I was wondering that as well. I would NOT work under a car with just a floor jack. And be careful - I hope the jack was not on the oil drain plug - many spots on the engine would not necessarily support 1500 lbs. Might be okay to lift it and then have two jackstands under the rear jack pads, but I wouldn't leave that jack under the engine. Just looking out for your safety...

I'd love to hear it too.

 

I was messing with jack stands yesterday - probably as on all other cars mine has permanent plastic shield down there around designated jack stand spots so at a first glance it was not even visible where to put jack stand at rear of the car if your lift is placed on designated rear spot.

Quite honestly am I still not sure how to lift it. Consulted with Stacy - he apparently places jacks somewhere behind standard spot but on my car all that entire area is covered by plastic and I do not want to remove it.
Will figure it out later perhaps.

Several folks on renntech advised against lifting 997 by pushing engine, I looked it does have there very slim area where pressure can be applied as it seems but if lift slips in front or below that spot it will crush it and do a lot of damage.

 

When working under the rear of the car, I place a floor jack under the front jack point (just aft of the front wheel) (usually use an aluminum jack point fitting) and lift. On a flat surface, the rear comes up as well (nice to have a stiff frame and suspension) and then I place a jack stand under the rear jack points (just forward of the rear wheel). I do the other side with a second jack, but I suspect you could pull the first jack out and do the other side if you only have one. I have lifted the rear from the center of the engine compartment. I recall there being a cross member that is safe (not certain). I would not place the jack on the engine itself - but would be happy to hear that Porsche approves that technique.
Oh and two things:
Do not, repeat, DO NOT work under a car supported only by jacks (as noted above). For safety's sake, measure the height of the lowest spot under your car, measure the size of your body (oh, say, the diameter of your head). If car < head, use jack stands. If car > head, you're not working on a Porsche and you're in the wrong forum.
My comments above are not recommendations but simply documenting personal experience. You're at your own risk.

 

Cross member is definitely the only place there I just was concerned if lift head slips off that spot it will crush a lot. It is very unlikely to slip, of course, but, well, still does not look very safe to me. In my 20+ years of car ownership my cars dropped twice - one time lift itself broke apart, literally, other time car rolled off jacks. So I am now extremely cautious.

 

what about the car on thick phone books and parking brake method

 

How much loader did the cats make the exhaust?

 

The points raised here are all valid. I used a jack point behind (to rear of) the oil pan. I researched it a couple of years ago and it was the place recommended at that time. I used a hockey puck and centered it on the casting.

While most of the work was done behind the car or in the engine compartment, there was a little bit under each side at rear in order to bolt the flanges to the headers. I agree that you shouldn't work under the car when supported only by the jack. My bad. Next time I'll put supports under the rear jack points, which is the way I've always worked in the past. Jacking at the front jack points and putting stands under the rear ones works fine on this stiff chassis, as mentioned in post above.

 

That's what I did...I lent out my ramps and I was impatient.

Worked great!!

Dave