Is It Normal Or A Convertible Frame To Flex A Bit When Jacked Up?

[red94mustang]

First off, this is on a 1994 Mustang, so I imagine that they did not make frames as strong back then.

I had to jack the front end of the car up (I used jack stands to hold it into place). I placed the jack stands on the jack mounting points (as said in the manual).

Anyways, I noticed that the gap on the door got a little bit larger (about 1/4 of an inch). It still opened and closed fine. When I put the car back down the door gap went back to normal, and it is a perfectly straight gap.

Thanks for your help.

 

[Davedacarpainter]

Yep, it's normal. My t-tops do the same thing.

Install a good set of subframe connectors, that will help you out a LOT with body flex. It'll change the way your mustang feels. One of the best and earliest upgrades to make on our mustangs.

 

[General karthief]

Well, yes and no. So lets clear up the muddy answer.
The unibody car is a wonderful design but not without if faults, as you probably know they where nicknamed flexable flyers.
First, no, it is not supposed to 'bend' much but after many miles with road conditions less than perfect they, well, loosen up in places, the problem is magnified by removing the roof, thats what the company that built the convertible did. Yes, young man, ford did not build the mustang convertible.
Heed not my friend, just grab a set of sub frame connectors, and not just any wimpy little tubes, I have seen many recommendations for maximum motorsports brand.
Now while on the subject of sfc, a good shock tower brace is recommended, more so with a vert because of the cowl/windshield area is largely unsupported, if you look under your vert you should see an extra set of braces that are bolted to the k member that are not present in coupes and hatchbacks but there is a big unsupported box at the top of the engine compartment that should be triangulated and thats where the shock tower brace comes into play. They make lower braces that are better than the wimpy stock ones too,
Proper sfc and engine compartment bracing will give you a quiet, rattle free ride for the life of your vert, not to mention add safty in a frontal crash.
And I like to talk alot, although most of what I say is nonsense and not to be taken seriously, I do have experience with a lot of verts and I love em.

 

[red94mustang]

Thanks for the info. I was reading somewhere after I posted this that technically I should not even open and close my doors when it is on stands. Apparently with some peoples convertibles, they cannot even open the door or get it closed again when it is on stands.

Whenever I get tires changed I have always noticed that they will unlatch the roof when it goes up on the hoist. I now know why, so it does not potentially damage the roof.