Getting my car off the ground....

[simon]

I'm a total beginner here, so hopefully this question isn't a terribly stupid one.

I'm trying to get my car up on floor stands. I'm using a floor jack to raise the car up. I found the slots just behind the front wheels (and before the back ones) that were made for the original jack to interface with the frame. The problem i have is that if i use that small area for the floor jack where am i supposed to place the stand?
The "auto parts" store guy suggested putting the stand right next to where the jack was...but there seems to be sheet metal folded over that area. The frame only seems to be exposed in a 2" x 3" square.

Is this making sense? I'm not sure if pictures would make this clearer. Has anyone else encountered what i'm talking about?

[nicktheviking]

I just jack up the car via that metal rail where the jack points are, adjacent to where I'm going to put the jackstands. I believe you can jack up the front via the crossmember, as well.

[kristoj]

I jack up the front of the car by placing the jack exactly in the center of the cross member under the engine, then lower it onto the jack stands at the points behind the front wheels. For the rear, i put the jack under the rear differential and use the jack stands on either side of the axle.

[simon]

thanks for the super fast responses...
i'll give those suggestions a try.