Back when I was having the garage built, I decided that I would like to have a lift installed there for the times when something like that would be real handy to have. So I checked around to see what people were using for their own Corvettes, to make sure I got one that would work. So I wound up getting a BendPak XPR-10ACX 2 post lift. This is the 10K pound asymmetrical, extended width model. Even with all that, I found that the C6Z06 is a real bear to get it lined up right, as the newer three section front arms have that outer sleeve too tall to fit underneath the rocker panels on the car. Other lifts I looked at in shops had the older two sleeve arms, apparently. With the new model arms, there is about an inch of tolerance I have in order to position the car EXACTLY in the middle so I can swing the arms around to get them under the car without them hitting the rocker panels. It might take me 15 minutes or so of backing up the car and repositioning it before I would get it right, even with marks on the floor.
Here's some pics to show you what I mean...
This was getting REAL old.. So I contacted BendPak just to ask them how much those arms weigh so I would know what I was getting into in order to remove them and take them to a machine shop to have an inch removed from that outer sleeve to make my life a bit easier. This seemed to be my only option, so I had decided to just bite the bullet and do it that way.
To say the least, I was astonished when BendPak responded with an offer to simply send me a set of shorter arms off of another model that would solve the problem for me. Not only are they sending them FOR FREE, they are paying for shipping and said I can keep the old arms so I don't have to hassle with sending them back to them. I was flabbergasted! So maybe my luck is turning around finally.
Here's some pics of the shorter front arms they are sending me:
BTW, the guy I talked to at BendPak is Jeff Kritzer who is Senior VP of Sales and marketing. And no, I didn't even tell him about this situation with my C5Z, so it wasn't a pity call on his part. He just offered to help out a customer in the easiest way possible. I don't know how many other lift manufacturer's would do something of this nature. But I have to say I'm REAL glad I chose to get a BendPak lift after seeing this sort of customer service first hand.
