>
> There a 2.5 ton long frame, with a lift range up to 31 inches at
> HF.  which
> seems to fit the bill, but is it too much jack?

 I'd say that unless you're going to spend half a kilobuck or more on a
Milwaukee or Norco jack, pretty much any 2.5 or 3 ton ought to do. I have a
cheapie 2.5 from the local FLAPS with a 20" or so lift that I think I paid
$35 for. I've swapped my engine and transaxle, done brake work, suspension
work, all with it no problem. The important thing, I think, is to always try
to jack from a stable, level surface, and never depend on the jack to KEEP
the vehicle off the ground. Lift, place stands, drop. Pretty much all the
"cheap jack" horror stories I've ever heard involve some variation of the
phrase "didn't use jack stands"...
-- 
John Bange
'90 Vanagon - "Geldsauger"