Car-Jacking Woes

[Clem Clement]

Car- jacking woes

I have made three-one-hour efforts to raise up my 1940 Mercury fordor convertible sedan with limited success. Although it is fully restored, it sits low so I can’t slide under the running boards. The frame paint is quite thick so a jack, even with a sock pad, will crack the heavy layer. Here comes the ‘woes” and frustrations:

The jack does not catch oil until the handle is up some. The handle hits the bumper before the plunger grabs fresh oil.
I have no depth perception any more, it took 30 minute to move the jacking-cup under the pumpkin
I have a strained back so I crawl around the car on the used carpet I have on the garage floor.
I did get the front up a little l using jacking on the front axle mounting bolts.
The jack leaks a little so the car settles very slowly.
I still could not see around the muffler.
The WD40 can I had was neat empty, so I had to start a squirt with the can vertical and then tilt it over to spray the target: seat mount bolts
The bolts are new, but my tech-adviser instructs me to hit them with penetrating fluid anyway. The front seat bolt is way under the seat making reach in it a challenge
My eyes are blurry and good vision is a challenge
I quit drinking for the pandemic
Momma sez wait until we put the car on my bud’s lift (too late for unneeded penetrating oil.
Whimper….whimper…..
Happy Father’s Day

Clem

[cas3]

Can you take the handle out of the jack, and use a shorter tool in its place to get it up a bit?

[CA Victoria]

Drive up on a block of wood to raise the chassis.....

[Anteek29]

How about a set of wheel ramps?

[ford38v8]

Call a friend!

[19Fordy]

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Buy two low profile hydraulic jacks that work, for starters.
You place one under the frame rail to raise the body. Then you place the other jack under the axle to raise the car. Use jack stands, also. I have installed jack plates using stock holes in the 1940 frame so as not to damage the frame. Father time makes us less flexible.

[deuce_roadster]

Go to Harbor Freight and buy one of their aluminum floor jacks. Hopefully you have either blocks or Jackstands to put under the frame to hold the car up. NEVER get under ANYTHING that is supported only by something hydraulic.

[51 MERC-CT]

I thought that "Car-jacking" is a criminal offense

[Pete]

Go back to drinking. It may not help the jacking situation but it will make it more bearable.

[rich b]

Cardboard is considerably easier to slide around on than carpet.

As mentioned; never go under without jack stands or cribbing.

Those little aluminum Harbor Freight jacks are great for clearing low sheet metal and getting a car up high enough to get a "real" floor jack under the axle.

[Clem Clement]

Thanks bro's. I thought my woes might brighten you day. Handle is pinned.
Beer looking better.
My youngest took us to late lunch in his NTH Testla #3.

[Lanny]

Clem, I have never tried one of these jacks, but I think they
have some advantages over heavy all metal hyd. jacks.

There are many manufactures of these, here is one that I
copied on Ebay. Might be worth checking out.

Pneumatic Jack 16 Inch Lifting Height 3 Bag Air Jack 6600LBS Capacity
Jack-Long Adjustable Folding Handle (White, Long Handle 3 Ton)

https://www.ebay.com/itm/15435748009...&amdata=enc%3A



.

[Alaska Jim]

put some foam pipe insulation on the jack handle to keep from damaging the paint, and /or puting a dent in the body, drive up on a piece of 2x4 to help raise the frame a bit

[Clem Clement]

I have a work rag tied on the handle. Thanks

[mhsprecher]

Clem,

I am happy to give you a hand any time. Good suggestions here, too. I haven't seen your Merc in person, yet, so I'd love to see it.

[russcc]

The HF cheap aluminum "racing jacks" seem to be pretty low and mine have been very durable. Rolling the car it up on a boards for extra height is good strategy, and one you have to use on some new low cars.
My preferred support for under car work are these cribs I made from rough sawn 2x4s & and construction screws, They securely support the car on the tires, and prevent the car from rolling.along with wheel chocking. For off tire work, not under the car, a jack stand & chocking.
In technical high school the class came in one Monday morning, and one class member was missing. The teacher said the missing guy was taking a transmission out of a car up an 4 bumper jacks. You know the rest.

[corvette8n]

Clem get yourself a pair of these, a little pricey but slide them under and push the button.
https://www.fordbarn.com/forum/showthread.php?t=256084

For me it was worth the purchase price, with 3 vehicles of my own and kids and grandkids bringing me cars to work on, I can raise the vehicle up and zip off 4 wheels in no time.

[Tim Ayers]

Originally Posted by CA Victoria

Drive up on a block of wood to raise the chassis.....

This is what I do for all of modern cars as well.

[1931 flamingo]

On Father's Day I would have asked the son who was taking me to lunch to jack the car up and spray the bolts ! ! ! !


If bolts were new they probably do NOT need to be sprayed.
Hope you had a beer with your lunch.
Paul in CT

[Clem Clement]

Son Eric took us to lunch. I got 2 sips of his beer. To many meds in me these days to add beer.

Car front end raised and safetyied. Front seat removed. Plans for front seat belt instalation.
One thing: the seat adj. lever was stuck. a little pounding loosened it. No lubrication found. It looks like the rollers ride on a track. It would seem that to lube the track would make the rollers slide, rather that roll and transfer the roll to the other side??Dunno.

I'm thinking that by mounting the front seat on the lower bolt holes will offer the most room. currently the seat is crocked.