake01]

Those who said 'false' didn't understand the question. I learned that years ago on my 510. The body will tweak slightly when a unibody car is jacked up unevenly.

[260DET]

The S30 body is quite flexy, particularly compared with the better modern sports cars like the MX5 (Miata). Don't know that it does any harm but obviously keeping doors shut helps to minimumise flex.

[sblake01]

Oh no, I don't think it does any harm either. It flexes back to normal when you take it off the jack.

[jmortensen]

It's not going to do any harm unless you start welding structural members on the car when it's flexed.

[sblake01]

Who does that?

[jmortensen]

Me I guess. And Richard.