Hi Al,

4 of those rubber mounts would *probably* be plenty strong enough to 
raise a vanagon. I know I have seen a bay raised without tearing them, 
but only when they were fresh. I've seen stale mounts tear firsthand... 
having a ton of bus shift on the jack is very dangerous.

Happy trails,

Greg Potts
Toronto, Ontario, Canada

1973/74/79 Westfakia Conversion **Bob the Tomato**  LY3H
1977 Sunroof Automatic L63H/L90D
http://www.pottsfamily.ca/westfakia
http://www.busesofthecorn.com

On 29-Dec-04, at 1:49 PM, Al and Sue Brase wrote:

> Actually, there are 4 rubber mounts there and each bigger than the old
> type 4 mounts. Waterboxers use the same parts.
> You guys are right, but that's the way I always do it. WAY easier. I
> just put a 2x4 on top of the jack and lift in the middle of the engine.
> Right where the strainer would be if it were a Type 1 engine.
> If they break, it is time to fix them. I've never had one break. BUT,
> I'd never forget that it could happen, resulting in sudden unintended
> downward acceleration of the vehicle. That's what jack stands are for. 
> I
> put the jackstands on the outriggers ahead of the rear wheels, then I
> lower the  jack slowly to put MOST of the weight on the jackstands.
> I then take a hammer and whack each stand to make sure all 4 legs are 
> on
> the ground. Then I let the rest of the weght off the jack, but leave it
> right there. I then push as hard as I can on each corner. If it falls
> now, the jack will catch it. And I don't want any surprises while I'm
> underneath. (It seems like nearly every year, I hear on the local news
> of some amatuer mechanic crushed to death under his car- I don't love 
> my
> Vanagons THAT much!)
> Al
>
> Greg Potts wrote:
>
>> Hi Craig,
>>
>> I can't speak directly for the waterboxer (The seller now has the
>> title, and we should have it here in Toronto in 7-10 days) but I can
>> say that the 68-83.5 aircooled buses should NEVER be lifted by the
>> engine.
>>
>> In an aircooled bus or Vanagon the engine is connected to the yoke by
>> two rubber motor mounts that will tear if they're asked to support the
>> weight of the vehicle.
>>
>> I usually lift by the engine yoke, or by putting the jack under a
>> frame member. NOT from the engine.
>>
>> Happy trails,
>>
>> Greg Potts
>> Toronto, Ontario, Canada
>>
>> 1973/74/79 Westfakia Conversion **Bob the Tomato**  LY3H
>> 1977 Sunroof Automatic L63H/L90D
>> http://www.pottsfamily.ca/westfakia
>> http://www.busesofthecorn.com
>>
>>
>> On 29-Dec-04, at 12:07 PM, Craig Oda wrote:
>>
>>> Isn't is possible to jack the van up by putting the jack plate under
>>> the engine block.  I think this is what the "101 projects for your
>>> porsche" book recommends.  It says to put a piece of wood or 
>>> something
>>> under the engine block to avoid scratching it.  Any thoughts on why
>>> this wouldn't work on a vanagon?
>>>
>>> -- Craig
>>>
>>>
>>> On Tue, 28 Dec 2004 22:16:32 -0600, Stan Wilder
>>> <wilden1-1@sbcglobal.net> wrote:
>>>
>>>> I've lifted mine many times from the steel engine yoke that the rear
>>>> motor
>>>> mounts screw to.
>>>> I've never bent one doing it this way but you could also lift from
>>>> the point
>>>> that the tranny mounts to the front crossbar. I've done this too 
>>>> but it
>>>> seems to be about a balancing point and not as stable as the rear 
>>>> lift
>>>> scenario.
>>>>
>>>> Stan Wilder
>>>> Engine Ceramics
>>>> 214-352-4931
>>>> www.engineceramics.com
>>>> ----- Original Message -----
>>>> From: "Dave Chameides" <docproteus@EARTHLINK.NET>
>>>> To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
>>>> Sent: Tuesday, December 28, 2004 9:56 PM
>>>> Subject: Jackin' Up The Van
>>>>
>>>> If I have a floor jack and want to raise the van from the center 
>>>> rear
>>>> without doing one side and then the other (I don�t want it to tip
>>>> side to
>>>> side right now) is there a center point that is strong enough to be
>>>> a jack
>>>> point (keeping in mind that as soon as I get the butt up in the air,
>>>> I�ll be
>>>> jack standing the leafs and letting it rest back down on them).
>>>> Will the
>>>> transmission hold the weight?
>>>>
>>>> Dave
>>>>
>>>>
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>>>
>>>
>>
>
>