Is chassis flex normal when lifting a Chevrolet Corvette C6 by the factory lift points versus the cradles?

Yes, measurable chassis flex is completely normal when lifting a C6 Corvette by the factory lift points compared to supporting it by the cradles.

When the car is supported by the factory lift locations on the frame rails, the frame naturally bows slightly along the bottom. This can cause the door gaps at the top to visibly widen; if you then move the support to the front and rear cradles, the chassis load shifts and the door gaps will return to normal ¹.

This flex does not mean your frame is "tired" or damaged. Owners report this is especially noticeable on the aluminum-frame C6 models (Z06 and ZR1), which tend to exhibit more visual flex in this scenario than the steel-frame base models or the older C5 generation ¹. There are no widespread reports of stress-induced frame cracking from lifting the car on the factory frame rail points ⁴.

Lifting Best Practices for the C6:

• Factory Lift Points: Always use jacking pucks inserted into the recessed oval tie-down slots on the frame rails. Lifting directly on these areas without pucks will crush the SMC (Sheet Molded Compound) rocker panels ³.
• Cradles/Subframes: If you prefer lifting or supporting the car by the front or rear subframes, place a piece of wood between your jack and the aluminum cradle to distribute the load and prevent gouging the metal ².
• Safety: Always chock the opposite wheels if you are lifting one end of the car at a time ³.