Lifting an '02 Firebird Formula.

[ZenSquirrel]

I'm trying to lift my '02 Formula so I can change the oil. I've done plenty of oil changes before but I have always used ramps. Well, I got a jack and some jack stands because I figured that I'd be able to use them to do break pads too. I thought that it would be easy to identify a good place to lift the car and place the jack stands, but I guess I was wrong on that point.

Were is the best place to lift the vehicle with a trolley jack and place jack stands?

I have a trolley jack that I got at Van's Auto Parts but the lifting pad has a weird claw on it. (I'd link to, or post of picture of it, but the forum won't let me doing anything with images until I have posted 10 times). It is a Viking 2 Ton trolley jack, if that helps. It looks to me like it would do damage to any flat surface that you tried to lift with it. Does anybody have any experience with these? Are you supposed to put a piece of wood between the claw and the lifting surface?

Thanks,
Keith

[oneBADDz]

Depending on the size of the claw, you might be able to straddle to frame with it right behind the front tires. If it is too small for that, just make sure you get all four high points in contact and it isn't lifting by two, you aren't gonna damage anything