jacking points

K

khnaess

Member
I need to lift the car (1937 Ford) of the ground to do adjust my brakes. Where are the correct lifting points? The frame seems to be a little soft to me, I can clearly see it bends a little when I try to lift here and there are some damage from earlier jacking. Is it safe to lift the front in front axel (H-beam) or can it bend? I suppose I can use the rear axel?

Thanks,
Knut Håkon
 
On my 40 I use to place the floor jack under the place where the "X" members and the side rails meet. Also, used under axles. Then, about 20 years ago installed 3/8 in. thick angle iron to the side rails by bolting it in place using the factory holes in the frame - 2 near the front and 1 towards the rear. Used metal shims to make it level. Works fine. No more frame dents. Maybe your 37 has similar factory frame holes. Also installed double nut on perch pin to protect threads when using that as a jack point. For adjusting brakes, use the axles.
 

Attachments

  • IMG_5400b.jpg
    IMG_5400b.jpg
    174.4 KB · Views: 121
  • IMG_5401b.jpg
    IMG_5401b.jpg
    129.8 KB · Views: 112
  • IMG_3023b.jpg
    IMG_3023b.jpg
    56.9 KB · Views: 103
Last edited:
When I adjust brakes on my early Ford's (most have mechanical), I place a floor jack in the center of front axle, with rear wheels chocked, and lift the front end high enough to place jack stands under both sides of axle near where wishbones attach. Then place floor jack under center of rear axle @ banjo housing, or under wishbone near where it attaches to axle housing, and lift the rear end enough to place jack stands at small end of axle housings near where rear wishbone's attach. It's important to place these four stands where they will remain in place, and not allow movement. Now if you are lucky enough to have a car lift, you can avoid all the jacking and jack stands :).
PS...never get under a vehicle with only a jack holding it up!!
 
I've always heard that you should not put the jack in the center of either axle because there is a danger of bending it due to putting that much weight on a single point.
 
JM 35 Sedan said:
Old wives tale :)
Click to expand...
Ditto on the old wives tale.
Have never bent an axle on any of the ones Iv'e jacked in the middle starting in 1951.
Consider that appox. 1500 lbs. or 1/2 the weight of the vehicle is on that point when it takes tons of weight to bend the axle.
 
ford38v8 said:
Ridiculous redundancy. Do it right with 4 stands. For more safety, don't go in the garage.
Click to expand...

Agreed. The jacks under the frame would wind up holding the weight of the car and the jacks under the axles would just wind up holding the axles. Four is sufficient.
 
I live in earthquake country, so I do use jack stands. I also use large pieces of wood (pieces of large header blocks) and put them under the frame just behind the front wheels and just in front of the rear wheels. Sounds like overkill, but the last earthquake pitched my '40 right off the stands. Luckily I had wheels on the car or it would have landed on the fenders and running gear. Since earthquakes are totally unpredictable when they happen I take no chances.
I've also anchored my oxy/acetalene bottle and cart to the wall along with my drill press. Last earthquake tipped the drill press over onto the rear fender of the '40(just missed the decklid). Another tip is to lock up your roll away tool chest. If you don't lock it the drawers come open and the weight tips the chest over and stuff goes everywhere. Anybody whose a car person living in California needs to take the extra steps for safety and to protect your old Fords. Thank goodness for Grundy insurance.
 
Last edited:
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top