Which jack is best

3

39topless

Well-known member
My '39 conv/coupe does not have a trunk, it has a rumble seat. There is very little room behind the front seat for a spare tire and tools. I do not have the original jack (or any jack actually). Should I look into finding an original bumper jack, a "new" bumper jack, or some sort of hydraulic jack. The problem is a severe lack of storage space.
Also, I do not have a spare tire. My drums are set up with 5 on 5 1/2 patterns. Would a '40 wheel and tire be the smallest spare to store behind the seat?
Thank you,
Phil
 
original bumper jacks are dangerous, they will release and drop very easily. I carry a small hydraulic jack that has its own box, one problem with some of them is they do not go high enough to get fender clearence if you jack the axle, if you jack the frame some do not have enough lift to get the tire off the ground. I carry some wood blocks for this reason. 40-48 wheel/tire combo if you use a 5:00 tire or even a 6:00tire
 
I'd look into a decent scissors jack. They take up little room, and easily slip under either front or rear axles. You surely don't want a bumper jack.

Shown below is a '40 Ford 16" wheel with a 550-16 tire, on the left, as opposed to a 600-16 tire on the right, to visualize space-savings. DD
 

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I have not owned a '39, but I think they are in the group of later early Fords with a rear fender opening too small to allow extraction of the tire if jacked at rear axle. If you carry a scissors jack I think you will need a couple of hefty wood blocks to allow jacking from frame to get wheel and fender spaced adequately.
I think if tire changing is the only need a bumper jack might be a good choice if you can find an actually good one...I don't think an original can be rated as good. Common 1960's ones are adequate as long as you don't trust them...keep any body parts you like a lot where they will not be between car body and tire if they fail.
I think scissors jack (older one with decent area, not the very narrow late model ones) and two chunks of wood might be best rig. A couple of pieces of wood can hide back in the rumble without bothering anyone...
 
Carry two bottle jacks, a jack stand and some pieces of 6x6 qnd 2x4. One jack is for jacking up the axle. The other for raising the frame. Not required, but 3/8 in. thick angle iron was also attached using OEM original holes already in the frame to prevent "crinkling" of the frame from jack pressure point. 4 in the front. 2 in the rear.
 

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I have a '38 Convertible Coupe, same as your '39. The stock spare mount behind the driver seat is adequate for whatever size spare tire you have, and is adjustable to mount an 18" wheel optional equipment from Ford. I carry a 2x6 block and a bottle jack with extension handle, a lug wrench, a spider hubcap slide hammer, 2 flares, three 12" cones, a container of hand soap, and a roll of shop towels, all the above storing nicely beside and above the spare tire. The curtain suspended from the package tray conceals everything, as indeed, it all belongs there. The block goes under the bottle jack, and lifts the axle. The tire lowers to the ground with bottom pulling out first, allowing the top to clear the fender. I've only had one flat, at Bend Oregon, but you only need one to spoil your day if you're not prepared.
 
ford38v8 said:
I have a '38 Convertible Coupe, same as your '39. The stock spare mount behind the driver seat is adequate for whatever size spare tire you have, and is adjustable to mount an 18" wheel optional equipment from Ford. I carry a 2x6 block and a bottle jack with extension handle, a lug wrench, a spider hubcap slide hammer, 2 flares, three 12" cones, a container of hand soap, and a roll of shop towels, all the above storing nicely beside and above the spare tire. The curtain suspended from the package tray conceals everything, as indeed, it all belongs there. The block goes under the bottle jack, and lifts the axle. The tire lowers to the ground with bottom pulling out first, allowing the top to clear the fender. I've only had one flat, at Bend Oregon, but you only need one to spoil your day if you're not prepared.
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Great advice. Thank you so much.
 
Try Tri C Engineering, located in Santa Clarita, Ca. 661-295-1550. Items they sell are pricy but very well built.
Jack is a scissor type and will collapse to about 1 1/2" in height as I recall. I do not recall full extended height.

Jack
 
Almost any swap meet is going to afford a variety of previously-owned scissors jacks. Look for one of the better-built models from the '60s and '70s. Most of 'em probably haven't been used more than twice, if that! $5-10 tops! DD
 
V8COOPMAN said:
Almost any swap meet is going to afford a variety of previously-owned scissors jacks. Look for one of the better-built models from the '60s and '70s. Most of 'em probably haven't been used more than twice, if that! $5-10 tops! DD
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Now that makes sense. Thank you and thanks for the earlier post of the comparable tire sizes.
Phil
 
go to a junk yard & get a modern type sissor jack my ford focus has one.ford bronco would be great its small & lifts under the chassis. if you want a small spare get a space saver spare from a modern car late ford or lincoln you can buy a adptor 5 1/2 to to the new rim bolt patern
 
richard crow said:
go to a junk yard & get a modern type sissor jack my ford focus has one.ford bronco would be great its small & lifts under the chassis. if you want a small spare get a space saver spare from a modern car late ford or lincoln you can buy a adptor 5 1/2 to to the new rim bolt patern
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Right on. Thank you, Phil
 
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